Cats Protection’s Midsomer Norton and Radstock and Weston-super-Mare and District branches have joined forces to shine a light on fourteen-year-old Charlie, and to let potential owners know that early kidney disease is not a reason to miss out on the affections of this lovable moggy.

The laid-back puss arrived in the care of the charity’s volunteer-run branch in Midsomer Norton when his owner died. Instead of the low-maintenance tabby being snapped up by a family keen to share their lives with the curious, fuss-loving cat, he has now been on the shelf for more than two hundred and forty days while other cats have come and gone. The Branch will therefore be transferring him to its sister branch in Weston-Super-Mare in the coming weeks in the hope that he may catch the eye of would-be-owners on the coast.

Branch Coordinator Andy Bodman explains: “Charlie has been a joy for us to foster within the Branch. He is truly the ideal companion for the approaching autumn nights as he enjoys sitting beside his fosterer to watch TV. We’ll be sad to see him move but are working with our fellow volunteers across the county to try and find the right home for him.

“Like most of us, he will hold a little back when he first meets you, but as soon as he knows you, he very much enjoys a gentle fuss. Charlie is playful too. He has a funny habit of chasing pieces of litter that might escape his tray and will happily pounce on fishing-rod toys. Although his favourite pastime is sleeping, and you will often find him stretched out in a ray of sunshine fast asleep.”

Alongside his charming nature, Charlie has the earliest stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD), which is common in older cats and progression of the disease is being managed with a kidney-protective diet. CKD is a gradual-onset, long-term disease of the kidneys, usually caused by the natural ageing process.

Most cats do not show symptoms of CKD until their kidneys are seventy five percent damaged but routine blood and urine tests for older cats can help diagnosis, as in Charlie’s case, before clinical signs develop. Early diagnosis and treatment may significantly extend an affected cat’s life expectancy.

Andy adds: “We very much hope anybody who is keen to welcome Charlie into their home will not be put off by his kidney disease. It is at the earliest stage and although irreversible, the aim is to try and prevent the kidneys from degrading any further or as slowly as possible. We’re more than happy to put a plan in place to help his future owner with veterinary costs connected with his kidney disease. Many cats live long, happy, comfortable lives with kidney disease and we have no reason to believe Charlie would be any different.”

The Branches feel Charlie would be well-suited to an older family where he could be the only pet. His current fosterer is trialling a variety of kidney-friendly foods, and can provide costings for his diet, to anybody interested in adoption.

A booklet about kidney disease in cats can be downloaded from: bit.ly/CatsAndTheirKidneys

Anyone wishing to enquire about giving Charlie a home may contact either Branch by visiting: www.cats.org.uk/Midsomer or www.cats.org.uk/weston or by calling Midsomer Norton on 01761 841004 or Weston-Super-Mare on 03453 712066.