Cat & I: Debbie & Po

Our monthly series explores the modern relationship between owner and cat — the challenges people face and the incredible benefits of owning a cat in this stressful, fast-paced world.

This week’s duo is Debbie & Po. Debbie lives in Market Harborough with Po her seven year old British Shorthair.

We sat down with Debbie to discuss how Po became part of their family, how she helped him settle into his new home, and what makes their relationship so special.

How did you and Po find each other? Tell me the story of how he came to you?

We had a mice problem in the attic of our house and the pest control man advised me that we should get a cat to deal with it. I already have 3 dogs and was concerned about how well a cat would fit in — whether they’d be happy or not. We went to the cats protection rescue centre in Haslemere and the experts explained that it’s absolutely fine to have a cat live with dogs, you just have to be more careful about the cat’s personality. They recommended we get a larger, bolder cat who would stand up for themselves, which is when we were introduced to Po. Po had been rescued from a cat hoarder in London — she’d had about 30 cats living in one house. He was only 3, but very confident and not one to be pushed around.

What is his behaviour like at home? Have you had any behavioural issues with him?

He’s very chilled and relaxed around the house. He is absolutely at the top of the households animal pecking order — the dogs are slightly terrified of him and wouldn’t dare chase him or be too inquisitive of him when he’s lounging around. The only behavioural issues we’ve had with Po was when we moved house. We followed the vets advice — put him in a cattery for a week, kept him inside for a month etc — but he went through a phase of refusing to leave the house. I wasn’t sure whether he was stressed by the move or scared of his new surroundings, so I took him to our new local vet. The vet recommended plugging in a Feliway diffuser to help him settle. He gradually started going outside again a few weeks later and we haven’t had any problems since.

What is his personality like?

He’s very affectionate and loves human company. He will come up to any guest we have over and head butt them (a classic sign of cat affection), which I actually think is quite rare for a cat. He spends most of the day inside sleeping but will go out at night to hunt. He’s known for bringing back ‘presents’ and hiding them under my daughter’s bed, much to her disgust! He once brought back a squirrel — I have no idea how he got it through the cat flap. Overall he’s a very quiet, well behaved cat who just enjoys being in the company of different family members.

What’s the best thing about Po? How does he make you smile?

He’s very friendly and has a lovely temperament. He will sleep in the strangest places, such as inside my handbag or the chest of drawers, which always amuses me. I find it hilarious when he starts acting like one of the dogs. He will line up with the 3 of them in the utility room and wait patiently for his tea. He won’t really go near them at any other time of the day, but at 5pm he’s perfectly willing to be part of their pack.

What is his favourite thing to do?

He very much enjoys sleeping, especially when he’s up high and can observe everyone. His favourite place to curl up is behind my head when i’m sitting on the sofa — that’s when his purr seems to be the loudest!

Does he have any mischievous habits?

He has a terrible habit of using my very expensive carpets to sharpen his claws. He also likes to sleep in my sock and knicker drawer and has decided that he’s comfiest when half of the contents are emptied out onto the floor.

How did you help Po settle in with the three dogs?

We just let them get on with it when introducing Po into the house. I gave the dogs treats every time he was with them so they associated good things with his presence. He did run away from them to start off with until he quickly realised that he could easily take them on. Sometimes they’ll try and chase him when they’re all playing out in the garden. I think Po takes pity on them and lets them — they’ll never catch him and I feel like he’s well aware of that.

What makes your relationship with Po so special?

He’s just an incredibly loving and happy chap who seems to have really come into his own by being part of our family. He was pretty terrified of humans when he first arrived and now he seems to adore everyone. It’s lovely knowing that you’ve given a cat a happy home and he makes it quite clear that he’s certainly very happy.