Meet Dapperling! A Majestic Gentleman with a Heart of Gold. He is a tall, majestic, absolutely gorgeous white boy with striking green eyes, a perfectly pink nose, and a magnificent fluffy tail that he proudly carries high, flipped up over his back! And make no mistake—this is going to be one BIG boy when he fills out! But beneath that impressive appearance is one of the sweetest cats you could ever hope to meet. So affectionate and sweet but very laid-back. If I lay down on the couch in the foster room, he sprawls over my entire torso and goes to sleep.
Dapperling can be quite fearful when entering a new environment but adjusts pretty quickly. Loud noises and strangers can frighten him. He will need a patient, understanding family willing to give him the time and space he needs to feel safe. One little tip: because he's such a big fellow, make sure his hiding spots are spacious enough for him to get back OUT of them! He has a talent for squeezing himself into places that might not be quite as accommodating as he is. Once Dapperling begins to feel comfortable, his sweet nature starts to shine. Offer him your hand, and he may surprise you by warming up fairly quickly, especially when that hand comes with a nice, full-length rub down his back! He doesn't even mind having his beautiful, fluffy tail gently cupped at the end—which is practically irresistible.
Dapperling's foster mom sees great potential for him to live happily with other cats. As with any cautious kitty, slow and thoughtful introductions are essential. Swapping bedding so the cats can become familiar with one another's scents is a great first step, followed by swapped spaces, feeding on eithe rside of the door and brief visual introductions through a cracked door when they are ready. Taking things slowly will give everyone the best chance of becoming friends. In about 10 days, he has been able to be in the same room with his foster's resident cats and be completely fine. He’s not even that interactive with them so far. He shows some very mild curiosity.
One important thing to know about this handsome gentleman: his gorgeous long coat needs regular brushing! His fur can mat easily without consistent grooming, but the good news is that he tolerates brushing very well. He may also need professional grooming so be sure to include that in the considerations when adopting this cat. A friend recently had a cat groomed and it was over $100 so keep that in mind.
He does seem very interested in the windows and what is on the other side of the window, pawing at them so his new family will have to be very cautious about possible door dashing or open windows (even with a screen), especially at first, as he may decide his old outside habits are calling. We suspect that will subside some over a few months as he settles into a new home and his hormones balance out after his neuter.
Yes, Dapperling may be one of the most beautiful cats you've ever laid eyes on. But his looks are only the beginning. What makes him truly special is his sweet, gentle, laid-back nature. With patience, kindness, and a secure home where he can finally relax, this wonderful boy has so much potential to blossom. Dapperling isn't looking for someone to rush his trust. He's looking for someone willing to earn it. Give him that chance, and you may discover that life with this magnificent, fluffy gentleman is even more beautiful than his looks suggest.
He’s great with the litter box but kind of obsessive. Like he will dig and dig and dig and then go back and dig some more. He has to have a high sided litter box. I think he stands to pee when he’s in the litter box. His appetite is good, but I’ve seen him take gobs of food into his mouth and then dump it on the floor to eat it. He seems too skinny for sure. Once he gets a normal amount of weight on him, he will be a really big cat. His feet are big and his frame is big.
Dapperling is estimated to be about 5 years old. He lets you carry him around, and he has lived indoor/outdoor although he got pretty matted from the leaves and such getting into his fur. With that light coat, he is also prone to developing skin cancer. He also has very little camouflage (unless it is a snow storm), so he would be much safer spending the rest of his life indoors.
All cats are spayed/neutered, current on age-appropriate vaccines, microchipped, FELV/FIV tested, dewormed and started on monthly flea preventatives. Meet Dapperling by completing the online adoption application or visiting him during our weekly cat adoption event from 12-4pm at PetSmart, Bleachery Blvd, on Saturday.