Dimitri

Dimitri started coming into my yard in the summer of 2022. He was a skinny boy with half a tail, scruffy, and starving. After a few months of daily visits, I trapped him to be neutered and vaccinated. Most of the cats who have been trapped and released to my yard take a few days before they venture back. Dimitri was back the next day, and he has been a resident ever since. Dimitri was quick to see the others getting love and attention when food was brought out, and it was only a matter of days before he was at the front of the line for pets and "good boys." He LOVES attention, and he has a purr so loud that I can hear it through the door when I am bringing out food. He truly enjoys human interaction, and of all of the strays I have had in my yard, he is the fastest one to become hand-trained. As with all of the ferals, once they know loving touch, you can see them thinking, "Where has this been all my life?!" Outside of when he was recuperating from being neutered, he has not come into my house since he was released back to the yard, so he is not familiar with the sights and sounds of a home. However, he is very anxious to learn, and camps out by my front or back doors on a daily basis. I truly feel like he would acclimate well (and quickly) to a home environment. The main reason he has not been in my house is that I have 2 senior cats (13 and 16) who stay mostly indoors, and they have health issues. Peter John and Papa are always in at night, as well. Dimitri is a very dominant male and very protective of his territory, which is good for keeping other strays out of the yard, but he is a strong, intimidating presence, and my guys are afraid of him. Being a feral animal, he has had to develop a tough exterior for self preservation. He is a fighter when needed, and he has the scars and half a tail to prove it. With his strong, dominant character, he would do best as an only pet, but make no mistake, he would be a loving, quirky, loyal addition to a household. He has not learned how to play yet, and the feather wand terrifies him, but he has not had the opportunity to learn the fun of interactive play. He adores affection, and LOVES to be brushed, and I am sure he would like nothing more than to walk into my house, climb up on the couch, and find a spot on my lap. He definitely likes people, and he is litter-trained. He just had his annual vet visit, and he tested negative for Feline Aids and Feline Leukemia, and he is up-to-date on his Rabies and Distemper vaccines. Although he was scared to death, he was a very good boy at the doctor's office. As with any feral adoption, time, patience, understanding, love, and space are essential in helping an animal acclimate to a new home. To them, the outside is their place of security, because they can run or hide from potential danger. A house is a huge version of a trap or crate, as they can be locked in. Learning to know the difference takes time, but it is definitely a possibility, and Dimitri is ready for that possibility to become a reality. If you are interested in learning more about Dimitri and may be looking to adopt please fill out a PANT adoption application and someone will call you.