Size
(when grown) -
Details
Spayed or Neutered,
Story
To adopt this cat from Black Cat Rescue, please fill out a profile https://blackcatrescue.com/adopt-cat-boston Ilex is a 2 year old affectionate and companiable boy. Here's what his foster human says about him: How would you describe the cat's general personality? Ilex is just a sweet and playful little guy! He loves string toys, bird watching, and running around the apartment when he has the “zoomies”. He wants a lot of attention, and wants to be a part of anything you are doing (cooking, working, etc.). He loves spending time with people and is curious about exploring the space he is in. Does the cat enjoy being pet? Yes! If yes, on what parts of its body does the cat like to be pet? Around his ears, under the chin, on this head. Are there any parts of its body that the cat does NOT like being touched? He doesn’t really like belly rubs Does the cat come on your lap? Sometimes, but not super often. He likes sitting next to you and stretching out more than sitting on your lap. Does the cat like to be held? He LOVES being held. When he is meowing, it's either because he wants food (which, let’s be honest, is most of the time), or because he literally just wants to be picked up. He will sit in my arms for long periods of time and starts purring immediately after getting picked up. Does the cat sleep in your bed? He did the first night or two when he was isolated in my room, but now he tends to just sleep in the living room on the sofa. He’ll get in my bed in the morning sometimes when he realizes I’ve woken up. Does the cat seek your attention? Yes definitely – he wants to be part of cooking, eating, brushing your teeth, etc. He wants to go everywhere with you. This can sometimes be a challenge (i.e. he is still learning not to jump on the stovetop while I am making dinner), but it is very sweet. Does the cat like to play? Definitely! We play for at least an hour a day I would say, and he also will play on his own with his toys that are left out on the floor. What are the cat's favorite games and toys? He really likes string toys or toys that make noise. He also has a little mouse toy he likes to play with – it's a good one for him to claw at and get a lot of his energy out at. How vocal is the cat? He is a pretty vocal cat. He meows a lot when he is getting fed, when he is playing, or even if he is just following you around and wants attention. What kinds of sounds does the cat make? Mostly just little meows! And he purrs a ton too when being pet. Does the cat scratch a scratcher? He scratches a scratcher pretty well. He is still learning not to scratch the couch too, but with some redirection and treats he will scratch elsewhere. Does the cat always use the litter box? Yes. What food and frequency is the cat currently eating? He eats one large can (5.3 oz) can of food a day. I give him half in the morning and half at night. He also has dry food out at all times, which he tends to eat a good bit of throughout the day. Is the cat picky about food? He has not been picky with any of the different wet foods I have tried for him, and I have tried a good variety. He has only had Country Vet Naturals dry food with me, which he seems to enjoy. The only thing he did not like, surprisingly, was cat treats – specifically the So Stuffed cat treats. What is the cat's favorite treat? He really likes Churus. Does the cat ever swat (claws in) at you? If so, under what circumstances? He only swats at me when he is in a very playful mood. Has the cat ever scratched (claws out) you? Similarly to above, he scratches when he is in a playful mood. He usually scratches more than swats – something we are still working on. Especially if my clothing has a string on it (sweatpants, hoodie string), he may accidentally swat at me too because the movement of the string gets him excited. Does the cat ever nip (teeth without breaking skin) you? No Has the cat ever bitten you (breaking skin)? No To the best of your knowledge, how does the cat react to new people? Social? Fearful? He seems pretty unbothered/unphased by humans. He is curious and happy to sniff someone new or get a few pets, definitely not overly fearful in any way. Does that cat have any cute/quirky traits that aren’t covered by the previous questions? 1) I just want to emphasize that he's got quite a lot of energy and quite a bit of zoomies. He will definitely run around the apartment to get his energy out, either chasing a toy or just running for the fun of it. Adopters should have lots of time to give him play time and attention because he really likes it. 2) While he does jump up on tables, counters, etc. (mainly whenever you are at the space), he never bats stuff off the tables/counters. He has been really good about leaving stuff alone that isn’t his play toys. In your opinion, what is the best thing about the cat? Why should an adopter choose THIS cat to adopt? He loves companionship and is such a love bug. He loves to be held, loves to participate in anything you are doing, and is constantly purring when he has attention. That might not be what every adopter is looking for, but if that fits the description of the cat you want, Ilex is the perfect fit. What are the cat's challenges and how have you found to best manage them? Two main things: 1) As I mentioned, he jumps on counters and tables a lot. He will only do it when you are at the place. This tends to mean I am brushing my teeth, eating my food, or cooking meals with a cat right next to me. Having places designated for him to perch seems like the best way to manage this. For example, his cat tree is now right next to the kitchen table, so he will sit there instead of directly on the table when I am eating. 2) He scratches the sofa to get his energy out. He tends to do this when he has quite a bit of energy, and it is sometimes hard to get him to stop. The best way for him to stop is to give him another form of play or another scratching post that you can direct his attention to. To learn more about adopting this cat in Massachusetts, please visit www.blackcatrescue.com or fill out an Adoption Profile at https://blackcatrescue.com/adopt-cat-boston. February 13, 2025, 8:09 pm
