by Ruth
(England )
Meet Vincent, the untouchable.
Following my story about poor little Pierce, declawed and in a Shelter at only a few months old, today meet Vincent.
I came across him in one of my monthly counts for Dr Jean Hofve of the reasons why declawed cats are in Shelters. He is in a Shelter in Los Angeles and this is the description of him given:
'Large adult male. If your taste in cats runs to look, but not touch, then Vincent is just the one for you! Vincent enjoys the company of other cats and humans, but does not want to be held or touched. He is declawed in front, and would love nothing more than to spend his days sitting on your windowsill, admiring the outside world'
Just look at his face, what has that poor cat gone though? Look at the weight he has to carry partly on those poor mutilated front paws.
Who can blame him for not wanting to be held or touched! All he has to look forward to if he does find someone to adopt him is sitting on the windowsill admiring the outside world.
These Shelter counts and our 2 weekly data counts too, break my heart as I'm sure they also do the other 2 volunteers doing the same thing as me!
How many more cats like little Pierce and large Vincent have to suffer the cruel and unnecessary amputation of their precious toe ends before declawing is stopped.
Hi everybody. I just happened upon this story because it was linked to an article I was reading about the horrible effects of declawing cats. Based on the link that is provided (Petfinder) Vincent has been adopted. Today is March 1, 2014, by the way. I sent a message through Petfinder and I’m also going to contact the rescue organization directly tomorrow, to find out the truth about if he actually has been adopted. If he indeed has, I’m still going to pass on my contact info, just in case he comes back due to the new home “not working out” or something. I live in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, which is about 60 miles away, and I go to New Orleans 1-2 times a week, so transport is not an issue here. I realize that whoever the new owner is may be overwhelmed or might not be prepared for having such a unique guy, and I’m going to make sure that this rescue group has my info if he comes back, which I pray he’s happy, but realistically, not all people are like us and unconditionally love their cats, and understand that Vincent is only as he is because he’s a product of horrible circumstances beyond his control. I have 3 furkids now, so my ONLY issue might be Vincent’s friend, but since I have a kitty family for him to be a part of, it might be okay, or maybe we can spend a few weeks together to see if he can happily live with my furkids, or if I need to smuggle in his friend Tori. My little girl that I have now was a feral that I picked up from a parking lot on a rainy day, and she’s become a very well-adjusted and happy kitty! I’ve had cats for all of my 37 years and I can even provide references if they need. Like I said, I hope he’s okay and in his furrever home, but if that’s not the case, I’m giving them another option.
Hugs and purrs and head bomps from me and my kitty krewe
Thanks for sharing. I will return to your comment and read it properly soon. In too much of a rush right now!
Thanks for your interest in Vincent. He HAS been adopted with his best friend Tortie and they are both doing very well at the sanctuary. They has to go together due to their very strong bond.
They are living with two other kitties and have all become great friends. I personally spoke with the woman who owns the sanctuary. They are not caged anymore.
That was all the info I was able to get but according to the personnel at the shelter they were at and the sanctuary owner they both are well and being cared for with lots of love.
Hope this helps.
I don’t think Connor is coming back so we need to hope and pray somebody else takes pity on these poor cats
lol ‘not a dicky bird’ means ‘not a word’
No it’s not looking good for Connor returning here is it. We have it about Vincent and Torti all over facebook too but so far no one wants them. Just hoping for a Christmas miracle, they do happen sometimes.
Any word from Conner?
Not a dicky bird 🙁
So disappointed. I was so sure he would step up.
?”dicky bird”? – another new one for me!
There’s some possible great MEWS for Vincent and hopefully his new buddy- but only if there is someone who is committed to take Vincent and hopefully his buddy, Tori. Since the shelter will waive adoption fees if both go to their permanent loving home together, the cost of the adoption will not be an issue.
This said, if someone lives within a 300 mile radius from New Orleans, and is able to make a committment to definitely take these kitties, there is a strong possibility for free transport from New Orleans to your location.
So if anyone can open their heart and home for these two cats, please post a response to this post. Ruth and I will keep checking and we can go on from there. What a blessing this would be for these cats. Thank you so much!
Oh no! Well hopefully something good will come of all this.All we can do is what we’ve done.The rest is up to Connor. I can certainly understand,one animal is one thing,taking on two new ones at once is quite a feat.Hope he decides to take both.Best of luck Connor,whatever you decide.
Unfortunately it’s not as straightforward as we thought. Vincent has a long time companion who the Shelter would like adopted out with him, but Connor already has a cat and wanted Vincent as a companion for him.
If anyone can remember the story of little Gimpy/Gertie one of the cats abandoned next door to us, you will remember how traumatised she was and how her feline companion was her comfort in Kays Hill cattery. She was in the cattery so long she was institutionalised and unadoptable without her friend.
Sadly she was PTS with an incurable illness without ever being rehomed and it was her friend Marcus left bereft.
Sent an inquiry just now . Connor may have to fill out an adoption application if he has not already done so! Yes Ruth I agree ,with the shelters basically over flowing , the idea of being hesitant and drag Vincent’s freedom out is odd to say the least!!!
Thank you Ruth! Got Vincents’s pics saved to my ‘puter . On my way now to FB to see if we can find this boy or a good contact for him!!!Will post here as soon as I hear!!!
Thanks Jan, I’d have thought that Shelter would have been only too happy to have Vincent adopted out after all the years he’s been there, so I wonder why are they taking such a time to approve it for Connor. He obviously truly wants to care for Vincent or he wouldn’t be going to the trouble of adopting a cat so far away and with obesity problems.
It’s Vincent’s only chance of a normal home life and that Shelter is dragging their heels! With so many unwanted cats in the Shelter you’d think they would be happy to arrange the adoption quickly.
This link from Jo works
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/26569847/
Well done in finding him. Do we know where Connor lives? Vincent is in New Orleans and he has put on a lot of weight poor thing.
Sent my email…forwarded the reply they sent me to you Ruth!!! Amazing they got back right away..all good news.
Oh my, Vincent is a big, big boy! If you do end up adopting him, Connor, it is so important that you get him to a healthy body condition. As Leah mentioned, that’s an awful lot of weight for him to be carrying on those crippled paws. But obesity can also do some serious damage by itself. I feel so sorry for Vincent, I hope he can find his way into your home where he’ll finally get the life he deserves!
I think he put on weight being so static living in a cage for months. Perhaps years. I have forgotten the time scale. Just horrible.
Could someone post a pic of Vincent to my email . Won’t let me copy here . Thanks so much! I’ll need it to start a post on FB!
Will do Jan. The link to Vincent’s page is above in a comment I made when Connor first asked about adopting him, but clicking on it for the past week or so, the message comes up that:
‘the pets are busy playing while the site is under maintenance’
http://www.petfinder.com/down-for-maintenance/
Jan I found him again for Connor by searching for ‘Vincent declawed cat Metairie, LA’ as I hadn’t got the Petfinder details on my computer any more from the data study.
But searching that way now just leads me to the same message above. Maybe someone in Metairie might know where the Shelter is, it must be a no kill Shelter thank goodness.
Oh how this makes me see red!!! As we ALL here know exactly what declawing is!!!!! Poor Vincent! Caged and in pain ,poor boy , no wonder he doesn’t want a human touching him! Look what one has already done!( I could say so much more , but it would fall on the deaf ears of idiots who do this!) Now…if someone could get me Vincent’s contact info I would be very happy to help Connor in his wonderful goal of acquiring Vincent!! I have free unlimited calling anywhere in USA and will call anyone we need to to help get Vincent out of this awful cage and home to Connor. I will also post his pic on my FB page see if anyone there has any more info on this poor guy! I may be wrong , but he’s probably over weight as moving around is probably torture on his poor little chopped toes!!! And he is probably being over fed out of guilt! Also there is nowhere for him to get any exercise in a cage!!!! ARGGGG.. Just so much wrong with this whole set up!!! Thoughtless unfeeling people should never be permitted the loving companion ship of any animal!!! Connor you can contact me here with info , my FB page or my email: ja*******@ya***.com. God Bless you Connor for wanting to give Vincent a better life, and again I’ll be happy to help with contacting!!!!
Hi Connor I can give you a little to help with your expenses you are such a wonderful person to take him into your life. I’m not surprised he doesn’t want to be touched with all that weight on de-clawed paws!!! The amount of pain he is in every day must be like a living hell for him 🙁 I hate with every fibre of me the disgusting excuse of a human that did this! I hope they rot in hell!!!
Leah I so much agree with you in hoping the people who ruined Vincent’s life rot in hell along with all the vets who do it to make money and all the cat owners who pay those vets to axe off their cats toe ends.
Connor I pray you are able to adopt Vincent and I wish you every bit of luck for yourself in this world because you deserve it for caring about that poor cat.
Hello Everybody,
Just a little update on Vincent here. I greatly appreciate all of the rescue organizations for helping with the expenses, I will get that taken care of. I have inquired via e-mail and phone and no replies yet. However, Vincent is still posted as “Adoptable” through his rescue organization, so hoping for the best over here. I was sent an attachment of a photo of him during my first inquiry of his adoption. He seems in very poor overall condition and I do not think he should even be in a cage anymore, and just handled briefly to his tolerance.
I will keep everybody posted here soon. Thank you for your support.
Hello Connor, thank you so much for persisting in trying to rescue Vincent, you would think the Shelter would be pleased to let him go to a good home after he’s been there so long! He is sure to be institutionalised by now and you are taking a lot on but I’d guess that with time he would settle nicely with you as you obviously love and understand cats. Goode luck in your quest to adopt him and you deserve help with the expenses if you manage to do this wonderful kind thing for this poor cat.
Please keep us posted and good luck.
So pleased to hear from you again. I was thinking about you and Vincent the other day. I hope this works out. I really do. Take care.
Connor O Connor!!!! Just received an email from Zeus’s Place . Vincent is there! He is spending Thanksgiving w/ his bonded pal Tori and the owner of the facility , Michelle . I forwarded the email to you , Ruth , as Connor I do not have your email . But the gist is this .. you need to fill out an app at http://www.zeusplace.com . Also seems that Vincent has bonded w/ another kitty , Tori and they are willing to for go any adoption fee if both cats get a home TOGETHER . If that is possible , it’d be super! So get your application filled out and let’s get these babies on to you and your home!!!! Weeeeeeeeeeeeee…That would be so pawsome!!!!
Thanks Jan. Great work.
What’s happened Connor?
Vincent is still sitting there, heartbroken for him 🙁
and he’s only one of many declawed cats either killed or condemned to a life in a cage, unwanted because of the legal mutilation of cats, called declawing!
Thank you so much for offering your home to Vincent, Connor! Good on you, I hope everything goes well, and I hope you and Vincent enjoy your future together!
I hope you are OK Maggie. I also hope you find the time and inclination to stick around. We like you around 😉
Connor you are amazing for rescuing beautiful Vincent I hope with all my heart it goes well he deserves so much more than being trapped in a cage all day 🙁 I hate the people who crippled him 🙁
Please let me know about the chip in and I will put some as well won’t be much but every little bit helps
I hope and pray that Vincent can be saved from the life he’s endured all these years, good luck and God bless you Connor, please let us know if you manage to save him.
Connor, this cat will be forever grateful to you- and bless you! This surgery is an abomination and must be banned. I just don’t get it- how people can continue to maim and torture cats with this unnecessary and inhumane procedure is way beyond me.
Thank you Connor. You are indeed an angel!
What a fantastic thing to happen Connor I love you.I hope it all goes well.
I love you all who are contributing to Vincents expenses too and I wish I could help as well but I don’t have a penny left over by I’ve fed my kids and cats.
POC is the BEST.
So hope you take him – it will be well worthwhile !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I so much hope that Vincent will finally find the home, where he is loved and accepted. Bless you, Connor, for considering him. 🙂
I so hope this pans out. It would be great. Hope you and your cats are OK, Finn. Very nice to hear from you again.
Good luck Connor.
Thanks Nick
I would like to adopt him. I have another cat who needs a friend as his brother recently passed away. I’m not home and I feel it would be courteous to give him a new home. Any rescues/shelters or websites with any information about him?
Hi Connor. That is a very decent suggestion. However, as the article was written a long time ago (actually before May 25th 2012 – the date stamp on the post) I am sure Vincent has found a home. I sure hope so by now.
Thanks again for visiting and offering to take him on.
http://www.petfinder.com/petdetail/26569847/
Connor, Poor Vincent is still there by the look of this! It’s years since I wrote this article about him, it’s heart breaking if he is still in a cage.
There are contact details on that link.
Good luck, please let us know if this beautiful boy is going to be lucky at long last.
Thanks Ruth. If he is still there it is very sad. An example of why declawing is horrible.
Hello everybody,
I have been following this post regarding adoption, and it appears that Vincent is still up for adoption. He looks in very poor physical condition and is undesirably overweight. Being not home very often, I would enjoy his company as should my other cat being not able to touch him, but yet work with him with his trust issues. I have yet to make arrangements to pick him up from New Jersey, but I’m sure something such as a day trip can be made out.
Connor, I hope you succeed. It would make a great cat story. You’d have to come back and tell us all about it! Good luck
Connor you are an Earth Angel if you adopt Vincent, I’m in tears at the thought of that poor cat having sat there in that cage for years, left there by some cruel person who had their cruel vet declaw him and then they didn’t want him after all.
PLEASE let us know if you manage to get him. I’m sure with time and patience he will come to love and trust you, you are obviously a true cat lover.
I cried for him seeing him sitting there week after week when I had to visit that rescue site to gather statistics and I’ve never forgotten him, but we are helpless in England so far away, all we can do is fight to get declawing banned over there and save future cats from a fate like poor Vincents.
PLEASE let us know what happens and THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
Hi Connor, PoC will contribute towards your expenses in picking up Vincent. In fact we could go further.
Every month PoC makes a donation to a cat charity. The next one is due !st December.
Please update us about your plans and when you pick up Vincent and PoC will get some money to you if you would like us to.
It won’t be a fortune but every little bit helps.
Good luck.
I’ll donate towards this. Let me know what I should pay for. Transport? Adoption fee? Anything to help get him a home of his own.
Michael if you donate then I’ll chip in to your donation. Just somebody let me know where and how to send the money.
It’s heartbreaking for Vincent.
Michael and Marc how very kind you both are.
I will contribute too, it won’t be much as what we have to spare we support our local cat sanctuaries with and they are quite desperate, but every little helps and Vincent is a very special case.
I hope and pray Connor can find a way to get Vincent home, I will then believe that miracles CAN happen.
Is it true that when cats are in pain they have what I call the “flat eyed look” where their eyes are flattened on the upper side. Vincent has that look.
How horrifying is this practice of declawing cats…
I am from Hungary and I heard of declawing first time in my life after arriving in Canada. I nearly FAINTED on the very spot!
Declawing is totally cruel and perverse!!!
What kind of Middle Ages art of torturing is going on in North America??? I still can not believe this.
All the vets performing this surgery should sit in the prison! That is exactly the place where they would end up when they would try to do this surgery in Europe. Animal cruelty is an offence there… and this IS animal cruelty, for financial gain!
Repeated, dirty animal cruelty practice for MONEY… WHAT A SHAME.
How low can the level of professional ethics sink when it comes to $$$… unbelievable…
Hope this poor cat found a new, loving home in the meantime…
I still can not believe this, that animals can be multilated in this way in supposedly CIVILIZED countries for the convenience for their stupid, ignorant, brainwashed and lazy owners..!
I love your passion. Just like me and the other regular visitors who hate the vets and cat owners who put their cats through this cruel surgery.