Update 10/26/09: Exotic-looking Coco is a handful of a cat! She is sooo playful and strong! A real lover kitty with muscle and catt-i-tude! An excellent combination for those who like an athletic, sleek cat who turns to mush when a case of lovies comes on.
Coco has come a long way in terms of her health. Still trying to finetune the issues of diarrhea, but her energy level and endurance are up. Her favorites thing to play with, and destroy, is still feathers. I've never seen a cat with as much gusto as she has when a feather comes into her line of sight. So, if you have have beloved feathered pets, Coco would probably not be ideal for your home.
Coco's fur is coming in thicker and softer. It is very difficult to capture the luster and grizzled tips on camera. It changes in different lighting. Her coloring is very appropriately named "Chocolate" and all of the types from dark chocolate to powdered chocolate and every shade in between. She's a chameleon of browns! Just gorgeous!
Coco has been recently reunited with a former boyfriend of hers, White Boy. It was a happy reunion. They were both very pleased to see each other again. Lots of headbutting, gentle meows, and lots of kisses. Ahhh! Love. It's a wonderful thing!
Coco should be ready for her forever home in about a month. She'll make a wonderful addition to the family for the right home that can suit her needs.
*Update* 10/9/09 from foster mom: Coco's health is continuing to improve. She is still on lots of medication for the internal parasites, skin conditions and upper respiratory infection. The nasty ear mites she has are almost gone. Those big beautiful ears of hers are looking pink and clean once again. The raging diarrhea from the parasites has settled down enough that she can be handled without making a mess. With her now being handled, Coco had a complete sponge bath and nail trim today to get rid of the grime and superficial germs. Wow! Did she pretty up! This young lady's fur has a nice shine to it and the grizzled tips are more noticeable. Her fur is still thin and missing in a few spots, but now that she is eating well and her body is using the nutrition correctly, the fur will start to grow in thicker. Coco is going to be drop dead gorgeous when fully healthy.
Coco's personality is shining through now that she is feeling better. She is a total lover girl who likes to be in the lap, standing on shoulders and rubbing her face everywhere. She very much enjoys playing. Coco can jump high trying to get the feather wand, with her legs sprawled out in every direction. She does get tired easily after a vigorous play session. After being confined most of her life, Coco's endurance is short. But that will get better in time.
All in all, she and Nala are doing much better, considering how they came into our Rescue. She and Nala are very bonded, which makes sense after all of what they have gone through. Things are definitely looking up for these two girls!
Updated photos will follow soon. Keep checking back.
* * * * *
Coco is one of those cats that made us glad we took Dr. Brigitte Cowell,
(National Director of Savannah Rescue), with us for breed ID. If we had
seen this cat we would have known she was something special and gone
home and poured over our cat books to see what she was. Alas, we would
never have found her. We would have said great things about her and
called her a "lucky domestic, lookalike, or a beautiful mix" on our
adoptable pages. We would never have known what a rare cat we had in our
foster home. Only a breed expert was able to correctly identify Coco.
She is a purebred Chausie, that's for sure. She is a "non standard"
color called Chocolate. Apparently, while this color is not yet
recognized for showing, it is gaining popularity. If someone let us vote
to accept this color it would be unanimous. We vote YES! This is an
amazing cat. She's unique. You cannot mistake her for an Abyssinian as
is often the case with accepted colored Chausies. Combined with those
fabulous copper eyes she is show stopping. As amateurs at cat ID we also
are guessing she may be an early generation Chausie. Those ears are just
too amazing to be very far from the wild.
Putting aside all of the cool mumbo jumbo that we're using to show off
our newfound knowledge of these rare breeds, Coco is special just
because she is a fabulous cat. Hands down this is one of the nicest cats
in the bunch. When you hold her she leans her head back into your chin
so you can love her. She is also wildly playful and can destroy a
feather toy in no time flat.
Coco has gone to a loving foster home along with Nala. These two girls
are going to be spoiled rotten. Coco's bottom is raw from the ravages of
internal parasites. She is currently on a cocktail of three different
medications. We are also treating her for ear mites, and some skin
issues. If you would like to help Coco by sponsoring her veterinary
care, please send your donation today and note her name as a reference.
We expect Coco to be ready to go to a new home in 4-6 weeks. Hope hope!
(Please note: sponsorship of a cat does not guarantee that you will be
first in line to adopt.)
