The status of Jasper was
last posted on 08/30/26 by
Keep calm and purr on.
Male Cat, Tabby
Tabby / Domestic Short Hair / Mixed
Description:
Jasper is a special guy for several reasons, each one being important to consider as we search for his perfect forever home. First, the basics. He's 2 and a half years old and weighs about 10lbs. Gorgeous coat and stunning green eyes that will suck you right into his trap. Gets along well with other cats as long as they wouldn't bully him because of his situation. He was skittish around my dogs at first but he's fine now since they ignore him. He's VERY social and not a cat that will hide when you have company. Now, for the details about what makes him so special.He had to have his rear left leg amputated. The vet believes he was born with bad hips. The remaining one isn't so great and may go bad or develop arthritis as he ages, but for now, he hops and jumps around like any other cat. He's not very fast on it, but he gets around just fine.Usually we save the best for last, but in this case, I've saved the worst for last. Why? Well, I'm hoping if you've read this far and you're still with me, maybe this last bit won't seem so bad. Jasper is very easily over-stimulated and occasionally nips at legs and feet...and if you're in sandals, your big toe doesn't stand a chance. If you pet him too long, your hand might also be a target. Jasper has been roaming around my house for close to 2 months and we rarely have an issue with him anymore because we've learned to read his signals. Plus, the more he feels comfortable here, the less he gets agitated. He sleeps in bed with us, always wants to be touched, rubs against our legs...he truly is a very affectionate cat. He spends most of his time in the doorway looking outside, but has zero interest in going outside himself. He also spends a lot of time in the kitchen looking out the window. He is able to jump up to the barstool with no trouble. He's interested in what I'm doing, loves attention, pets, chin scratches, the whole thing...but do it too long and you'll probably get a chomp. He's the sweetest cat ever...until something in him switches on and he feels the need to put his mouth on something. Is he tearing me up and sending me to urgent care???... heck no. Most of the time it's hardly more than a scratch, but he does come with a warning label. I've never needed a band-aid for any of it, though. Not sure if needing urgent care or a bandage are any kind of scale we can use to gauge the severity of his behavior, but I'm always going to be honest about my foster animals...both good and bad. A lot of people say "Oh, I used to have a cat like that" when I talk about him, so his behavior isn't that unusual. He just needs an experienced family. So how do I handle living with a little 3 legged alligator? Well, I know his signals. When his tail starts flicking back and forth harder, I stop engaging. When I'm trying to walk and he gets right in front of me and blocks me...I stop walking and stand still until he walks away. His bites are very predictable if you know how to read a cat, but Jasper is a cat I would never place in a home with children or an inexperienced cat person. He is very sweet 95% of the time...but that other 5% means we aren't looking for the typical cat owner for him. I suspect there will be lots of interested in him because of those green eyes and the "awwwww" factor of having 3 legs. I may have to talk to, and deny, a lot of GREAT families who are interested. Our rescue has had a couple other biters and we found perfect homes for both of them. I'm really hoping Jasper can get that lucky, too. If you think you might be the right fit for Jasper, please reach out to [email protected] with questions. We do have an application process, but let's talk about him first before I ask you to spend the time filling it out. Thank you so much for reading this far. **All Shelter to Home animals are fully vetted per their age. We believe in pediatric spay and neuter. All animals will be spayed or neutered, tested for FIV/FeLV or heartworm, given age-appropriate boosters and rabies, dewormed, flea treated, and anything extra that is needed to give this animal a wonderful forever life in a permanent home. Adoption fees are usually $50 for cats and between $150-$250 for dogs, unless the pet is sponsored or we are running a promotion. Please visit our website at sheltertohome.com for information on our adoption process.**
