When a man suffering from dementia died at his Crumpsall home earlier this year, his body went undetected for two weeks.
When he was found, his house had been left in “dire condition” with food packaging and rubbish strewn all over the place.
A number of cats were also found on the property, all struggling to survive without food.
But there was a glimmer of hope when a leaky water pipe in the bathroom gave the cats a source of water to drink.
In February, 62-year-old Tiffany Dodd from Altrincham heard about the unfortunate story from a friend of a friend.
When the lockdown began, she had given up her antique furniture work to rehabilitate and house cats.
“I had recently lost two of my cats and was just walking past the stores when I saw a cat in need of help – it really started from there,” Tiffany, who is originally from Queensland, tells the Manchester Evening News.
“I caught the cat, restored it to health, and paid the cost of neutering. Then I got it used to people again and rehabilitated it.
“I’m not a charity, I do everything out of my own pocket, but it’s a very satisfying role for me.”
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On the subject of matching items
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On the subject of matching items
Because of her work, Tiffany was given access to the man’s property to see if any of his cats could be saved.
“The majority of his cats had been rescued,” Tiffany told the Manchester Evening News.
“But some were unknowingly left without food.”
After searching the property, Tiffany eventually found three cats hiding. She set a trap and was able to save her.
Then she was told by the man’s neighbors that some of the cats had escaped.
She later found a kitten and another cat in his garage – she barely survived the wintry conditions without eating or drinking.
She named the older cat Cookie, which she kept for about four years old.
“He was scared the most,” explains Tiffany.
“He didn’t trust anyone. I don’t think he’s ever been patted before. “
While Tiffany was able to take in the other cats quickly, it was Cookie who needed special care and attention before he could be rehabilitated.
A number of cats were found hiding on the property
(Image: Tiffany Dodd)
In addition to RSPCA Altrincham staff, Tiffany helped train Cookie.
“Usually when I pick up a stray cat they are usually cared for as kittens and then left behind,” she added.
“They are really very happy when you bring them home because they realize that they are into a good cause.
“But he had a pretty good attitude with Cookie. He had an owner who was obviously struggling quite a bit, but from his point of view he had a home and he had regular meals.
“When I brought him home, all he really wanted was to go back to the life he could no longer achieve.
“He was much more reluctant and took a lot longer to trust me.”
Now Tiffany says that Cookie is a completely different cat than the one she picked up two months ago.
He is litter trained, he is obsessed with knocking and now loves being in contact with other people.
Cookie is now trained and ready for a new home
(Image: Tiffany Dodd)
And now he’s ready to be adopted.
“It’s so wonderful to see the cats spin so well,” says Tiffany.
“But unfortunately I can’t keep every cat I look after. If I kept them all, I couldn’t save anymore and everything would stop.
“When caring for a cat, you need to keep her isolated while you build that trust and train her.
“Cookie has made great strides in his short time with us, but he’s still very sensitive and scared.
“It will be some time before his world has been turned upside down.”
So far, however, Tiffany has not been able to find a home for Cookie.
“I usually get a good answer and can pick up the cats pretty quickly, but Cookie didn’t.
“I think people might find his story quite disturbing because they are starting to concern themselves with their own mortality, but he is the most beautiful cat.
“He was such a brave boy with so much to do.
“He’s a very gentle soul with a sweet meow.”
Cookie is looking for a house with a garden away from the main road. He could potentially live with older children and other cats.
If you would like more information about the introduction of cookies, you can email Tiffany here.