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Lava

Female · 3 years

Prerequisite: Apartment with a secured balcony or free roam. Lava is a very confident cat who knows what she wants. On the other hand, she can also quickly become unsettled if she hears sounds she doesn't recognize. She is therefore, despite her cleverness, a very sensitive cat. She came to us because she would repeatedly attack her previous owner. A health check with us revealed that she has multiple calcified intervertebral discs and beginning spondylarthrosis, which are plaguing her. We are currently trying to support her with pain relief. However, Lava not only attacks; she is actually a very cuddly and playful cat. One must respect her boundaries and carefully earn her trust. She seems to have had bad experiences with being handled, as she quickly attacks the hands involved in play. Previous attempts at socialization have shown that she would rather live without fellow animals. We are looking for people with a lot of cat experience who do not pressure Lava. Children should ideally not live in the new home. colloquially, cats like Lava are also called character cats. So, are you ready for a character cat?. This cat needs outdoor access.

DE·Show original

Voraussetzung: Wohnung mit gesichertem Balkon oder Freigang. Lava ist eine sehr selbstbewusste Katze, die weiß was sie will. Andererseits kann sie aber auch schnell verunsichert werden, wenn sie z.B. Geräusche hört, die sie nicht kennt. Sie ist also trotz ihrer Cleverness eine sehr sensible Katze. Sie kam zu uns, weil sie ihren vorherigen Besitzer immer wieder angegriffen hat. Ein Gesundheitscheck bei uns hat ergeben, dass sie multiple verkalkte Bandscheiben und beginnende Spondylarthrosen hat, die sie plagen. Wir versuchen sie aktuell schmerzlindernd zu unterstützen. Lava greift aber nicht nur an, sie ist eigentlich eine sehr verschmuste und verspielte Katze. Man muss sich an ihre Grenzen halten und vorsichtig ihr Vertrauen gewinnen. Sie scheint schlechte Erfahrungen mit Händen gemacht zu haben, weil sie diese schnell attackiert, wenn sie im Spielgeschehen ist. Frühere Vergesellschaftungsversuche haben gezeigt, dass sie lieber ohne Artgenossen leben möchte. Wir suchen Menschen mit viel Katzenerfahrung, die Lava nicht bedrängen. Kinder sollten besser nicht im neuen Zuhause leben Umgangssprachlich nennt man Katzen wie Lava auch Charakterkatze. Na, Lust auf eine Charakterkatze?

Size
Small
Age
3 years
Location
🇩🇪Essen
Shelter
Tierheim Essen
Living with Lava
  • Spayed
  • Good with kids
  • Has special needs
Cared for by Tierheim Essen · Essen

Listed 3 months ago

Bringing Lava home

What you'll need for Lava in week one.

Hand-picked · prices indicative

  1. 01
    Required by most shelters

    Hard-Shell Cat Carrier

    Top-loading carriers are easier than dragging cats out of a side door.

    View on Amazon
    €25–40
  2. 02

    Feliway Calming Spray

    Cat-specific pheromone. Spritz the carrier 15 min before pickup.

    View on Amazon
    €18–25
  3. 03
    Editor's pick

    Covered Litter Box

    Privacy reduces stress in week one. Get one size up from what you'd think.

    View on Amazon
    €25–45
  4. 04

    Clumping Cat Litter

    Match the shelter's brand for the first bag, transition slowly over a week.

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    €10–18
  5. 05

    Litter Scoop + Stand

    Daily scooping is non-negotiable. A stand keeps the scoop clean.

    View on Amazon
    €10–18
  6. 06

    Sturdy Scratching Post

    Tall enough they can stretch fully. Saves your couch from week one.

    View on Amazon
    €30–60

§ Affiliate links · TailHarbor earns a small commission, no extra cost to you.

About Lava

What life with Lava looks like

Lava is a small adult cat waiting at Tierheim Essen in Essen.

An adult cat usually shows their personality within a week. Give them a quiet room with everything they need (food, water, litter, hiding spot) and let them choose when to explore. Don't force interaction — every cat decides for themselves when a new home counts as home.

Note from the shelter: Multiple calcified discs and beginning spondylarthrosis in spine, requires ongoing pain medication and medical management

🇩🇪Adopting from Germany

German rescues typically require an in-person home visit (Vorkontrolle) or detailed video home check before approving adoption. Animals leave the shelter sterilized, microchipped, and with a valid EU pet passport. Adoption fees usually fall between €250 and €450, covering veterinary preparation.

Essen, Germany browse more cats in Germany.

Frequently asked

Adopting Lava, answered.

How do I contact the shelter about Lava?
Use the phone, email, or website link in the sidebar of this page. Tierheim Essen handles screening and the adoption contract directly — TailHarbor doesn't broker the conversation. When you reach out, mention you saw Lava on TailHarbor so they know which animal you're asking about.
Can I adopt Lava if I live in another country?
Yes, in most cases. Rescues across Europe routinely place animals abroad — Tierheim Essen will tell you what they need (EU pet passport, rabies titer, transport coordination) and whether they handle transport themselves or refer you to a partner. Plan for an extra €100–€350 in transport costs depending on distance.
Is Lava already vetted, vaccinated, and chipped?
Most cats on TailHarbor leave their shelter with sterilization, current vaccinations, microchip ID, and an EU pet passport included in the adoption fee. The vet status on this page reflects what the shelter has reported — ask them directly if you need details on specific vaccines, recent bloodwork, or chronic conditions.
What happens if Lava isn't the right fit?
Every reputable rescue accepts an animal back if the adoption genuinely doesn't work — that's part of the standard contract. Talk it through with Tierheim Essen early rather than rehoming privately; they know Lava and can place them more successfully than a second-hand listing can.
Why does the description sometimes read awkwardly?
TailHarbor translates shelter descriptions into English from the source language (DE). Translation is imperfect — names of streets, donors, and shelter-specific terms occasionally slip through unidiomatically. For the cleanest read, click the source link to see the shelter's original page.
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