Skip to content
TailHarbor
← Back to results
Available

Adopt Lava

Female · 3 years

Prerequisite: Apartment with a secured balcony or free roam. Here is the red Lava. Hello, I'm Lava. For a short time, I was allowed to move out of the animal shelter, but unfortunately, I didn't behave well and am now back on the search. The people here say that I am very nervous and tend to have sudden outbursts. After many examinations, it has now become clear that I am in pain. My back is not in good condition. The diagnosis states: multiple calcified intervertebral discs and beginning spondylarthrosis. Cats can have bad moods too and lash out. Now I am getting medication, and we will see what helps me best. Still, I would so much like to have my own home again. My new people should already know a bit about my species. If I don't have any interest in things, I make that very clear. Colloquially, cats like me are also called character cats. So, a character cat sounds like something you'd like, right?. This cat needs outdoor access.

Read original (de)

Voraussetzung: Wohnung mit gesichertem Balkon oder Freigang. Hier ist die rote Lava. Hallo, ich bin’s die Lava. Für kurze Zeit durfte ich aus dem Tierheim ausziehen, leider habe ich mich nicht so gut benommen und befinde mich nun wieder auf der Suche. Die Menschen hier sagen über mich das ich sehr nervös bin und auch zu Übersprungshandlungen neige. Nach vielen Untersuchungen, hat sich jetzt herausgestellt, dass ich Schmerzen habe. Mein Rücken ist gar nicht in Ordnung. Der Befund lautet: multiple verkalkte Bandscheiben und beginnende Spondylarthrosen. Da kann Katze auch einmal schlechte Laune haben und Zuhauen. Jetzt bekomme ich Medikamente, da müssen wir dann schauen, was mir am besten hilft. Trotzdem hätte ich so gerne wieder ein eigenes Zuhause. Meine neuen Menschen sollten sich schon ein wenig mit meiner Spezies auskennen. Wenn ich auf Dinge keine Lust habe, dann zeige ich das sehr deutlich. Umgangssprachlich nennt man Katzen wie mich auch Charakterkatze. Na, Lust auf eine Charakterkatze?

Size
Small
Age
3 years
Location
🇩🇪Essen
Shelter
Tierheim Essen
Living with Lava
  • Spayed
  • Has special needs
Create free account to contact →

Free account — 10 contacts included

Cared for by Tierheim Essen · Essen

Listed 2 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.

    View on Amazon
    €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.
You might also like

More from Tierheim Essen

Vögel

🇩🇪Essen, Germany

Ratten& Mäuse

🇩🇪Essen, Germany

Meerschweinchen

🇩🇪Essen, Germany

Similar animals

More cats looking for a home

Odessa

9 years

European Shorthair

🇩🇪Germany

Opa Swen

12 years

European Shorthair

🇩🇪Germany

Sammy

12 years

European Shorthair

🇩🇪Germany

Adriano

9 years

European Shorthair

🇩🇪Germany

Katjes & Kerstin

9 years

European Shorthair · large

🇩🇪Germany

Chili & Gina

8 years

European Shorthair

🇩🇪Germany

Spotted something wrong? Suggest a change →

Adopt Lava — 3yo Mixed breed in Essen | TailHarbor