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Romy

European Shorthair · Female · Senior · 12 years

Romy is looking for a quiet home with a lot of patience. 🧡 Some cats lose their homes. Romy has lost her whole world. 💔 After the death of her owner, the older lady cat not only had to leave her home. She lost her human, her familiar surroundings, her usual routines and the security that had given her a lot of years. For cats who live by consistency, this is a huge challenge. Even before, her life was not easy. Her owner was often in the hospital and there were only rarely fixed routines. After the death of her cat friend, Romy withdrew further and further. Building trust was difficult for her even then. That is why she shows herself very shy in the animal shelter. She usually hides in her scratching post and prefers to observe from a safe distance. Out of uncertainty she sometimes snarls - not because she wants to attack, but because she is afraid. She has never hit or bitten anyone. And yet we see small progress. ❤️ Romy takes treats from her hand and for Dreamies or lick paste she even overcomes her uncertainty. With her former owner she let herself be stroked - but always when she was ready for it. Due to FORL Romy has no teeth anymore, but she copes well with it. For Romy we wish a quiet household without children. An apartment with a secured balcony would be ideal. Maybe Romy is not looking for people who want a cuddly cat right away. Maybe she is looking for exactly the people who understand that trust takes time. Who are happy about every small progress. And who show her that she can finally arrive again. ❤️

DE·Show original

🐾Romy sucht ein ruhiges Zuhause mit ganz viel Geduld.🧡 Manche Katzen verlieren ihr Zuhause. Romy hat ihre ganze Welt verloren.💔Nach dem Tod ihres Besitzers musste die ältere Katzendame nicht nur ihr Zuhause verlassen. Sie verlor ihren Menschen, ihre vertraute Umgebung, ihre gewohnten Routinen und die Sicherheit, die ihr viele Jahre Halt gegeben hatte. Für Katzen, die von Beständigkeit leben, ist das eine riesige Herausforderung. Schon zuvor war ihr Leben nicht einfach. Ihr Besitzer war häufig im Krankenhaus und feste Abläufe gab es nur selten. Nach dem Tod ihres Katzenfreundes zog sich Romy immer weiter zurück. Vertrauen aufzubauen fiel ihr schon damals schwer. Im Tierheim zeigt sie sich deshalb sehr schüchtern. Meist versteckt sie sich in ihrer Kratztonne und beobachtet lieber aus sicherer Entfernung. Aus Unsicherheit faucht sie manchmal – nicht, weil sie angreifen möchte, sondern weil sie Angst hat. Geschlagen oder gebissen hat sie dabei nie. Und trotzdem sehen wir kleine Fortschritte. ❤️Romy nimmt Leckerchen aus der Hand und für Dreamies oder Schleckpaste überwindet sie sogar ihre Unsicherheit. Bei ihrem früheren Besitzer ließ sie sich streicheln – allerdings immer dann, wenn sie bereit dafür war. Aufgrund von FORL hat Romy keine Zähne mehr, kommt damit aber gut zurecht. Für Romy wünschen wir uns einen ruhigen Haushalt ohne Kinder. Eine Wohnung mit gesichertem Balkon wäre ideal. Vielleicht sucht Romy keine Menschen, die sofort eine verschmuste Katze möchten. Vielleicht sucht sie genau die Menschen, die verstehen, dass Vertrauen Zeit braucht. Die sich über jeden kleinen Fortschritt freuen. Und die ihr zeigen, dass sie endlich wieder ankommen darf.❤️

Size
—
Age
Senior · 12 years
Location
🇩🇪Gelsenkirchen
Shelter
Tierheim Gelsenkirchen
Living with Romy
  • ✓Spayed
  • ✓Good with kids
Cared for by Tierheim Gelsenkirchen · GelsenkirchenLearn about European Shorthair →

Listed 2 weeks ago

Bringing Romy home

What you'll need for Romy 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

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About Romy

What life with Romy looks like

Romy is a senior european shorthair cat waiting at Tierheim Gelsenkirchen in Gelsenkirchen.

Senior cats are the gentlest house guests: predictable, mostly silent, and grateful for a sunny windowsill. Older cats often have minor dental or kidney issues — keep an eye on water intake and weight. Many sleep eighteen hours a day and want no part of any drama.

🇩🇪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.

Gelsenkirchen, Germany — browse more cats in Germany.

Frequently asked

Adopting Romy, answered.

How do I contact the shelter about Romy?
Use the phone, email, or website link in the sidebar of this page. Tierheim Gelsenkirchen handles screening and the adoption contract directly — TailHarbor doesn't broker the conversation. When you reach out, mention you saw Romy on TailHarbor so they know which animal you're asking about.
Can I adopt Romy if I live in another country?
Yes, in most cases. Rescues across Europe routinely place animals abroad — Tierheim Gelsenkirchen 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 Romy 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 Romy 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 Gelsenkirchen early rather than rehoming privately; they know Romy 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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