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Zelda

European Shorthair · Female · Young · 3 years

Zelda, approximately 3 years old and perhaps not the most courageous cat you'll meet. But I've had a lot of experiences - even if I'm not exactly sure where my life started. When I was caught by the Oberhausen Cat Shelter, I was very sick and needed urgent help. Where I came from and what I experienced before this time is a bit hazy for me. Maybe that's exactly why I prefer to observe people from a safe distance at first. Luckily, my path led to Dr. Christoph Höptner, a specialist in small animal medicine in Mülheim an der Ruhr. He took me in, treated me, and gave me the chance to get healthy again. After that, I was allowed to move to a foster home. And there, a whole new chapter began for me: I was supposed to find out what a real home feels like - with warm sleeping places, regular food, and people who mean well to me. Well... from my side, the enthusiasm about that was rather modest at first. For two months, the kitchen was my personal hiding place. There I felt safe and could observe the events from a safe distance. People were just not familiar to me yet. But slowly, very slowly, something changed. I realized that nobody is forcing anything from me. And so I dare to come out more and more often. My foster mom is not allowed to touch or stroke me yet. But I no longer run away in fear when she comes close to me. Instead, I stay calm and just keep a small safety distance. For me, that's a huge step. And there's one thing I'm not shy about at all: I really like other cats! That's why I'm looking for a loving, social cat companion for my future home, to whom I can orient myself. For my new home, I wish for outdoor access, so that I can go on discovery tours outside after a corresponding acclimatization period. Of course, I am already chipped, vaccinated and neutered. What I'm looking for now? People with patience, a quiet home and a lot of understanding that trust takes time. I want to be able to decide for myself when I come closer. Maybe it takes a while - but every small step forward is something very special for me. Maybe you're the person I'll eventually realize: These people aren't so bad after all … ❤️🐾 If you want to know more about me, please contact:

DE·Show original

Ich bin Zelda, ungefähr 3 Jahre alt und vielleicht nicht die mutigste Katze, die ihr kennenlernen werdet. Aber ich habe eine Menge erlebt– auch wenn ich selbst gar nicht mehr so genau weiß, wo mein Leben eigentlich angefangen hat. Als ich von der Katzenhilfe Oberhausen eingefangen wurde, ging es mir leider sehr schlecht. Ich war schwer krank und brauchte dringend Hilfe. Woher ich ursprünglich komme und was ich vor dieser Zeit erlebt habe, liegt für mich ein bisschen im Nebel. Vielleicht ist genau das der Grund, warum ich Menschen zunächst lieber aus sicherer Entfernung beobachtet habe. Zum Glück führte mein Weg zu Dr. Christoph Höptner, Fachtierarzt für Kleintiere in Mülheim an der Ruhr. Er hat mich aufgenommen, behandelt und mir damit die Chance gegeben, wieder gesund zu werden. Danach durfte ich auf eine Pflegestelle ziehen. Und dort begann für mich ein ganz neues Kapitel: Ich sollte herausfinden, wie sich ein richtiges Zuhause anfühlt – mit warmen Schlafplätzen, regelmäßigem Futter und Menschen, die es gut mit mir meinen. Nun ja … von meiner Seite aus war die Begeisterung darüber zunächst eher überschaubar. Zwei Monate lang war die Küche mein persönliches Versteck. Dort fühlte ich mich sicher und konnte das Geschehen aus gebührendem Abstand beobachten. Menschen waren mir einfach noch nicht geheuer. Aber langsam, ganz langsam, hat sich etwas verändert. Ich habe gemerkt, dass niemand von mir etwas erzwingen möchte. Und so wage ich mich inzwischen immer öfter hervor. Meine Pflegemama darf mich noch nicht anfassen oder streicheln. Aber ich laufe nicht mehr ängstlich davon, wenn sie in meine Nähe kommt. Stattdessen bleibe ich ruhig und halte einfach einen kleinen Sicherheitsabstand. Für mich ist das ein riesiger Schritt. Und eine Sache gibt es, bei der ich überhaupt nicht schüchtern bin: Andere Katzen finde ich richtig toll! Deshalb wünsche ich mir für mein zukünftiges Zuhause unbedingt einen lieben, sozialen Katzenkumpel, an dem ich mich orientieren kann. Für mein neues Zuhause wünsche ich mir Freigang, damit ich nach einer entsprechenden Eingewöhnungszeit auch draußen auf Entdeckungstour gehen darf. Natürlich bin ich bereits gechippt, geimpft und kastriert. Was ich jetzt suche? Menschen mit Geduld, einem ruhigen Zuhause und ganz viel Verständnis dafür, dass Vertrauen seine Zeit braucht. Ich möchte selbst entscheiden dürfen, wann ich näher komme. Vielleicht dauert es ein bisschen – aber jeder kleine Schritt nach vorne ist für mich etwas ganz Besonderes. Vielleicht bist du ja der Mensch, bei dem ich irgendwann feststelle: So schlimm sind diese Menschen ja eigentlich gar nicht … ❤️🐾 Wenn ihr mehr über mich wissen wollt, meldet euch bei:

Size
Age
Young · 3 years
Location
🇩🇪Germany
Shelter
Aktion Tierisch Happy e.V.
Living with Zelda
  • Vaccinated
  • Spayed
  • Microchipped
  • Good with cats
Cared for by Aktion Tierisch Happy e.V. · GermanyLearn about European Shorthair

Listed 2 days ago

Bringing Zelda home

What you'll need for Zelda 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 Zelda

What life with Zelda looks like

Zelda is a young adult european shorthair cat waiting at Aktion Tierisch Happy e.V. in Germany.

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.

🇩🇪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.

Germany, Germany browse more cats in Germany.

Frequently asked

Adopting Zelda, answered.

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