Meet our pets

Whether it’s a playful kitten, a dog that loves long, muddy walks or a sleepy moggy with a thing for catnip, a pet can bring many years of happiness and love into your life.

Here, we speak to some of our colleagues at Co-op Insurance about how adopting an older or a rescue pet has enhanced their lives.

First up is Helen and her two cats; Archie, a longhaired tom cat and his new kitty friend, Beau, a ginger and white tom cat.

Why is Archie such a special part of the family?

Archie has lived with Helen since 2006 when she was given him by a former work colleague. “He loves human contact,” she says. “He has three baskets around the house but he much prefers to sleep on my bed, right next to my head. If I’m not cuddling him or he wants a stroke, he taps me on the face.”

How did you introduce your new cat Beau to Archie?

Beau joined the household in November 2021 when Helen adopted him from Diefers Legacy Animal Rescue in Bolton. As cats are territorial, introducing a new one to your cat can be fraught with problems, so she arranged to foster him initially. “I wanted to make sure Archie was comfortable with another kitty in the house,” she explains. “Beau is an older kitten and is good with other cats, so it’s worked out really well. Plus he’s gorgeous with his big round face.”

What made you pick Ferris Mewller, or did he pick you?

Vicky is another colleague who chose a rescue animal. She adopted an older dark grey tabby cat, Ferris Mewller, from Cats Protection in Warrington in 2019. “We wanted to adopt a rescue cat as there are so many out there needing homes,” she says. “We went looking for a kitten but Ferris picked us. He was lovely. He interacted with us really well and didn’t even seem bothered by our noisy toddler.”

He may be an older chap, but he’s still full of beans according to Vicky. “He’s lively and has times when he just runs around the garden chasing his tail,” she says. “He’s very mellow too and gets along with all the other cats in the neighbourhood. I’ve never known this with cats before.”

What’s it like owning your Bengal cat, Marley?

Liza also has an older cat called Marley. Although she’s had her since she was a kitten, Liza says she’s just as energetic and playful as she was when she first brought her home. “She can be a bit like a dog,” says Liza. “She loves to chase after stuff and will bring back a pen if I throw it for her. She also loves cuddles and being carried around. I don’t know what I’d do without her.”

Marley also lives up to the Bengal cat reputation for being talkative, loving to contribute loudly to Liza’s video calls. “She makes me laugh with all the different noises she makes and I know what they all mean,” she says. “She’s great company.”

How can a prospective pet parent prepare for a new arrival?

While it’s clear that these cats have all brought lots of love and laughter into their homes, their owners are the first to admit that you need to be prepared before you adopt one. “Consider how a pet will change your life,” says Helen. “It’s very rewarding but it’s not all fun to start with.”

Her own experience with Beau is a great example of this. “He’s a greedy kitty,” she laughs. “When he first arrived, he was in my spare room and he found the bag of cat biscuits. He managed to chew through the bag and I caught him happily helping himself. Even now, I often come downstairs in the morning to find a half-eaten potato cake or croissant.”

Vicky agrees that you need to be prepared for change before considering adoption. “Pets give you so much but make sure you’re ready for the impact of having somebody else to take care of,” she says. “With a safe home, food and caring owners they’ll really thrive. And be prepared to talk to them and about them constantly.”

If you’d like to adopt a rescue pet or an older animal, Co-op Insurance can help you look after their health and wellbeing. Visit our pet insurance page to find out more and to get a quote.