Ice-white cat is transformed in time for Christmas after being found a loving new home by Gosport volunteers

Bella had been in the care of Cats Protection’s Gosport Town branch for four months before the Hunter Family adopted the 10-year-old in February.

Previous owners had to give Bella up because she lived with another cat and a dog and was over-grooming from the stress of sharing her living space.

Bella arrived in care suffering from itchy, infected skin as a result of her constant licking, as well as a probable food intolerance.

The volunteer-run branch of the feline welfare charity worked with vets to stabilise her condition and was delighted when Paula, Rupert, Max and Freyja from Southampton offered to give her a home.

Now, almost a year later, Bella has celebrated a very different Christmas from the one she experienced in 2019.

Branch co-ordinator Kate Stapleford, who fostered Bella, said: ‘Bella was always a beautiful cat but I remember clearly how uncomfortable her skin was for her when it flared up.’

After getting the condition under control, they tried to lower the steroid dose but unfortunately her itchy skin returned.

Kate added: ‘Although we had a lovely time together over the festive period, and she enjoyed exploring one of the shoeboxes made for her as part of our seasonal shoebox appeal, I remember wishing that next Christmas she’d be in a home of her own and her skin would finally have settled.’

SEE ALSO: Missing Gosport cat is reunited with family almost 2 years after she disappeared

Bella’s skin is now completely healed, with her fur in a lovely condition, and she has been thoroughly enjoying all the joys of the season in a home of her own.

Paula Hunter said: ‘We celebrated Bella's 10th birthday on November 16 with some chicken for tea and she loved her birthday present - some new fishing rod toys.

‘Christmas with Bella has been really fun. She seemed a bit bewildered when the Christmas tree and lights first appeared but soon started to have fun batting baubles along the floor! She's made friends with the elves as well.

‘We are so pleased that we adopted Bella and that she is so settled with us. She has a lovely nature, she is playful but also very calm and affectionate. We are very lucky to have her!’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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