The small tabby cat that brought a Premiership match to a stand still is look for a new home as he recovers from his ordeal in a Liverpool rescue center. The cat, originally dubbed “Kenny” for Kop manager Kenny Dalglish now goes by the name of “Shanks” and looks the part as he seeks to find a caring home. Viewers watched in amazement a few weekends ago as the cat eluded Spurs ‘keeper Brad Fiedel tried attempts to catch him until a steward eventually scooped him up and ejected him from Anfield.
Following his spell as a Liverpool sub he faded into obscurity, living as a stray in a derelict house in Lothair Road, a few feet from the Shankly gate of Anfield. When of 50,000 odd Twitter his fans started looking for “Kenny” the cat, Freshfield Animal Rescue received a call from an resident on the road outside of Anfield, telling them where he set up shop and he was taken to a temporary home at the animal charity’s centre at Freshfield. Cattery assistant Katherine Gibbs, 25, said he is “an absolute gentleman” and despite a few scratches to his face and legs from fighting other cats he is in good heath. Katherine said: “He is not an aggressive cat and we think he is a bit of a ladies man so he fought off the advances of other male cats and has wounds from fights.
“He was a little bit timid and reserved when we brought him here but he has settled in brilliantly.”
Poor Shanks is being treated with antibiotics to remove an absess from his cheek sustained fighting with other cats and Katherine has said his wounds will heal over in about six weeks. After that the most famous cat to appear on the pitch at Anfield will be available to be rehomed to a cat-lover who can handle “Kenny’s” celebrity status.
Katherine added: “We’ll get him match fit soon and he has done quite a bit of training already.
“He is exhausted at the moment and sleeps a lot. But he will be in full health soon after a course of antibiotics, a dental and he is neuted.
“Shanks is quite a laidback cat but he doesn’t like dogs, like most cats. He’ll be a lap cat, even though he’s strong-willed, because he loves his cuddles.
“He’s an absolute gentleman and loves eating chicken – which is his favourite treat.”
So lads…anyone looking to adopt a cat?…or want to make a donation to the Freshfield Animal Rescue? Here’s their contact info:
cattery@freshfieldsrescue.org.uk
0151 – 931 – 1604
Written by: Matthew Wall, editor, soccerprose.com
