The previous articles, How to Train a Dog With Patience and Rehabilitating Problem Dogs, looked at pet owners who stuck with it through the tests and trials of pet ownership and ultimately made it to terrific times.
Many cats are happy-go-lucky, loving, and curious. But they can also be quite sensitive. Something as simple as a change of routine, a change in diet, or a new brand of cat litter can spawn marking, hiding, loss of appetite and aggression. Kittens are often likened to toddlers and can get themselves--and your décor--into trouble.
The Unadoptable Attack Cat
Author Francine L. Trevens took a chance--and gave a chance--to a scared, timid cat who did not show well at the humane society. “She was the only cat that did not face the cage door,” said Francine. “People who worked there said she had been found wandering near the 9/11 site in early October 2001. They said she was unadoptable because she always attacked.”
They were right. The cat took her time coming out of her shell, but Francine waited. At first she tried touching and petting the cat, but she would be bitten. “It took two years of feeding her, talking to her, and playing with toys with her before she let me rub her head without attacking me,” said Francine.
Even though she signed an agreement that she could return the cat to the shelter if it didn't work out, Francine kept the adoption as a promise of a home for the cat, who was lost in more ways than one. After years of compromise and acceptance, Francine's patience paid off.
“It took four years before she would climb onto my bed to sleep at the far end. It took six years before she let me lift her onto my lap for 20 seconds of snuggling before she'd escape again. Now after eight years, she is my shadow.”
Crazy Kitten
Because you can't know everything about the past of an older pet (and because they are oh, so cute), many people opt to adopt kittens and puppies. Unfortunately, shelters who adopt out young pets often see them again, when adopters decide they are in over their heads and return them.
Luckily that wasn't the fate of Tygg, who was adopted by Pamela Plumadore at just nine weeks old. “He was the most adorable thing I'd ever seen,” said Pamela. “But two hours later, I was already asking myself what I had done.”
Tygg took over Pamela's home. He couldn't be left alone for a second without running after her, crying pitifully. She locked him out of her bedroom the first night in hopes of getting some sleep. Tygg cried outside the door all night long.
“Over the next few months, he shredded my carpets, furniture, and desk chair, all while a scratching post coated in catnip was ready for use.”
When Tygg was nine months old, Christmas came. Pamela was sure Tygg would climb and destroy the Christmas tree. Surprisingly she did not, thanks to a fleece blanket under the tree that Tygg came to love and sleep on nightly.
“After Christmas, the entire dynamic had changed, as we were both well rested and more cuddly.”
You're Not My Real Mother
Homeless pets need homes, but they also need time to adjust to those homes. Sometimes they just need to grow up, like Tygg. Sometimes they have medical issues that are unknowingly bothering them, and when treated, their behavioral issues subside. Sometimes, they just need to feel secure; confident that they won't be abandoned or “lost” again.
Unselfishly taking over care of her grandmother's cat after she could no longer care for her, Diana Estill found herself living with an angry, destructive feline. Possibly because of the change of routine and confusing loss of her owner, “Fraidy” had issues and was not joyful or loving for the first few months. But after three months of patience and consistency, Fraidy calmed down and began to feel at home.
"She finally purred for the first time since she’d been with us, and stopped misbehaving...almost,” said Diana. “But those annoyances have over time become endearing.”
Leigh Peterson - Leigh Peterson is a pets writer, pet sitter, professional singer and internet marketer specializing in online PR.
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