It is as clear as black and white that some cats are much shier than others. Very many shy and undersocialized cats arrived at Tabby’s Place during 2024. So many, in fact, that their names needed to be derived from a lot of sources, such as elements, flowers, games, human names, and even a movie.
Many of these shy and undersocialized cats are clad in various formations of black and white, from true tuxedos to white cats with some black accents. Their names include Susan, Gordon, Dawn, Georgia, Coraline, Meridian, Hydrogen, Hircine, Sorrel, and Tetris. This is not a complete list. There is little that can be labeled “complete” when it comes to this crew.
Side thought: Maybe “crew” should be “krewe.” Maybe we can engage them with float making and king cake baking in preparations for next year’s Carnival season. Consider it a work in progress.
Also a work in progress is trying to gain the trust of those who see things in sharper contrast than even their own coats exhibit. To a cat, their uncertainties about human kindness are sufficient to keep strong boundaries intact. To a cat, their uncertainties about the uncertainties about human kindness are starting to budge in the right direction, if barely visibly to the untrained eye. Luckily, at Tabby’s Place, many eyes have experience at spotting the well-hidden and practically unnoticeable.
Examples of such micro-changes can be seen in Suite E. Coraline, prone to cower in a corner of the ramp steps, was recently discovered maintaining relaxed body language in front of a several nearby volunteers. Three of us were close, but not too close, while talking. One of us blinked sleepily at our feline we-so-wanna-be-your friend. Coraline blinked back and settled down more comfortably. Anyone who has never interacted with this terrified two-toner may not have noticed.
Anyone who has ever interacted with Coraline will understand how huge it is that she marginally lowered her boundaries and that her eyes were relaxed into almond shapes instead of gaping wide as planetary orbs. (Check out the videos below to see just how relaxed a girl on catnip can get.) Relaxing boundaries can be seen in other cats too. At recent visits to the same suite, both Dawn and Georgia have been, respectively, less apt to hiss and less quick to run away when a frequent visitor has addressed them politely by name and maintained a careful distance. After others mentioned closer contact, a cautious attempt with Dawn yielded a few accepted scritches and a definite bit of purring.
Sorrel, for her part, may be more particular about the whens and wherefores of interactions. Yet, she has deigned to exchange glances and blinks with someone barely known to her. These changes are advances worthy of celebration…if only with personalized bottles of sparkling beverages, and definitely no loud popping of corks.
Similar celebrations are silently under way in Suite A (aka the Suite of Undersocialized Kitties that are Slowly Becoming Suitably Socialized). For the most part Gordon, Meridian, and Hydrogen are holding steady, with Hydrogen remaining vocally demanding of treats (She eats out of hands.) yet typically refusing to allow even the tiniest of gentle touches. Gordon and Meridian prefer to stand (or lounge) away from people (Cats are a-okay!), but Gordon can be coaxed to take a treat left for him and retreated from by whomever leaves the treat. Then there is Tetris. Hmmm.
To be honest, someone else would need to weigh in on the matter of Tetris. Personal experience is that Tetris is as nearly an unsolvable puzzle as his namesake cube, but with much cuter toe beans. This is, by no means, discouraging, as he has been marginally less apt to run away at the presence of at least this one. So, there is reason to trust that, in time, even the enigmatic mystery of Tetris will be solved. Any riddle’s answer can be discovered with patience, persistence, and love
Also, there need to be participants. Lots of participants. Some participants need to be the cats themselves. And that brings us to Susan and Hircine, who often participate in human visits when they may not prefer to.
Both can frequently be found on one of two shelves in the micro-apartment units near the suite door. Both prefer the privacy afforded by creatively hung curtains of protective fabric. Thanks to Nerf, a fine grey fellow who likes to hang out near Susan and Hircine, both are becoming more tolerant of the presence of Nerf’s visitors. This also means both are becoming more tolerant of Nerf’s highly physical reception to petting and more petting, even when he falls over on them. It’s not ideal, but it also is not terrible in terms of pulling aside curtains of fear…ever so slowly.
Susan stares, but her head and shoulders are less tense than they once were. Hircine stares, but her eyes relax in slow blinks when blinks and yawns are offered. Neither will run away from treats put down at slow speed. Neither will miss out on eating treats once the placing hands are retracted from their space. It may not seem like much, but it all adds up to SQUEEEEE. That is, the silent SQUEEEEEE of not daring to scare a cat that is finally demonstrating just an iota more trust than before. Micro-squeeee that matches the size of the apartments are all the celebration to be had as yet, but more will follow. I’m ready to pop the top – carefully and quietly on a Boylan’s soda!
Oh, wait! More has happened! On a recent day of unprecedented magic (yes, absolute M-A-G-I-C), Hircine allowed herself to play in front of a frequent visitor and even allowed the indirect interaction of playing with a ball rescued and tossed to her. Although this seems a very small thing, it is a very big deal. Other frequent visitors will have their own experiences. In time, someone will be able to fully gain Hircine’s trust.
In time, many someones or any someone will be able to gain some modestly larger amount of trust from one or all of these black and white cats. Next thing you know, some amazing adopters will open their hearts. Then, these no-longer-so-shy black and white cats will be packing their bags and heading off to their forever homes.