The shiest, scarediest cats that hide from our touch are often those that most deeply touch our hearts. At Tabby’s Place, in addition to the world’s most amazing staff, a host of fantastic volunteers dedicate hours, even years, of their time to breaking through the barriers that would keep these cats trembling and out of sight.
In some cases, as with Ruchi, the walls are low and made of crumbling bricks. So, when various volunteers spent time luring him out of the lounge bathroom into the lounge proper, it didn’t take Ruchi long to adjust. Once Ruchi discovered the glories of plentiful people-time and the chances for extra treats, he blossomed. In fact, the once-shy, now brave grey senior bloomed so fully that he earned a promotion.
Ruchi’s relocation to the lobby was a perfect demonstration of what can happen when cats get comfortable at Tabby’s Place. There are now rituals, including waltzing, that center around Ruchi’s love of attention and food. As for the food, he is one of the cats who needs to be crated for meals. Unlike others, who are typically meal-crated due to special diets, Ruchi is crated to allow his fellow lobby cats time to eat their own meals.
Once Olive has finished eating – she typically takes time to savor her fish mush – Ruchi is freed to finish up everything left on the buffet. An observer recently thought Ruchi was holding his face up for some sunshine. Actually, Ruchi was sniffing the air. He soon followed his nose to an abandoned boat of yum. A fine meal finished, and Ruchi was ready to resume cuddling.
Magda, on the other hand, is not yet ready for full-on snuggles. However, with particular thanks to one certain feeding and two particular enrichment volunteers, almost 4 years after boarding the ark that Jonathan built, Magda is finally ready to expand her petting circle, at least by one…this one. Yes, sometimes the 8-year-old tuxedo will actually lean in for pets and scritches and cooing.
Cooing to Magda is essential. For one thing, she’s a sweetie nom-nom cookie kitty who just needs some lovey-dovies. (Ahem. Pardon me.) Her eye speak and body language often say “aloof cat-loaf at elevation.” Yet, done right, “aloof” becomes “aloft.” The approach needs to be slow. The mood has to be right. And, given the proper alignment of the stars, the breeze, and the dip of the polar vortex, Magda can be convinced to lift her tail in the air with the appropriate application of fingers to tushkey (“Tushkey” is the technical term for that spot just before the tail on a cats spine. Technically, I made that up, but go ahead and use it, if you want).
Lunches and squeeze treats have been key components for raising Magda’s tail and lowering her barriers. She is still shy, and not all visitors to Suite E will get to see her let alone touch her. But, we have all the time that Magda is willing to give us to help her decide to bash down her walls the rest of the way. Once she does that, she won’t feel a need to hide at the top of ramps or shelving units. We’ll wait.
And, while we are waiting, we’ll spend time in shy-cat suite A. The suite has seen many changes since it was designated for undersocialized and very shy kitties in 2024. There have been many barriers busted. There have been glorious adoptions (speaking from personal experience). There have been relocations to other suites. New cats have come into suite A. Some of these have already gone to their forever homes too. Meanwhile, there are a handful of cats who are still buttressing their fortresses.
Shelving units in the suite are still draped with privacy curtains. One long, low double-shelf is completely covered with a blanket hanging down the front. Snug in back of the curtains and nestled behind the blanket are among the shiest and most scarediest of the shy and scaredy cats in residence. Gordon, Helium, and sometimes Hircine can occasionally be coaxed to sniff a very slowly proffered hand. No more, and not too close. Susan has stopped trembling. Tapenade will come even out to play, but at a distance. Balls are best. Rubiks sneers like Elvis (His face is just that way, and he wears it adorably.), but he no longer dashes at the sight of a visitor. He will dash at the hint of the merest suggestion of a hand being held out. Nevertheless, progress is progress.
Progress is sometimes a foregone conclusion. Newcomer Frank has already been ADOPTED!!! And Smudge needed only the least bit of coaxing to melt into a massive lovebug. Mama Kitty? She is so sweet and swirly and affectionate that her location in the shy-cat suite is a befuddlement. Barriers down; all systems socialized.
On the other hand, Marble Rye seems entirely disinterested in having anything to do with any human. Socialization is strictly feline-a-feline. Marble Rye is a fairly young, cat’s cat, who would rather go unseen by us. A good samaritan brought him to Tabby’s Place for his own welfare. It is now up to us to give him the time he needs to take advantage of this fresh start.
There is no hurry to get Marble Rye, very brand new newcomer Sam, or any of their still fearful suitemates to trust us completely. The goal is always helping them to become comfortable at Tabby’s Place. As a group, we’ll put in however many hours, weeks, months, or years it takes to lower their barriers, no matter how slowly. During that time, we’ll hold out hope that forever persons will open up understanding, welcoming homes. Whenever the time comes that any of these kitties do decide to trust us, or until they are chosen by the kindest of adopters, we’ll be ready to celebrate. No matter how long it takes, it will be worth the wait.