Shy Cat Hid In The Corner Of A Washington Shelter Until One Person Changed Everything

Cats are intriguing creatures, each with its own personality. Like humans, they come in all different types, and you never really know what you’re going to get when bringing one into your life. 

While some cats are outgoing, others can be incredibly shy – and Mose is a prime example of that.

Meet Mose, the cat who redefines what it means to be shy. Sarah, a foster mom with lots of experience, thought she had seen it all when it came to reserved cats. But Mose was unlike any cat she had encountered before.

Sarah arrived at the shelter in Washington, D.C., wishing to give a home to the cat who had been there the longest, and that’s when she noticed Mose. She shared in an interview:

“Mose really stuck out to me, because she’d been there almost a year, which is a really long time.”

Sarah felt it was important to give this overlooked cat a second chance, so she decided to bring her home.

However, Mose’s shyness went way beyond what Sarah had anticipated. 

While it’s normal for cats to take time to adjust to new environments, Mose took much longer than expected, spending the first two weeks hiding in a small loft space. 

Sarah admitted:

“I’ll be honest, how shy she was, freaked me out a little bit.”

Sarah believed Mose’s fearfulness came from previous negative experiences with people, but she didn’t give up. 

Then, Dunder, the other family cat, stepped in to help.

Dunder recognized Mose’s extreme shyness and decided to lend a helping paw. Sarah recalled the remarkable moment:

“Dunder went right up there, sat next to her, never left her side, and made her feel comfortable until one day I saw her out of the corner of my eye coming down out of the loft into the living space.”

From that moment on, Mose started to open up and never looked back.

Dunder and Mose quickly formed an inseparable bond. With Dunder’s constant support, Mose began to show her true personality. Sarah explained:

“Mose is our sassy cat for sure, whereas Dunder is our sort of nice lovey-dovey. She’s the one with the attitude but in a very lovable way. She’s never grumpy. She will tell you when it’s dinnertime; she has no problem reminding you.”

As Mose grew more comfortable, she began to show her playful side. She became an energetic cat who could do some pretty amazing tricks. 

But when playtime was over, her favorite thing to do was cuddle with Dunder. Sarah noted:

“She is the biggest cuddler, not with me, but with Dunder.”

Mose always kept an eye on Dunder. Every time Dunder settled in his bed, Mose would snuggle up beside him, ready for some affection.

Seeing their bond, Sarah decided to make Mose a permanent member of the family. 

However, because of her past experiences, Mose continued to struggle to form a close bond with Sarah.

But Sarah didn’t give up! She found a creative way to connect with Mose:

“I did this really funny thing where, because she’s not really keen on me petting her, I actually got this extendable back scratcher, so I could scratch her from a few feet away, and it’s gotten her used to pets, and now she’s much more accepting of my pets.”

Despite the challenges, Mose continued to transform and reveal her lovely nature. She started following Sarah around and even began to purr – albeit from a distance. Sarah said:

“She’s not a lap cat, and I think that’s why she wasn’t adopted for so long, because people really want lap cats.”

There were moments when Sarah longed to scoop Mose into her arms and cover her with affection, but she knew that patience was essential. 

What mattered most, she believed, was giving Mose a warm and loving home. In her eyes, shy animals were just as worthy of love as their more outgoing companions.

Sarah had come to accept that Mose might never curl up in her lap – and that was okay. She was fully committed to giving her the gentle, secure life she truly deserved.

“If I could tell Mose something, I would say she’s safe. No one’s gonna harm you, you always have a warm bed and food waiting for you. I promise to take the best care of you.”

This heartwarming tale is a reminder that with time, patience, and friendship, even the most timid souls can learn to trust again. 

If Mose’s story touched your heart, be sure to share it with your loved ones! You can follow Mose and Dunder’s daily adventures on their Instagram profile!