Wisconsin Rescue Took In The Spiciest Kitten, But One Small Breakthrough Changed His Entire World
Most of the rescued kittens were happy to be indoors, but one feisty feline was determined to fight his rescuer every step of the way.
When a kind homeowner reached out for help with a litter of stray kittens, a dedicated rescuer immediately stepped in.
She expected the tiny felines to be a little frightened of their new, unfamiliar surroundings.
What she didn’t expect was to meet one of the feistiest, most defensive kittens she had ever encountered.
While most of the litter was ready to embrace the comforts of indoor life, one little guy was determined to fight it every step of the way.
A Tale Of Two Attitudes
Within just a couple of days, the rescuer noticed a stark contrast in the litter’s behavior.
Most of the kittens quickly realized they had hit the jackpot. They happily accepted the warm blankets, regular meals, and gentle affection.
But one kitten wanted absolutely nothing to do with this new lifestyle.
He acted as though the rescuer was his worst enemy, hissing and swiping whenever she came near.
Losing Sibling Privileges
The spicy little kitten was a menace right from the start, and his defensive attitude was starting to rub off on the others.
Every time the rescuer put him back with his siblings, the previously sweet kittens would suddenly start hissing at her, too.
"I think that he was whispering to them, ‘She sucks,’" the rescuer joked about the tiny instigator.
To protect the progress the other kittens were making, she made the tough decision to separate them.
Welcome To Bootcamp
The three friendly kittens packed their bags and headed off to a foster home where they could continue to thrive.
Meanwhile, the spicy kitten—now named Sourdough—stayed behind with his original rescuer.
She knew he needed intensive, one-on-one attention, so she enrolled him in what she called "socialization bootcamp."
It was going to take a lot of patience to break down the walls this tiny cat had built around his heart.
A Stubborn Standoff
At first, Sourdough refused to give an inch to his new caretaker.
Unlike most animals, food was not a motivating factor for him. He stubbornly refused to eat in front of his foster mom or take any treats from her hand.
The rescuer quickly realized that the only reward Sourdough actually wanted was for her to walk away and leave him alone.
But she wasn’t about to give up on him that easily.
The Purrito Strategy
Since Sourdough still seemed to absolutely hate her guts, the rescuer had to get creative to jump-start his socialization.
She decided to wrap the angry little kitten snugly in a soft blanket, creating an adorable "purrito."
Tucked safely in his blanket, Sourdough hung out with his foster mom nearly 24/7.
Being close to her constantly forced him to realize that he was safe and that she meant him no harm.
The Golden Sound
Finally, after days of stubborn resistance, the breakthrough the rescuer had been waiting for happened.
Sourdough let out a tiny rumble, and she knew she had won his trust. "Once you get that purr, you’re golden," she explained.
The kitten who had once tried to maim her slowly transformed into the biggest loverboy.
People started telling the rescuer she should keep him, but she knew his perfect family was still out there.
A Perfect Match
As fate would have it, a previous adopter reached out with wonderful news.
They had adopted two older kittens the prior summer and were looking to add another feline to their family.
The rescuer knew this was the absolute perfect home for Sourdough, as the family had an incredible track record of socializing kittens.
Today, the once-spicy kitten is living his best life, proving that a little patience can turn the toughest exterior into pure love.
