As much as it is a beautiful thing to do, fostering cats isn’t as easy as everyone thinks, especially if you ask Jen, an experienced foster carer from Washington.
She recently welcomed a terrified, spicy tom cat to her foster home Pokey Pot Pie’s Playschool for Wayward Kittens who became a cat to remember.
The poor feline named Grey was so terrified that he wouldn’t let anyone near him, yet filled the silence with his loud cries whenever he was left alone.
In addition, Grey was constantly hiding from Jen, and it seemed like he might never warm up to human presence.
Fortunately, experienced as she is, Jen knew she had to slow things down. She began working with Grey and slowly helped him adjust to her presence. Using different tools and yummy treats, including toys, she helped him make gradual progress.
However, that wasn’t nearly as it should be. After thinking for a while, Jen decided she could use some help and came up with a perfect idea.
She introduced her other foster cat, Philly Pokey, to Grey, hoping that a fellow feline might help him relax. And it worked like a charm!
Friendly Philly instantly approached Grey and hopped in his box beside him, as Grey was too scared to come out.
Initially, Jen was a bit worried about how the two tom cats would interact, but fortunately, things turned out better than expected.
The new buddies spend the night snuggling next to each other, playing and simply bonding. Remarkably, it was the first night Grey didn’t cry since arriving at Jen’s foster care.
Every day, Philly made Grey braver and more confident. He helped him make so much progress, that Grey slowly started coming out of his shell, revealing his true personality.
As he became more relaxed, Grey began exploring his surroundings while following Philly’s step. However, the biggest breakthrough came when Grey approached Jen and finally allowed her to pet him.
That was a very touching moment for everyone, especially for Jen. She was overjoyed and felt a huge accomplishment, even though she had some furry help.
Grey finally discovered the beauty of being petted and receiving all the attention. Later, he would snuggle in Jen’s lap, seeking love and affection, which she always provided him.
Every cat is different. Some need just a sprinkle of love and attention to open up. On the other hand, some like Grey need more time to realize the beauty of being loved and protected.
Still, what matters the most is that Grey eventually embraced his new life and finally began to thrive.
Thanks to Jen’s dedication and Philly’s companionship, Grey is now a happy, lovely, and even cuddly kitty, ready for adoption, who can’t wait to see what the future holds for him. If you ask me, I hope it’s only the best!
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