Anyone who knows anything about cats knows they can be extremely slow to trust, especially if they’ve been previously hurt.
Some folks spend days, or even months, trying to win them over, only to give up just before breaking through their defenses.
Getting to enjoy the love of a feline takes time and patience – something Chad, today’s protagonist from Hudson County, New Jersey, had in abundance.
The Story Of Fawn And Arya, Two Completely Opposite Kitties
When Chad arrived at his local animal shelter, he planned to adopt just one kitty.
However, as often happens with pet adoptions, his plans changed, and he went home with two feline companions – Fawn and Arya.
These two kitties were inseparable from the day they met. As both were rescued from the cruel streets of New Jersey, Fawn and Arya quickly bonded over their shared experiences of abandonment and mistrust of humans.
When Chad met them, he immediately knew these girls came as a package deal. So, he brought them home, happy to share a life with not one but two new feline friends.
Fawn quickly overcame her distrust of humans and revealed to Chad the full charm of her friendly personality. From day one, she proved to be a lap cat – the cuddliest one Chad had ever met.
Her best friend Arya, on the other hand, was quite the opposite.
Arya spent her first day in the new home hiding inside a cat carrier, refusing to come out even for food.
Worried, Chad reached out to the shelter for advice, where the staff encouraged him to be patient and not worry too much.
Arya eventually left her carrier, choosing to hide under the bathroom vanity for two long weeks. She only came out to eat when Chad wasn’t around.
Still concerned for her well-being, Chad conducted extensive research, hoping to find an explanation for Arya’s reserved behavior.
“All I Wanted Was To Break Your Walls…”
Passionate about making a difference, Chad devised a plan: Each day, he started placing Arya’s food one inch closer to where he sat.
Fortunately, Arya didn’t catch on to his strategy, and eventually, she began sitting right next to him while eating.
Even though Chad still couldn’t touch her, he was happy about the small, yet significant progress he had made.
Meanwhile, Fawn remained the cuddle bug she had been from day one.
Although sad Arya kept her walls up, Chad was happy she had someone to comfort her during the hard times, and that special someone was her friend, Fawn, whom she fully trusted.
When asked about their special bond in an interview, Chad said:
“Fawn and Arya…they’re best friends, almost always snuggling. I’m very grateful that these girls love each other, for whatever reason they chose each other. And I was lucky enough to be able to take them together. I think that’s really important – to never break a bonded pair.”
Chad continued his efforts to earn Arya’s trust, speaking to her gently, reassuring her that she was safe, loved, and very special to him.
But Arya, as stubborn in her reservations as Chad was in his attempts, kept her distance, no matter how hard Chad tried to win her over.
The whole experience was very disheartening to Chad, who said:
“It was very overwhelming, you know, pouring my heart out for this cat and giving her everything I could – literally my time all day and all night long, and doing all the things.”
However, Chad never lost faith that Arya would eventually come around.
One breakthrough came when he started playing fetch with her, which turned out to be a game-changer. Through their daily play sessions, Arya demonstrated her intelligence and playfulness.
Even more encouragingly, she began initiating these sessions by bringing a ball to Chad for him to throw, which she would then fetch.
While she still refused to cuddle, her willingness to engage in play marked a significant improvement that Chad deeply appreciated.
And Then One Day Everything Changed…
For over two months, Arya was hissy and unfriendly towards Chad. But on the 89th day of living with her dad, something magical happened.
While roaming around the house as usual, Arya jumped on the couch, nestled next to Chad, and started cuddling with him.
Speaking about the milestone in their relationship, Chad said:
“It was like winning the lottery. One of the best moments of my life!”
From that moment on, Arya completely transformed from a shy feline into the cuddliest version of herself.
All it took for this kitty to blossom was the love, patience, and understanding she received from her two best friends, Chad and Fawn.
Here’s to many happy and cuddly years for this adorable trio!
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