The girls at the front desk told me ‘he’s not friendly, be careful.’
I worked my way down the list of names before finally reaching him. In the cage was a ‘hide-a-box’ and in the ‘hide-a-box’ was Ricky. Quietly passing another day, perhaps resigned to the idea that this was to be his fate.
I opened the cage door and he leaned further back into the box: his shelter within the shelter. I assured him that I wasn’t going to hurt him; I only wanted to take some photos of him for his adoption profile, so we could find him a loving, forever home. He would not be coaxed out of the box.
When I had my photos, I thanked him and attempted to give him a little fuss. Slowly, I reached toward him, treat in hand. As my arm reached the box, Ricky hissed, and growled. Standing on guard in his tiny cardboard box; he reached out and wildly tore at the flesh of my arm. I looked into his beautiful green, almost yellow eyes and saw fear, anger, and most obvious – pain. Ricky was suffering emotionally. I could not, in good conscience walk away from this cat.
After discussions with the shelter supervisor, and my husband, I took Ricky home and began the process of rehabilitation: working to socialize him and build his trust.
I made Ricky comfortable in our laundry room: a large room with ample space for bed, food and water, and his litter box. The space was hardly an issue, as Ricky chose to spend his time wedged behind the washing machine. Even when it was on, he would not come out from his hiding place. As I folded laundry, I would carry on ‘one-sided’ conversations. At breakfast and dinner times, I would sit by the laundry tub next to the food and talk to him.
After a couple of weeks, I decided it was time to initiate the second phase of rehabilitation: tough love. I put his food down, picked up the broom, and gently manipulated Ricky out from behind the washing machine. I gave him space, sitting more than a few feet from him and I spoke to him over his moaning and groaning, for as long as I could before he ‘high-tailed’ it back to safety. He would not eat his food in front of me.
Another week passed. As soon as he saw the broom, and without needing persuasion, Ricky would give me a look of repugnance and make his way to the side of the washing machine. He would sit, under the laundry tub, biding time until I left him in peace. He had only just stopped moaning at me during this process. That would start again soon enough! This week, I decided to attempt contact. As I spoke with Ricky, I told him of my intention to reach out to him. The forewarning didn’t help. Again, the hissing, moaning, scratching, and even the occasional bite ensued. I powered through, moving away only after successfully imposing the positive version of a ‘scratch’ on top of his head, behind his ear, or under his chin. I ensured that he knew where my hand was, at all times, by keeping it in full view, in front of him. No sudden approach from behind that would frighten him. I believed, establishing this physical connection was vital to gaining Ricky’s trust. This week seemed the most difficult of the process, and although the next couple was not without a few war wounds, I felt I was winning the battle.
Over the following weekend, we were away for five days, and my dad stayed with the furries. My dad accepted the challenge whole-heartedly: he too, a lover of animals had developed a soft spot for Ricky. Success was his! Upon our return, we learned that Ricky was not only eating in front of my dad, he would take the occasional treat from his hand! This was great progress.
I decided to take away his refuge, and moved Ricky into the guest bathroom. I left the door open, and secured a baby-gate across it (to keep Henry and Reese out). He spent most of this week behind the toilet; however, he would come out when we arrived with food and would greet us verbally. Ricky no longer hissed, and rarely did he swat us when contact was made. In fact, he would occasionally purr!
As I wandered downstairs to serve dinner one day, the following week, I caught the ‘tail end’ of Ricky sailing over the gate. I tried to contain my excitement and remain calm. One morning, as I made my way to the coffee-maker, in a zombie-like state, I caught a glimpse of the little lion as he flew back down the stairs. I removed the gate.
The process of integration was not seamless. Although Charlie; our senior feline, had dealt with many additions to the family, and guests, her patience was running thin. Henry and Reese; our small puppy-mill rescues, displayed herding tendencies (thankfully not predatory): they chased Ricky, would scruff him gently, and when he slid from their grasp, the chase would begin again. So, now we needed to work with the dogs as well as continue our work with Ricky.
The next few weeks were a mix of emotions and a continuous test of will and faith. During this time, Ricky found his confidence and learned how much fun can be had with dog toys.
The sound of his purr now fills the room and if the dogs get too frisky, he stands his ground and will give them a little smack. Reese chooses to ignore him and Henry will engage in what is now more ‘play’, than rough-housing between the boys. Often, it is Ricky that initiates the game.
Like so many beautiful beings sitting in their cages, Ricky had a rough start in life. Finding themselves’ homeless and without companionship, some will lose hope, and give up. I have seen that empty look in the eyes of far too many and it breaks my heart.
Let’s not give up on them. We can make a profound difference in their lives: with the dedication of time, patience and a whole lot of love. Please consider fostering or adopting. In my opinion, there is nothing in the world more rewarding than witnessing such transformation.
Glogirly and Katie says
*tears of joy* …this is just so beautiful.
Bless you for seeing the anguish in Ricky’s eyes, for giving him a chance and believing in him and the power of love.
You are a hero and a Godsend.
xo,
Glogirly
Sadie Mae says
Thanks Glogirly,
I’m sure you agree; they do wonders for our hearts as well!
Sarah says
beautiful story!
Sadie Mae says
Thanks Sarah.
Colehaus Cats says
Thank you for spending time with him, accepting the challenge and loving him. Kisses to Ricky!
Sadie Mae says
Aww, thank you. I’ll be sure to pass those on.
Shannon H. says
Thank you for sharing and for providing a loving forever home. I don’t think any animals love as hard as the ones who’ve been in shelters. My two are sometimes brutal in their affections, but I wouldn’t have it any other way 🙂
Sadie Mae says
I could not agree more! Thank you for sharing, and rescuing.
Ruckus the Eskie says
Great post. Really makes you stop and appreciate.
Ruckus the Eskie says
Btw found you via blogpaws 🙂
Sadie Mae says
Always nice to meet members of the community!
Sadie Mae says
Thanks. Yes, I am grateful for the perspective these beautiful beings provide me with.
Connie says
this post brought tears to my eyes.. Thank you for fostering him… although are you sure you are still just ‘fostering’ him 😉
and total Kudos to your dad!! I often press my husband in to service when I have kittens or kitties that aren’t fond of me because he never medicates, never does any of the ‘bad’ things, and he just has that cat safe aura around him.. kitties just love him.
Sadie Mae says
Thanks Connie. I may need your advise on how to keep it together when we find him his perfect home!
sassmuffinss says
Wow. Ricky is one very fortunate kitty to have been chosen by you. Beautiful, beautiful story. I have also taken in grown kitties from shelters, and kitties off the streets. Never any regrets, and in fact you are so correct that there is nothing in the world more rewarding than witnessing the transformation from rescued animals. The love they give back is worth every second of the time spent with them. My husband still swears that our kitty Tyler KNOWS I rescued him from the streets, and I think he is totally correct.
Sadie Mae says
I’m sure they know. Thanks for the lovely message.
Lenore says
I love this! Thank you for such a heartwarming post! It gives us a lot of hope. Yes, the feeling of winning one over is what turned me from a complete dog person to a cat & dog person!
Sadie Mae says
Thanks for the lovely comment.
Yes, they do work their way into our hearts!
Dusty Desert Dogs says
Sometimes that extra bit of time is well spent, so many wonderful feeling were projected through this post. thank you for sharing.
Sadie says
Thank you. I was emotional as I wrote the piece.
Rochelle says
Wonderful! So many people wouldn’t have given Ricky a chance and wound have simply given up on him. Thank you so much for taking the time and exercising the patience to give this cutie confidence and love.
Rochelle recently posted…Whimzees Chew Review: Henry’s Favorite Dental Chew!
Sadie says
That happens too often!
Kandace says
This is such a touching story and so true. I brought my male jack russell home from the pound two years ago come this December. When we saw him for the first time, he was in a kennel with about 5 other dogs, curled up on a blanket and didn’t care to greet us. He was on the e-list for whatever reason…and at an estimated 7-8 years old, no one was looking to adopt him. But we did. When we first brought him home he was a recluse and would nip at us whenever we tried to pull him out of his hiding spots. But over a few months, a million treats, kisses and a dental cleaning later (his teeth were atrocious!) he is my sweet, cuddlebug who wants to come closer to me than my spoiled rotten, always had a home, 2 female jack russells lol We never gave up and it was so worth all the struggle not to!
Sadie says
I’m so glad you found him!
Rachel says
What a beautiful post and wonderful transformation! Ricky was so lucky for you to see something in his eyes and take him home to work with him.
Rachel recently posted…Stray Cat Photography with Sabrina Boem
Sadie says
Thank you Rachel.
Pawesome Cats says
Thanks for taking Ricky into your home and heart – we love the transformation.
Pawesome Cats recently posted…The Importance of Taurine in Your Cat’s Diet
Sadie says
He has made himself comfortable, in both.
Mary @ StaleCheerios says
Good for you for giving Ricky a chance. Fearful cats can be very hard to rehabilitate sometimes, especially if they’ve missed out on socialization with people or if they have been mistreated. It sounds like Ricky has made a lot of progress.
I have a colleague who helped develop a very successful training procedure for working with very fearful and feral kittens. I have a PDF article about it, happy to send you a copy if you would be interested.
Sadie says
I would love to read it. Thank you, Mary (sadiemae.co@gmail.com)
The Daily Pip says
This is truly an amazing story (hoping to feature Ricky in October). There are so many cats like Ricky in shelters waiting for someone to give them a chance. So many get overlooked because people judge them by their first interaction and as time goes on they become more and more distant and aggressive. Thank you for giving Ricky a chance! What a cutie pie!
The Daily Pip recently posted…Natural Balance Celebrates National Guide Dog Month
Sadie says
Thank you. And thank you also for sharing their stories and generating awareness.
Sherri says
Love this story. Great narrative. Well written.
Sherri recently posted…Day 6 We get lucky in North Carolina on The Red Roof Road Trip: Welcome to The Lucky Dog Bark and Brew
Sadie says
Thank you Sherri.
Theresa-Marie says
What a great story. I’m so glad you took the time with Ricky. Definite tears of happiness.
Sadie says
Thank you Theresa-Marie.
Ruth Epstein says
Beautiful story, it reminds me of when I rescued a cat when living in Israel, she lived under my bed for the first month, only going to the litter box when I slept or was at work, my other cat just ignored her and then WOW one day she jumped on the bed to be with me and from that moment she realized that life was good. She lived a long good life
Sadie says
It just takes time for them to realize they are safe.
Sadie says
They just need time to learn to trust. Thank you for your story.
Marjorie and the Dash Kiitten Crew says
This had me in tears. Really it did. Thank you for being determined for having the courage to stick with one scared cat while he learned to be a proper cat again. These things take time, and sometimes an iron will but they can be done!
Ricky is the most awesome cat and WELL DONE to you all.
Marjorie and the Dash Kiitten Crew recently posted…The Grand Canyon A Natural Wonder
Sadie says
Thank you Marjorie – much appreciated.
Malaika Fernandes says
Thank you for putting in so much effort with an animal from the shelter that is a little difficult but it always pays off in the end doesnt it. God bless
Sadie says
It absolutely does!
Jana Rade says
What a beautiful story. Such an inspiration.
Jana Rade recently posted…Wordless Wednesday: JD’s Beauty Shot between the Swellings
Sadie says
Thank you Jana.
Beth | Daily Dog Tag says
What a wonderful story! I’m sure Ricky is very thankful that you were able to see past his anger and aggression and help him become the happy cat he is today!
Beth | Daily Dog Tag recently posted…Engaging Tails: Luna the Black & Tan Coon Hound Mix
Sadie says
He still has feisty moments but, he is definitely a happy cat ; )
Cathy Armato says
What a wonderful rescue story! Your Dad seems like something of a cat whisperer. I’m so glad you were able to help Ricky, best of luck in your lives together!
Love & biscuits
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them
Sadie says
Ricky and my dad definitely share a special bond.
DIY Dog Mom says
Wonderful! Extra care and patience is all they need sometimes 🙂 thanks for sticking with it for him!
Sadie says
It was equally rewarding for us.
Robin says
Ricky is such a handsome guy! Thank you for taking him in and giving him the chance at love that he deserves. Cats can be quite slow-to-warm, but they do come out of their shell eventually. It would be hard to live in a world where you have been abused and neglected but are now expected to love everyone around you. It sounds like he is going to be just fine now that he has found you. 🙂 I hope that he will find a great forever home too if you choose not to foster fail.
Robin recently posted…Funny Cat Picture: Tasty Feather
Sadie says
Ricky is definitely part of our pack! Thanks Robin.
Annette @PetsAreFound says
Ricky is absolutely beautiful… thank you for turning his life around. Do you know @CheshireK & @NutmegTorby on Twitter? Drop them a tweet – their mom Robin has used TTouch extensively fyi. Tell them @Isagold sent you 😉
Sadie says
Thanks Annette, I’ll do that!
Talent Hounds says
What a moving, inspiring story. So glad you had the heart and the knowledge and the patience so it worked out for Ricky. Beautifully written.
Talent Hounds recently posted…How To Make Dog-Friendly Sweet Potato Pups
Sadie says
Thank you for your kind words.
#RescuesRock
Sweet Purrfections says
Ricky is so lucky to have found you.
Bryn Nowell says
Awwwww! This story warms my heart. Such a great tale of how perseverance can help, even the most apprehensive, of critters feel what it’s like to be loved. Thank you so much for your patience and willingness to see beyond the scared cat you first encountered at the shelter and what he could be with love, and patience.
Elizabeth Keene says
I’m so glad I now know you are a cat whisperer too! 😉 I have a similar shelter cat story: four years ago I spotted Maddox in his cage. A day or two later, I’d discovered he’d been there for 2+ years because of several reasons, but mostly, he was ornery and “showed himself” to potential adopters. The foster coordinator warned me that he’d terrified his previous foster’s 75lb lab. I adopted him 19 days into his foster period and he is my soul man. 🙂 Thank you for telling your and Ricky’s story. The grumpy ones, I believe, truly are in serious emotional anguish. But with the right person, and LOTS of patience, as you have illustrated, they can be incredibly endearing. Ricky is so handsome!
Elizabeth Keene recently posted…How to Inject Humor Into Removing an Embedded Tick From Your Pet #12Bravecto