INTERVIEWS BY SAVANNAH
HOW RESCUE CATS and DOGS GET INTO RECOVERY AND SHOW THEIR REAL SELF
Hiya Everyone! Savannah Here!
Today is what I hope will be the first of many interviews I share with all of my furriends. If enough of you “LIKE” this post, then I will make it a regular feature on my blog. I will do at least ONE per month, on the first Tuesday of each month. Your suggestions for making it better are appreciated.
I want to share other rescue cats’ and dogs’ recovery stories to spread our learning about the challenges we face and the joy our Guardians get to experience as they help us into and through recovery…(recovery meaning we show as much as we can of our REAL SELF).
So, here we go! First up…I am so thrilled that 2 of my furriends over at Katnip Lounge agreed to be my guinea pigs trial interviewees…
Please welcome SCOUTY and CC from KATNIP LOUNGE!!!
APAWS!!…APAWS!!!…APAWS!!!
SAVANNAH: Hiya Scouty and CC!! Thanks lots for stopping by and having a chat with me
Scouty: Hi Savannah!
CC: shy head butts
Savannah: Guys, would you share with all of us how you arrived in your furrever home?
Scouty: Well, it’s kind of a long story.
Savannah: No problem…we all wanna hear about it…go on…
Scouty: We were born feral, and our Mama had a hard time feeding us until she found some kind Humans who had an outdoor cage for their kitty, and some of her kibble was falling out onto the ground. Mama led us over there every day to nibble up the leftovers. We had to climb a six foot cement wall to get into the yard! It was tough but we were hungry.
One day the Lady Human came out into the yard and startled us…all she caught was a glimpse of orange, scaling the wall like a gecko! Right away she knew it was a kitten; it was me, Scout!
The Lady told the Man what she had seen, so they put out tuna, water, and a little night light, and waited until dark.
Later, I came back…I had never seen so much food in all my life! I ate and ate, and Mama came in to eat, too. The People were excited to see us, but they stayed hidden indoors. This went on for a few days, me appearing first, then Mama…The Lady named me “Scout” because I was always the first one in to check out the area.
Then, one night, we gave the People a HUGE surprise…there was another kitten with us! White and orange, with bulls eye swirls like mine. Mommy, my huMom, named him “Cow Cat” for his markings, which was shortened to “CC”.
The People knew they had to neuter and possibly socialize us. But how?…we were extremely skittish…so they decided they would buy a live trap.
OMC!! Kitties, let me tell you, being trapped was so traumatizing! All of a sudden we were in a strange place, with walls and no sky! CC actually climbed the stucco walls all the way up to the ceiling, over and over, trying to escape. Eventually, we got tired and slept. When we woke up there was food and water and a litter box, and the Lady was in there, too!
We were terrified, and huddled under a cabinet. The Lady touched us and stroked us…but we hissed at her…same with the Man. They set up cameras in the room to watch us when they weren’t in there, and it made them glad to see us come out, eat and groom and play like normal kittens. We were probably about three months old, almost too old to socialize, but the Lady insisted on petting and holding us every day. CC warmed up after about a month, but I (Scouty) resisted…In fact, I still do to this very day…sigh.
Savannah: Oh Cat! CC and Scouty! What a fright that must have been to be trapped! What has been your greatest challenge in learning to trust and depend on your Guardians?
CC: Well, I can’t help it…I just love being petted! I try to tell Scouty that he needs to just let go and enjoy it, but he’s just too feral.
Mommy wishes she had pushed harder socializing him, more holding and handling. When he was a kitten, if he’d relax he would turn on his motor and drool with happiness when she would pet him, but not anymore.
I enjoy being petted and brushed all over, and I ‘specially love nice firm butt pets. Mommy calls it “spanking”…hee hee. But (no pun intended!) I am wary of being picked up…I will allow it and I like it if her or Daddy are on my level; that is, laying down or sitting before I approach.
If Johnny is around I’m a lot braver, he helped raise us and I love him lots. He keeps me safe. I don’t like strangers and sometimes Daddy scares me…he’s BIG!
Savannah: CC, it seems like you trusted more than Scouty from the beginning. Can you guys describe some of the ways you and your Guardians worked together to help get you into your recovery and try to overcome challenges?
Scouty: Even though I don’t want to be touched, I do like being part of the Family. Daddy and I have a routine…he gives me real shrimps every night in his office, and talks softly to me while I eat. I show up and stare daggers into him when my tummy clock announces Shrimp Time
And I’ll take treats from Mommy if she’s lying on the sofa and puts out her hand. I hang around in the rooms where they are, keeping tabs on them, and sometimes I sleep at the foot of the bed at night. Oh yeah!!…and I love to sleep on Mommy’s pillow! But that’s as close as I feel comfortable.
Mommy and Daddy have been very respectful of our wildness, and they use their wits to try and think like cats so they can make things easier for us. They love us lots. We both love to play string and feather games, and that’s one way they actively interact with me. I get so carried away that I come really close…sometimes they even manage to stroke me! …I’m just happy they accept me the way I am.
Savannah: (wipes leaky eyes with paw)…hang on a minute guys, you got me a little choked up…you are so brave!
Ok…koff…koff..ahem… now can you talk about how successful have you been in working your recovery program?? Like, what are a couple of REALLY big paws forward??
CC: Mommy is very pleased with how far I’ve come in the five years I’ve lived here. I’m so relaxed these days that if we’re in bed, I let her eat my belly meat! I seek her out for pets and luv’ins every evening. I’ve gone from a scared hissy kitten to a confident (though shy) cat. Daddy says I’m the sweetest little boy, ever!
Scouty: Daddy has hopes that one day I’ll allow him to pet me. Mommy has her doubts, but he and I have bonded, and for some reason, I just love to watch him. Maybe in another five years…sigh…paws to head, shakes head…
Savannah: You guys are just great! Just one last question, can you offer any advice to our peep readers to help them support their adult rescue cat, or one they may be thinkin’ about bringing into their home, through its recovery process?
Both: Think like a Cat! Do your homework and read up on cats, talk to cat people, and watch, watch, watch. Cats talk with their bodies.
Savannah: Nice! Good Tip! This was great! Any last thought or words of wisdom you want to share?
Both: Savvy, thanks for the opPURRtunity to share our story!
Savannah: awwww you guys!…blushes…Come back again in 5 years and let’s talk some more!!
Whew, thanks so much to Scouty and CC and Mom Trish for working with me to get this first prototype(vocab builder) interview posted.
Hope you all enjoyed hearing about how Scouty and CC came to live in their furrever home at Katnip Lounge!
Let me know if you would enjoy having this be a regular monthly feature AND if you would like to be interviewed, or know a furriend who has a story to tell that can help our Guardians learn how to be even more successful in gaining our trust and help us show and share our REAL SELF…If you want to pawticipate, send me an email telling me your contact email: ms.savannahcoolkat@gmail.com
…I am so exhausted from the excitement and nervousness of this first interview…I think I will grab some sun puddle and take a teeny tiny nap….
Paw pats, Savannah
Savannah's Paw Tracks 