Several months ago, I lost my baby girl Stassi to kidney disease. I’ve had kitties all my life and I knew there would come a time that I would want to adopt again, but I was heartbroken and not ready. A good friend of mine volunteers at the Burbank Animal Shelter and shared a post about 2 very unhappy cats that needed foster homes.
Sammy and Petty Boy had been in the shelter for a few months and were not doing well – they were scared and confused, and pretty angry that their world had been turned upside down. I’ve fostered several cats in the past and I thought this might be a good way to share love and affection and help a kitty in need.
Sammy hadn’t allowed anyone to touch him for over a month, and was giving everyone ‘death stares’. But I knew if I could get him home, to a place where there were no other animals that he could relax and become a cat again. After meeting both cats I went with my gut and picked Sammy. (Another foster took Petty Boy).
Night 1 as expected, he hissed and growled and looked very unhappy to be moved again.
Day 2 he was ready to be out of the cage and took refuge on top of a kitty perch I have in my office. If it weren’t for the fact that the food was disappearing, I would swear that he didn’t come down at all for 3 days!
Salvador Dali ‘melting’ cat. He was so exhausted he just passed out on the top step in front of the mirror.
On Day 4 I came into my office and Sammy was down a step – progress! I had some kitty treats and spoke to him about what a brave boy he was and how handsome he was….a few minutes later he jumped down and gave me a headbutt and was purring! I knew how much trauma he’d been through and I burst into tears, thinking how far he had come in just a few days.
That same week he started camping out on our bed and made sure we were safe at night (he needs a bigger pillow).
It’s been 5 weeks now and Sammy is fully integrated into his routine. He’ll spend some time on his perch by the back window.
Then he’ll take one of his many naps.
He loves watching the birds.
And he claimed his throne.
He still has his moments, and it will take some time for him to fully realize what I already know…. he’s found his forever home with me! While I wasn’t ready to adopt when we met, seeing him transform into a happy cat meant the world to me. I’m so happy to give him a second chance, and he’s going to have a really spoiled life. 🙂
Thank you to the Volunteers of the Burbank Animal Shelter and to the Burbank Animal Shelter Staff. The tireless work you do is not for everyone. I’m so grateful that thanks to you, Sammy and I found each other!
-Diana
Fostering saves hundreds of lives at the shelter every year. It’s an absolute game changer for cats like Sammy, and is the difference between life and death when the shelter gets full. Fostering is also easier than you think. If you can open your home to foster a dog, a puppy, one of the 300+ kittens we receive each year, or a cat like Sammy, please click on the links to learn more and sign up.
Please foster and save a life!
