Boo

From Feral to Friend…… 

Boo (aka Squeaky)

 

“ Boo” – The tale of a sanctuary cat

 

 

 

When I was 1 ½ years old, I took up residence in a comfortable wood pile and had a litter of five kittens. The lady of the house saw me around and I think she thought I belonged to someone in the neighborhood so she left me alone.

The discovery…..

When she realized there were kittens there, she put food in the woodpile for us. She fed us twice a day & inched the food further away each time. She set out a really weird, large box, propped the door open, put the food in there & inched the food farther in each time. I let my kittens eat first and when they were done, she put more food in for me. We didn’t know she had set up a portable puppy pen to socialize the kittens. She put chicken wire around the edges so they couldn’t squeeze through the bars & clothes pinned a sheet across the top for shade. Then she was ready to do the “dirty deed”.

One week later…..

She had a rope attached to the door, through the inside of the crate and out the holes in back. She put more food all the way in & waited. Finally all five kittens were in! She pulled the door closed & they went crazy! She got the kittens in the pen already prepared & put the crate back to catch me. She tied more rope to the existing rope to lengthen it (about 20 feet long now) because I was more wary than the kittens. It took about twenty minutes but I was so hungry so I went in (cautiously of course) and ate the food. She S-L-O-W-L-Y pulled the door closed & I was caught!

If only the story ended here…..

She put an email out to the neighborhood with my picture but no one came forward. She had me spayed, put me in a cat condo outside, covered all sides of it to make me feel safe & left me alone. Luckily I wasn’t aggressive so she was able to feed me, give me water & clean my litter box. I was in the condo for about three weeks to make sure I was healed. Since she was busy working with & socializing my kittens, she opened the door of the condo, let me out & she had an outdoor cat. I didn’t let her pet me but I stuck around.

I stayed around for food but winter was coming. In mid-November she put out a feral cat trap, placed a trail of baked chicken into the trap (YUMMY), put a towel over the top and I couldn’t resist! Oh no, she trapped me again….

This time I went into the kitty condo complete with scratching post, toys and two shelves for sitting (or sleeping) in her home office. It was definitely warmer and pretty comfy. I was in the condo for what seemed like years. I started talking to her, kneading and rubbing my face and body on the sides. The lady would sleep on the floor next to my condo so I got used to her being there. I was doing so well I got to come out. The bottom door opened and I was free! I think I used to be a pet because I rubbed all over everything, used my scratching post, played with toys and purred. If my foster mom moved too quickly or got too close, I was still wary of her. I rubbed on her legs one day when she held really still.

I have come such a long way since then! I love to be petted, purr a lot, sleep with my permanent foster mom when she sleeps with me, play with my toys and even have a screen door so I can stay safe in my room but look out and see the other kitties and talk to them. It has been over two years that I have been indoors. I still get scared now and then, and I’m still not sure about people I don’t know, but and I am the happiest I have ever been, being a sanctuary cat!

Because of my “adventure”, I realized the need for A.C.A.T.’s services & have encouraged my mom’s volunteering ever since.