This is Smokey, a feral cat rescued by Whiskers from the streets of Albany.  Who would believe such a frightened and shy creature could undergo such a complete and wonderful transformation. 

            When I saw the very demure and frightened Smokey’s picture on Petfinder.com, I knew she was the cat for me.  The question was – Was I the human for her?  Smokey had begun to make progress with humans, but was still very shy and frightened.  After some e-mail conversations with Smokey’s Foster Mom, Diane, we decided it would be appropriate for me to meet her.  I went to the Whiskers Adoption Clinic at PetsMart and anxiously awaited Smokey’s arrival.  When she settled in a little, I got to meet her, touch her soft fur and even hold her for a couple of minutes.  I was concerned about adopting such a skittish cat who may never accept and return the love and affection I wanted to give her, but I knew that her shyness greatly reduced her chances of being adopted and that I could provide the type of home she needed. 

I decided to make the commitment, and the next day, Smokey came home to live with me.  IT WAS SO WORTH THE RISK. 

It was difficult at times – difficult for Smokey to leave her sister (Patches), her other foster home-mates and her Foster Mom and Dad (the people who had saved her life and the first humans she came to love and trust) and be placed in a strange environment, all alone with a human she was afraid of.  She would come out, look around and play with her toys, but wanted no interaction with me.  It was difficult for me to have weeks go by and still have my new friend hiding in a closet and running away if I approached in any way or even looked at her.  I began to lose heart and take it personally.  I had to accept that Smokey may never come around, and that our relationship might be limited to my providing food and shelter and receiving nothing in return, except the knowledge that one cat was off the streets, safe and sound in a home.  As I began to accept this fact and sought further help from Smokey’s Foster Mom and some “shy cat” websites, it helped me become more patient and intent on working at turning our situation around and into an amazing result. 

            I let Smokey have all of the space she needed.  I didn’t try to make her come out, and when she did, I cleared the way for her.  I kept my voice as soft and as low as I could.  I let her come out and look around at her surroundings and at me.  As she ventured out more and more, it took everything I had not to look at her.  She was so cute, and I just wanted to look at her, hold her and play with her.  I began offering her treats on a long-handled spoon, so that she could take the treats from me without having to come closer than she wanted to.  I bought a soft toy on a wand that I could reach out and stroke her face with, so that I could offer her comfort without getting closer than she wanted me to.  She became more interested in chasing the long tail on the end of the toy.  Smokey was fine with chasing the toy back and forth and actually started to forget to be afraid, but if I took my hand off of the wand for even a second, she would run away in fear.  It was all about figuring out what frightened her and either not doing it or slowly getting her comfortable with it.  As more time went by, she would try coming closer and closer to me during our playtime (about an hour every night). 

Although I allowed my hopes to resurface, I had to remain careful and vigilant and let Smokey call the shots and progress at her own pace.  I’ll never forget a terrible setback we had.  I was getting ready to go to work and was sitting in a chair in my living room.  All I did was raise my foot to change my shoe.  Smokey became terrorized and retreated to her closet once again.  My hands and feet were great sources of fear for her.  I didn’t even want to think about why.  I was more careful about the way I moved my hands and feet in front of her. 

Three weeks after I adopted Smokey, I had to go away for the weekend and left her in the care of a Pet Sitter.  When I came home, she was still frightened of me, but seemed glad to see me.  About a week later, I was sick and stayed home from work for a couple of days.  That’s when it happened.  I was sitting on the Porter’s stool in my kitchen, and the next thing I knew, Smokey walked by me in that way a cat does when she wants to be petted.  Now I was afraid – should I take a chance and try touching her and chance sending her back to her closet?  IT WAS SO WORTH THE RISK.  She did want to be touched, but, again, I had to remember who I was dealing with.  So I petted her very lightly and waited for her to indicate she wanted to be petted again, and she did!!! 

Over the next month, I gradually began picking her up, but for only a minute or two at a time.  I made her “deal with it” to an extent, but the moment she really protested, I would put her down.  Although being picked up still isn’t her favorite thing, sometimes she actually asks to be picked up and cuddled!!!  The night she finally jumped in my lap was the best ever.  I was so relieved and happy, and I think she was too.  Only within the last month or so has she become comfortable with sleeping on my bed with me.  Now she sleeps on my bed with her back to me – the ultimate sign of love and trust, and, as I’m writing this article, she’s walking around on my desk in front of my screen, right under my nose, trying to get even closer.  Now, wherever I am, she just wants to be near me. 

The final and truly amazing surprise has been Smokey’s ability to overcome her fear of other, non-caregiving humans.  It all started with a very gentle, cat-loving friend of mine.  I could not believe my eyes.  I could tell she was afraid and wanted to hide, but she didn’t.  Then, over time, she worked even harder at overcoming her fear and began staying in the room with my other guests as well.  She even allows them to play with her!!! 

I still can’t believe it; I’m so proud of Smokey, and I tell her so all of the time.  Watching her progress and work so hard to overcome her fears one-by-one has been an inspiration to me.  I’m in complete awe of her amazing courage and spirit. 

            Even though Smokey has made her amazing transformation into what I call a “whole cat”, the door to her “safe closet” remains open, and the bed from her foster home remains under my bed, in her very first hiding spot, so she knows she always has her “safe” places to retreat to, if she needs them. 

What more can I say?  Just thank you, Whiskers, for saving my Friend’s life and affording me the privilege to be her human.  And, of course, Way to Go Smokey!!!!!  >^..^<