Moment Rescue Kitten Purrs for the First Time After Feeling Safe Is Everything
Taking in an animal will expand your heart like nothing else will. But getting your animal to trust you takes extreme patience and perseverance. There will be ups and downs. Just take Christine Ha and her cat Napkin, who needed several days before they became the best of friends.
Ha documented the first few days after she brought her rescue cat home.
Let's just say that Napkin wasn't loving her new surroundings. In fact, she spent most of her time hiding from her new owner. But instead of getting frustrated, Ha gave her plenty of time and space, which really seemed to work.
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Napkin was found on the city streets before she was brought to the shelter, so it's no wonder that she's a little nervous around humans. The first night she was with Ha she was "so scared," but did seem to "visibly relax" after Ha gave her some food.
"But it didn't last long," she said in the video's text overlay. "The second night she escaped her pen and hid in my bathroom. I knew that she was observing me to assess whether I was good or bad."
Napkin would hiss any time Ha came near her, so she respected her boundaries and let her choose when she wanted to come out. Ha continued with this path for days; leaving food for Napkin outside of her bathroom vanity and waiting until the kitty started to feel comfortable with her.
"Eventually she crawled out and while she was eating, I pet her," She explained. "Then I pet her. Then she purred for the first time."
What a win! Eventually Napkin sat in Ha's lap and showed her her belly, so we guess you could consider them besties.
How to Help Rescue Cats Adjust
Ha played the whole situation perfectly. But if you're bringing home a new kitten who is a little skittish there are some ways to make them feel right at home. Make sure you have the basics for your cat; like food, water, litter, and a scratching post.
Be prepared to give your cat some space. Let your cat explore your home at their own pace as they get comfortable. They may not be ready for a cuddle just yet, but let them tell you when they're ready for some physical contact.
In the meantime, establish some routines in your house. Cats thrive on routines and the more they see you doing things like feeding them or cleaning their litter box, the more they will relax and feel at ease.
Patience is really the best piece of advice. The more you have of it, the more likely it is that your rescue cat will acclimate perfectly.
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