Our beautiful Zelda with the exceptionally round, unusually-hued fluorescent green eyes is one of our extra special babes who needs an extra special home with extra special people to love her and protect her.
We don't know Zelda's story before the first week in January when we took her from the county shelter, where she was hiding in her litter box and refusing to make eye contact. It's clear that she's been abused. Zelda flinches from hands, runs and hides from the broom, and takes days upon days upon days to begin to feel even slightly safe in new and different surroundings.
But we're making progress... Zelda wants love and affection. She's just afraid that those hands that express love might have other motives. I'm learning how to approach her for petting. She is learning how to accept it. I won't sweep in her presence. She is learning how to exist in a room with a broom. And during the past couple of days, miracles! Zelda freely leaves the bedroom which has been her sanctuary and looks for attention. She sits in laps and on sofas and walks around the house like she might actually belong and feel safe here.
And when Zelda is feeling the love...
You get the tongue.
"WHAT??"
"There's really nothing wrong with this."
"THERE'S REALLY NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS!"
It's rather endearing, if you want to know the truth.
And this is where I do something that I don't usually do and ask for help in finding her the perfect home. If you're in the midwest (or better yet... Michigan) and you know of someone who has room in their heart and their home for a sweet, gentle, quiet, and loving three-year-old kitty who will think the sun rises and sets with you... please share our girl's story. She loves quickly and will attach strongly to a kind and patient person who is willing to take the extra time to get to know her.
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Just passing through...
Meet Cole. He's only here for a few days, which is a good thing because Simba is none too happy to have another male cat roaming free in his house. While he's here, Cole has made it his mission to lay on every pile of clean laundry in the house. He's almost done ;-)
Oh my gosh that little pink tongue is beyond adorable! I know what you mean Kelly. Whenever I volunteer at our local shelter its the cats who take a long time to open up - when they finally trust you the feeling is indescribable. So glad Zelda is making such progress. Surely this girl will end up with an amazing family who will worship the ground she walks on.
ReplyDeleteCole looks like a spunky little dude. I think the black hairs on your clothes will look very stylish :)
Zelda is beautiful, thank you for your patience and love for her. I hope her forever home is with someone as loving & patient as you :)
ReplyDeleteSweet Zelda... as an adopter of one of those shy, fearful kitties, I can vouch for the fact that earning their trust is one of the greatest rewards. I hope she finds a wonderful forever home soon!
ReplyDeleteOh I love the wee tongue sticking out (or "ticky tongue" as I call it when my cats do it). WE know Zelda is a special girl and I hope her family figures it out soon, too!
ReplyDeleteCole is a handsome lad! He also knows that adding black hairs to your clothes is slimming! ;)
Zelda reminds me of my Bengal I just got a couple weeks ago. My cat is just now letting me pet her head but there are moments where she is just so scared and shakes. She won't let me touch under her chin to scratch. I don't try since she doesn't like it. She's even peed from fear because I moved the wrong way. She's almost 7. I don't understand how a person could hit a cat. Or why they would. :( :( I don't know if she'll ever be a lap cat but eventually we'll get to a happy medium. No matter what, she's home for good and will never go any where else. She is in my master bathroom right now but every night I take her to bed with me because she likes my other two bengals, although they aren't too sure about her yet. Tonight, she goes to bed with me and gets to stay there all day tomorrow for the first time. I bet my kitties help her know she can trust me. She won't eat treats but she learned about catnip...LOL! I put it in the bathtub and let her roll in it. I'm going to get her some catnip balls. She really likes the nip. I caught her playing with the little balls with bells in them. She was just walking by and all of a sudden...WHAP! and she gave a neat flick of her tail and kept going....LOL!
ReplyDeleteKelly, are there descriptions of adoptable cats who are currently in foster homes up at the kitty condo? And during adoption hours, could you possibly take a laptop in so that you could show your posts on adorable, dear Zelda? Is there a local paper that features adoptable animals once a week or so? How about a TV station? Like all your readers -- and more to the point, you -- I want Zelda to be able to avoid any further stress. As for Cole, what an excellent pendant and whiskers he has! Hope Simba is surviving.
ReplyDeleteThe decision has most definitely been made that Zelda stays here with me until she finds her forever home... no more condos for her. She did okay the last time that I took her to adoption hours, though. Her eyes get a lot of attention and she's docile enough to accept attention from kind strangers with me right there. We're going to try adoption hours again this weekend, but if it doesn't work for her then we will try all of the other routes you mentioned. Zelda and her feelings come first. :)
DeleteZelda is so lucky to be in your hands -- and how much does she deserve to be so after her earlier encounters with inhuman humans. Thanks, as ever, for all you do for these kitties. As for non-kitties, how does Zelda feel about Charlie?
DeleteZelda is quite easygoing about Charlie. She's really had no reaction to him at all. So I guess that says she likes him (or at least isn't bothered by him)
Deleteawwww - seeing those shy kitties learn to trust is a wonderful thing. and that tongue is awesome!!! we know Zelda's family is out there.....
ReplyDeletesending out adoption vibes to Zelda's family that they show up sooner rather than later.. *mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm*
ReplyDelete:)
Zelda is such a cutie. Any idea how she does with other cats?
ReplyDeleteZelda does quite well with other cats. I caught Chanel and Abby in her heater bed with her more than once. She doesn't seek out their attention, but she isn't bothered by them either.
DeleteMy wife and I have two cats, and experience dealing with the skittish ones. Our house is relatively peaceful, we live in SE Michigan, and we are interested. If she still needs a home and you'd like some more info, drop me a line at kevin hogan at gmail dot com.
DeleteOh my gosh, that tongue is the cutest thing! My Star drools when she's overly happy, but the tongue, that's a new one!
ReplyDeleteI rescued an abused cat and found that reaching out underhand with your palm up may not trigger the fear response. Also, getting on the cat's level before reaching out helps.
ReplyDeleteMy guy had been kicked, also, so I couldn't walk anywhere near him he'd go ballistic and attack whichever foot was closest.
After a year or so, I could reach out normally to pet him with no problems. And after several years, I could even gently move him out of the way with my foot with no reaction other than the usual kitty 'geez, mom, I was sleeping'!
I have learned that bending down and putting my hand below her head makes her feel safe enough to rub my hand with her head and then I'm allowed to pet her head. Also, it seems to work better if I start petting her back or side and then move to her head.
DeleteI'm amazed at how quickly she seems to be adjusting, but I know it's a long process. It still just makes me so sad when she flinches away from my hand.
Where is this lovely kitty located? I shared her on FB, and someone is asking me where she is. Thank you :-).
ReplyDeleteZelda is in Michigan... northeast Detroit suburbs. She is currently in foster care, but visits can be arranged with anyone who is interested in meeting her.
DeleteThank you for sharing our girl!