Ed. — From the Sunday, May 14, print edition.
VIRGINIA BEACH — I was devastated when my adorable cat, Butterfly, died earlier this year. She was a petite Persian mix, and she was aptly named because she flitted around the house so gracefully that she resembled a butterfly.
I’ve had cats all of my life, but she was the sweetest and most cuddly one I’ve ever had.
When she died, I threw away her food bowls and litter boxes and put her toys and beds away. I didn’t think I’d ever get another cat, but, as time passed, I began to change my mind. The house was so empty and bleak, so, I began browsing websites of local animal shelters to see if any cats caught my eye.
Only one did, and that was a long-haired, six-year-old female named Samantha. She had been at the Virginia Beach SPCA for several months. I began visiting her, but I was reluctant to make a commitment.
I think that I was drawn to her because she was long-haired and had coloring similar to Butterfly. I was afraid that I would always fantasize that she was Butterfly instead of accepting her as Samantha.
She was extremely distant and initially showed no interest in interacting with me or with anyone else. I wasn’t surprised when I learned her backstory. She had lived her entire life with an older man in a very quiet, loving home, but he was forced to surrender her when his circumstances made it impossible to keep her.
The SPCA staff said that they thought she was grieving, and she was also traumatized by the noise and bustle of the cattery and the smell of other animals. After several visits, though, she gradually seemed to accept me. I decided to adopt her. Last week, I brought her to her new home.
As I write this, she’s warming very slowly to her new environment. Now, more than a day after she came home, she’s still spending a lot of time by herself in remote parts of the house.
Still, I’ve been around cats enough to know that it can take time for them to adapt to a new environment. You need patience if you want to make friends with a cat.
Knowledge of the cat’s background also helps. So, I’ve prepared some tips for adopting a cat that I’ve learned from my own experience and my interaction with veterinarians and SPCA staff.
- First, before you adopt, consider your own lifestyle and the animal’s background carefully. Some cats, like Samantha, aren’t used to being around other animals or children, and they do better in a very quiet home with only adults or perhaps adults and older adolescents. Introduce the cat gradually if you do have other pets and your home is the best – or only – alternative for the animal. Keep them separated for a few days, and then begin to let them interact for a few minutes at a time under your supervision.
- Secondly, if possible, bring something that belongs to the cat into the new home. Displaced cats find a familiar object that carries their scent comforting.
- Thirdly, when you bring them into the house, place the carrier on the floor in a room near their litter box. Open the door, but don’t force the cat out. She’ll come out on her own when she’s ready. Offer food and water, but don’t be surprised if she doesn’t eat a lot on the first day. It’s also a good idea to feed her the type of food that she’s been used to because cats are very picky eaters.
- Most importantly, understand that all rescue animals have had challenges in their background, so patience is required. Understand, too, that cats have their own personalities, and accept them for what they are.
Butterfly was extremely affectionate and spent evenings cuddled with me on the couch and nights sleeping on my pillow, but I think that Samantha may always be more reserved and spend a lot of time alone.
Samantha is also a lot larger. Butterfly resembled a butterfly, but Samantha looks more like the fat cat that you see on posters. Still, she’s who she is, and I’m learning to love her for it.
And – oh! – Samantha just came out and laid her head on my shoe.
I think that we’re going to be great friends after all.
Learn more about the Virginia Beach SPCA online via vbspca.com.
The author is a contributor to The Independent News. Her journalism has also appeared in The Virginian-Pilot.
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