Five Weeks of Terror or . . . The Reward of Fostering
Last summer, Sweeney and Cookie were placed with an experienced cat-foster who offered a quiet, child-free home with one other cat. For FIVE WEEKS Cookie was a ghost. Oh, she came out and ate, she used the litter box, but she was not seen. Sweeney was out and about (all 18 lbs of him!) but no sign of Cookie. When she finally decided it might be safe to come out, she proved herself desperate for love and attention.
Where is her forever family? Someone who is willing to just let her be for however long it takes for her to feel safe enough to tiptoe out of the shadows?
Being a cat-foster is challenging; sometimes it takes every ounce of experience you have to coax a scared animal to trust a human one more time.
Where are the adopters who are willing to put in their time without reward for a few weeks. It’s not like a playful little kitten who frolics and plays with you and every dangling piece of string within 10 feet from the moment s/he arrives. Yes, they are cute when they pounce and play – it’s hard to resist a kitten, and many of our fosters ask to foster them — and certainly we need kitten fosters especially during kitten season. Unfortunately, we never seem to have enough adopters/fosters with the experience and patience to make a life-changing impact on all the ‘Cookies’ of the world.
Are you one of those people who is willing to put in the effort without reward until trust is given? Cookie needs someone of her very own. Even watching Sweeney easily transition into the household was not enough for Cookie to trust. I cannot imagine her in a shelter instead of a foster home. It would be too much for her – it is too much for MANY animals in transition.
Cookie and Sweeney (bonded pair) continue to be available for adoption, see below. Because Cookie is so shy they can't be taken to adoption events.
Elaine Hartman is president of NWAC. Contact her at 503-421-6843 or ehartman@msn.com.
Cookie & Sweeney
We are 7-year-old bonded brother and sister. We are both affectionate, but Cookie takes a while to trust. One she does though, she is your friend forever! Our original people abandoned us after seven years when they divorced, leaving us to find another home (not easy at our age). We get along with other cats, and we love sunbathing in the picture window, I (Sweeney) enjoy playing, and Cookie enjoys watching me chase my tail and toys. We will do best in an adult-only home with patience for Cookie to blossom. Contact NWAC Amiyouel@max.com or 503-285-0656.