this morning i spent two hours volunteering at
mid-hudson animal aid, a no-kill cat sanctuary up in beacon (where we got
floyd earlier this year). beacon is overrun with feral cats, many of whom end up at MHAA. to help increase the cats' chances of finding homes, the folks at MHAA created a "feral friends" program, designed for volunteers like me who can't be at the shelter every day. you get assigned to one cat who needs socialization, affection, patience, and love. and whenever you make it in, you focus your attention on that particular cat.
i got assigned to buster.
when audrey, the shelter manager, brought me to the screened-in back porch, she pointed me towards buster, the orange tabby hiding behind a cage, curled up next to a window. he was immediately on his guard, and the cat next to him bolted away as soon as we moved towards them. i slowly kicked off my flip-flops and sat down on the concrete floor, wanting to lower myself and get closer to his height. i talked the whole time so he could get used to my voice, but he was having none of it. not even the smell of kitty treats could ease his fear; as soon as i reached out with one, he bolted off into the main room.
so i went and spent time with some other cats, who had NO problem coming up to me and getting treats for themselves. there was the tabby with the half-missing ear and the extra toes; the green-eyed grey one who could float in mid-air; and precious, who spent half her time splayed out on the back of my neck.
but i didn't want to give up on buster. audrey suggested i look under the bed in the main room, to see if he was hiding under there. i lay down flat on my belly and peered underneath; sure enough, there he was, biding his time. i hung out there for a good long while, talking to him, tossing him a treat or two, as other, bolder cats climbed all over my back. it was during that interlude that i placed my camera on the floor and took this photograph; that's buster there, on the left.
i decided to leave him be for awhile, and went out front to hang out while an elderly couple adopted an elderly calico. precious added a few more welts to my shoulders while audrey and i talked photography (we're collaborating on a project). before taking off, i decided to find buster one more time to say goodbye. i found him back on the porch, hiding behind his cage... but this time he didn't run away. i approached him very, very slowly, talking to him all the while. i did the same thing as before -- kicked off my shoes, sat on the concrete, and held out a treat. and he just looked at me. and looked at me. and looked at me.
and then he stood up. he looked over towards his escape route, then back at my hand, escape route, hand, escape route, hand.
by the time i left ten minutes later, he'd come out from behind his hidey hole and let me scratch his back. hell, he even let me coo into his face as he lay down on his back and showed me his belly.
i told him i'd be back.