When Eagle arrived at PAWS Atlanta in October of 2023, we knew she was going to take a while to open up. She was scared and upset about being in a new environment and didn't trust our team. She spent a lot of time hiding under blankets and would lash out if her fort was disturbed. It was going to take a lot of work to build up Eagle's trust, but we were willing to do whatever it took to make her feel safe.

After a few months, Eagle began to explore the Cat Cottage a bit more, even walking around while people were in the room. This was a huge step for her, and we were encouraged to see her making so much progress. Our volunteer, Ed, notorious for helping our shyest cats, worked with her weekly. She opened up even more, taking treats from the people she grew to trust and even starting to accept head rubs. She also spent a month in a foster home, where we were able to see what her transition to a new home might be like.

Despite her ongoing transformation, we knew Eagle would still need a special home - one with patient people to help her settle in. She'd grown relatively comfortable in the Cat Cottage but it was possible she would regress a little when her surroundings changed again. When an interested adopter submitted an application for her, we were cautiously optimistic. Her potential adopter came to meet her and was not dissuaded by Eagle's suspicion of new people. She knew Eagle was the cat for her!

After four months in her new home, Eagle is fully settled in. Her name is now Vanity, fitting for the diva she's blossomed into. Her mom says, "​Vanity has adapted very well to her new home and is eating her new food without any problems. She loves to come to me and my daughter for rubs on her own." With extra love and patience, she's become a loving cat, relaxed and happy in her adoptive home. This is exactly what we hope for every animal in our care.