Slowly but surely

Most shy cats just need a little time and space to feel comfortable. That was certainly the case for Mabel, a cat who came into our shelter last fall when her family moved and couldn't take her with them. This monumentous change turned Mabel's life upside down. She was anxious, out of sorts, and couldn't be with the other kitties in our free-roaming cat cottage due to testing positive for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). FIV is one of the most common infectious diseases of cats and can be transmitted through bite wounds from an infected cat. Though there is no cure, recent studies suggest that cats with FIV commonly live average life spans.

We knew with love and time, Mabel would regain her confidence. In steps foster heroes, Allyson and Hunter, who wanted to help a FIV+ cat who needed it the most. Allyson and Hunter adopted Monty from PAWS Atlanta last year. Monty is also FIV+ and he's this chunky ham sandwich who has such a chill personality. He even let us put a harness on him in the middle of breakfast and take him to FOX 5 so he could be featured as the pet of the day! 

Anyways, we weren't talking about Monty, we were talking about Mabel. After she went home with Allyson and Hunter, she hid in the guest bathroom and would only come to the doorway for meal time. Weeks went by and Mabel could not find the courage to explore. Allyson and Hunter were patient. They didn't force the issue and gave Mabel the time and space she needed to feel comfortable and confident in her foster home. Weeks turned into months, but they never lost hope. One day Allyson peeked in to check on Mabel and found her and Monty sun bathing in their office. Allyson told us Mabel absolutely adores Monty and loves rubbing against him and attempting to lure him into a play session (hasn't worked yet, but keep trying Mabel!). She's also learning to trust Allyson, allowing her to scratch her head and cheeks and purring all the while. That's what time can do. Mabel's still a work in progress, but aren't we all.

If you're interested in adopting Mabel, send your completed cat adoption application to our adoption team at info@pawsatlanta.org. If you'd like to give another cat or dog the time and space they need to thrive, contact our Foster Program Coordinator, Ellee Gonzales.