Finnegan the Fantastic

Whenever I get new foster cats, I never know what to expect. No matter how much or how little information I have, there’s no way to predict how they will react or what needs they may have.

When I first met Finnegan he was a stereotypical scaredy cat. He ran from him, he hid in tiny places trying to be invisible, and when I picked up him to handle/examine/medicate him, he panicked.

But unlike other shy cats I’ve worked with, he showed confidence in his surroundings when I wasn’t around. I used my “spy” camera to watch him explore his new room, play with his toys, and climb the cat trees to look outside. I started spending more and more time in the room just sitting in the room being still, and Finnegan would come out to play. Not with with me of course, but with his toys nearby. When I would break out the wand toy, he really had a great time! However, if I moved my hands at all near him, he’d take off and hide.

Patiently, I worked with Finnegan using the wand toy to bring him near me, but I purposely didn’t try to touch him. Eventually he was climbing all over me! We practiced my moving my hands near him, but I continued to not touch him without permission. Finally, I was able to pet him from behind. He really started to learn to like pets. However, if he turned around and saw it was my hands touching him, he’d run away.

I don’t know anything about Finn’s life before he came to me. I don’t know if he wasn’t previously handled enough or if he was handled too much, but either way, with time and patience I was able to gain his trust, and that feeling is the greatest in the world.

Finnegan was adopted by a great family yesterday, and I’m so proud of how far he has come and the wonderful life that’s ahead for him.