“I had just recently lost my previous cat to cancer, and I happened to see that Kyanite needed a new home. I ignored it at first because I thought I wasn’t ready, but I couldn’t stop thinking about her. I submitted an application and was pleasantly surprised when i got a call to set up a time to meet her. I was introduced to a cat cave with a terrified little face inside. I greeted her softly while telling her about the sunny windows and soft blankets we had. I then held out my hand and asked her if she was willing to try living with me. She sniffed my fingers and head butted my hand. I know she didn’t understand me, but I took that as a sign.

I had no idea that would be the easy part. As soon as we got her home she ran and hid behind the toilet. That lasted a few days until she discovered the tent made by the drying rack. After a week of that, and lots of gentle talking and treats, she ventured out to the living room, and directly under the recliner. At this point I realized this was not a standard cat introduction to a new home.

I started to use every technique I knew for gaining the trust of semi-feral cats. Every day I was on the floor looking under the chair while talking softly, slow blinking, and offering food. What kept giving me hope was lying in bed and listening to her play and eat while the apartment was dark, and the times she would turn around and place her tail in my palm. I quickly found out that she actually likes her tail being petted.

After four or five months of this I was trying to come to terms with the thought that she would hide forever and just not allow human interaction, but I knew I’d keep her even then. Then something amazing happened. In the middle of the night I felt her jump onto the bed, carefully inspect my partner and I, and then settle herself on my legs and start purring. I was so happy I nearly cried. After that she moved from under the chair to under the bed, more room and less hidden.

I continued to work with her to gain her trust and before long she was running to me for comfort when she got stressed or scared. We discovered she loves being brushed more than just about anything. And it helped soothe her nerves.

Within months she was doing things like sleeping in the middle of the living room and discovering the crow flock that hangs out nearby. Before long she had stopped hiding all together, spending all day in the windows, hunting springs, and demanding petting.

Now, nearly two years later she walks around like she owns the place (she does), and bosses us around with orders to feed her, clean her box, and even to go to bed.

Oh, one of the best things is when she turns into Nurse Belladonna. We found that she can detect when I have a Fibromyalgia flare up or migraine coming on and starts herding me to the bed, sometimes before I’m even aware it’s happening.

I am so happy I have gotten to know this smart, loving, beautiful cat, and watching her fight and overcome her anxiety has been amazing.”