From feral to friendly

Our longtime resident Mr. Tumnus found his forever home last week after nearly 9 months in WAIF’s care! Though his journey home was a long one, the patient and devoted attention of our staff and volunteers helped this once frightened and aggressive boy learn to trust, and rescued him from a life on the street.

A handsome tabby with round, golden eyes, Mr. Tumnus first entered WAIF as a beneficiary of CATsNIP, WAIF’s Trap-Neuter-Return, or TNR, program. Through CATsNIP, cat-conscious community members humanely trap feral cats in their area and bring them to WAIF to receive free spay and neuter surgeries. Many cats who have spent their lives outdoors are unable to be socialized. CATsNIP patients are typically returned to the area where they were found after surgery and recovery. This best practice helps maintain stable, healthy, and non-breeding colonies; prevents new cats from moving in; and keeps cats safe in their familiar territory.

Every once in a while, however, animal care staff will determine that a CATsNIP cat could make a good adoption candidate. Such was the case with Mr. Tumnus; after an initial assessment, we decided to take him in.

But Mr. Tumnus soon reverted back to his feral behavior. He was extremely fearful of people, would not allow anyone to touch or pet him, and quickly became aggressive when he felt scared or threatened. We relocated him to our Freeland Cat Cottage, hoping its calm and quiet environment would help him feel safe.

At the Cat Cottage, Mr. Tumnus got to interact with a devoted roster of cat-savvy volunteers, as well as patient WAIF staff members, who gave him all the time and space he needed to adjust at his own pace. He also got to observe other cats roaming, playing, and having positive interactions with humans. After two months, Mr. Tumnus achieved a major milestone: he finally ventured out of his kennel.

Though Mr. Tumnus remained wary of humans, we noticed that he held no such reservations about other cats. He had a special affinity for kittens, creating close bonds with the youngest Cat Cottage residents and even imitating their chirplike mews.

Morgan, a WAIF animal care technician who worked closely with Mr. Tumnus during his stay in the Cat Cottage, said the large tabby loved all the other cats, including newcomers, whom he took affectionately under his wing.

His confidence with other felines emboldened Mr. Tumnus to slowly extend his trust to humans. Mr. Tumnus began cautiously approaching Morgan and exposing his neck, allowing her to pet him. He grew more playful, chasing string toys and accepting treats from volunteers, and even allowing the occasional stranger to pet him.

“Mr. Tumnus is one-of-a-kind,” Morgan said. “He really teaches you that you can always find safety in good people.”

On Jan. 7, Mr. Tumnus went home at last, where he lives with another WAIF alumnus, 2-year-old tabby Draxx. Mr. Tumnus remains a shy and independent kitty, but with the help of his friends both feline and human, he has made enormous strides in his socialization. We believe he will be very happy in his new home.

We are so grateful to the staff and volunteers who took the time to help Mr. Tumnus feel safe for the first time in his life. The road home is long for some animals, but it doesn’t have to be frightening when they have someone to walk beside them.