Adopting a Feral Cat* – The Story of Arya

*A feral cat is a cat that has been born into wildness or has not had human interaction for a significant period of time and is self-sufficient.  Feral cats are usually considered to be distinct from stray cats, which are socialized cats who no longer live in homes, but could potentially be reintroduced successfully to a home environment.

Arya was found on a cold February day in 2013 by a BARCS (Baltimore Area Rescue and Care Shelter) volunteer who saw a small kitten scavenging in the dumpster for food outside of a downtown Baltimore City grocery store. When the volunteer called for the kitten to come, she surprisingly went to the volunteer.  She was then taken to BARCS where she was assessed and immediately put on antibiotics. There was severe conjunctivitis in both eyes, lung congestion, and she was thin and malnourished. Through the course of a few weeks, one eye healed but the other had to be removed and sutured shut while she was under anesthesia for spay surgery.

BARCS then sent Arya to a foster to see if she was able to be adopted.  Some feral cats are not capable of being socialized and adopted, depending on their background, on their age when found, and because of health issues.  Because Arya came to the BARCS volunteer that day she was found, it was determined that there may have been a good Samaritan feeding her and that she did have some contact with humans. Also, Arya was probably only three months old when she was rescued and this made it easier for her to acclimate to human contact.

Arya was first named Arlington by BARCS just before they sent her to be fostered, and she flourished under the care of that loving, caring person. She was then selected to be featured at a Pet Valu store in Baltimore so she would get greater exposure to prospective adopters who have a soft spot for ‘undesirable’ cats.  Undesirable cats are categorized as being older, black, missing limbs or an eye, or having FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus, positive).

Arya at Pet Valu adoption event, waiting for a forever home

Fortunately for all involved, my daughter was managing a Pet Valu store in another location in Baltimore and happened to be in the store where Arya was being featured for adoption. My daughter, Kami, told me, “She was soooo tiny and scroungy, but she spoke to me. She came right over to the edge of the kennel and let me pet her, she looked at me with that one eye and I wanted her.”  Keeping in mind that she already had a 13 year old cat at home (Keke) who was the only pet and who has diabetes, Kami decided to resist her impulse to take Arya that same day and to wait a week.  If the kitten was still there a week later, she would know that it was meant to be and she would take Arya home.

After a week of looking at her picture, and thinking of the pros and cons, Kami went back and little Arya was still there. An application was filled out, supplies bought, and research done on how to introduce a new cat to another cat. She came back to the Pet Valu store the next evening to take Arya home and saw the “I Have Been Adopted” sign on the cage, knowing that her new kitten was ready to go to her new home and her new life. At that time, Kami decided to rename her new baby “Arya” (after Arya Stark in Game of Thrones because she’s a small but mighty female).

In her research, Kami found that she needed to get everything new for Arya, from litter box to water bowls, toys, and lots of blankets. She also read that the relationship of a younger female cat with the established older male cat worked out best in bringing a new cat into a household. This was a perfect match so far!  She had a spare bedroom where she set up all of Arya’s new things.

Arya went to her new home with Kami on April Fool’s Day and lived in her own separate room for two days. Kami would visit with her several times a day and she would let her other cat, Keke, smell through the door. After the third day, Arya was ready to come out and see her new home and meet her new brother, Keke. After a few hisses from the old guy and after a few days they were alright with each other.  On her first night out of her own little room she slept curled up on Kami’s neck.

Arya has adapted well to her home and to her Mom and brother.

It’s interesting how Arya’s first three months of life alone in the big city, fending for herself to stay alive, have affected some of her behavior and personality quirks.  She is very independent, doesn’t like to be picked up or held, and she was initially very slow to trust and accept attention. Kami knew to let her go at her own pace and they are both still taking small steps toward Arya becoming more affectionate.

Kami has noticed that Arya tends to be sensitive to cold and so she loves to lie on the heating vents or be covered up with blankets when she naps.  Survival on the streets of Baltimore in the cold winter has understandably made her warmth and food driven, and she’s a formidable one-eyed huntress with a commendable hunt count of four mice and countless bugs and flies.

Arya and Keke, enjoying a morning sunbath

She loves to wrestle with her big brother, and this has definitely helped with his health and keeping him young and playful. She is afraid of thunder and fireworks, and hides under the bed. When this happens, Kami puts a smooth jazz radio channel on for her and sits on the bed while she’s in the room.  Regarding her nutritional needs, Arya has had a very healthy diet which consists of organic wet and dry food, supplemented by a multi-vitamin that contains Omega 3 & 6, Taurine, and other good things.

It is very important to remember to be patient with rescued cats that were living on their own, as it is difficult for them to trust and to acclimate to a home environment. Arya is not a lap cat these days, but she always wants to be near her Mom and her brother, Keke. Kami feels rewarded by the baby steps that she and Arya are taking in their relationship and bond. In Kami’s words, “Whenever I get flustered with Arya, I remember that her birthday is in November and that she was found in Baltimore City in a dumpster, in February – poor thing was a baby surviving out in the cold. No wonder she loves the sun and to be under blankets! I am really happy that we’re making progress, like when I wake up and she’s on the bed next to me.”

Adopting a cat from a shelter or rescue group is a wonderful thing because it gives many animals a chance for a happy, healthy life that they would not have otherwise had.  I cannot say enough about the wonderful rescue groups throughout the country.  In my particular area, organizations like BARCS and Cats R Us are continually working hard to save homeless, sick, elderly, and unwanted animals and finding good loving homes for them.  In Arya’s case, she was a sickly kitten trying to stay alive in the cold winter weather on city streets. Her life was saved twice, first by the BARCS volunteer who found her in the dumpster, and then again by Kami, who adopted her and has given her a safe, comfortable, loving, forever home.

My daughter and Arya, my Grandcat

Update – 11/2016  Arya’s brother, Keke, passed away several months ago from complications of his diabetes.  Arya still misses him very much, but now she has a new brother – Rhett!  Rhett was adopted from BARCS and was also a feral cat found on the streets of Baltimore.  They have many things in common, and they love each other already!

Rhett – Arya’s new brother. He’s such a handsome guy!