News

SART has a story to tell. It started last summer when a lovely couple living at the lake for the summer noticed a young cat hiding in the rocks along the shore of the lake. They brought her food. She was shy and nervous, but so hungry. They started bringing her food morning and evening, sitting by her while she ate, slowly gaining her trust; and her appreciation showed. The couple was heading back to Florida for the winter so they contacted SART about the fate of this little cat they had named KieKie. They couldn’t take her with them, but they knew that when the cold winter wind started blowing, living in the rocks along the shore would be unsafe.
They captured her, brought her to SART, and said goodby. She was spayed, innoculated, wormed and examined for any other issues. It was slow for KieKie to adjust to no nice couple she had gotten to trust, new people, new surroundings and sounds, no rocks to hide in. We worked with her, talked with her, loved on her on her terms, and one day we could actually touch her! Then she started sitting at the front of her cage to watch us, listen to us, and be sure we came to visit her. This was over a matter of months – not a quick adjustment by any means, but slowly she started to trust.
SART received an email in December from another lovely couple who had a cat in their horse barn that was fixed and healthy and very friendly, who had recently lost his companion to an illness. They wanted a companion for their Bob, and wondered if SART had a kitty to fit the lifestyle of a horsebarn and a friendly cat. We thought of KieKie! How much fun she could have in a huge barn with a good friend to play with. So, we started making arrangements for the move. Everything she was used to went with her, her big cage, her blankies, her heater, etc. They took over where we had ended. They worked with KieKie, talked with her, loved on her, and gave her rewards and attention. Slowly, she started to respond to them, and to Bob. Bob even brought her a dead mouse and laid it at her cage as a token of friendship towards her! And so it continued. The new nice couple went to their horse barn twice daily to feed and care for their animals – giving KieKie special attention until they knew she was ready to come out into the barn and really play with Bob. KieKie is happy, Bob is happy, the nice new couple is happy, and the original couple is happy – all to know that there is good in people, life can be joyful, and one more kitty was saved to a wonderful life!

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