Wholesome Recollections Of Rescue Cats Building Trust With Their Humans

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kalila courban
Feb 20, 2022 11:00 AM EST

Adopting a rescue is no simple task, but it can be one of the most wonderful experiences! It is truly so rewarding when after months of caring for a previously feral or stray cat, you get a glimpse of the thankful feline expressing a little bit of love. Cats in general are known for taking a while to warm up to their humans and they tend to be very cautious creatures. There's this totally unjustified stigma out there that cats don't actually love their humans, but every single cat owner knows otherwise. Cats can be incredibly affectionate. They just have their own weird ways of expressing it. 

Building trust with your fluffy felines is no casual task, especially if they have a rough history or used to be a stray. The cats discussed in this heartwarming Reddit thread all came from difficult pasts but were given a second chance. Now, let's enjoy the heartwarming stories of rescue cats building trust with their humans and slowly but surely, expressing love in their own unique ways.

 

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  • 01
    Cat - Posted by u/rainydaayyy 5 days ago 3 3 5 O We've had our rescue cat, Butterscotch, for about 2 months. He's pretty traumatized, and we haven't been able to get close to him or pet him. Today, he hopped right up on the bed next to me and let me give him some love! Video
    via rainydaayyy

    Sweet Butterscotch, you have no idea how happy you have made your human! There is no feeling more wonderful than building trust with a hesitant animal. Butterscotch made his humans work for his love, ain't nothing wrong with that. He had to make sure they were worthy.

  • 02
    Font - fragilemuse +3·4 days ago This gives me so much hope. My feral boy, Dusty, was also considered unadoptable by the shelter. He was there 5 years and no one could get close to him without him drawing blood. I fell in love with him the first time I saw his photo and had to adopt him. It's been a long journey but he's finally warmed up enough that he loves being petted (but still gets spooked easily). I had to drug him and take him to the vet recently to get a bunch of his poor, rotten teeth
    via fragilemuse

    Dusty sounds like a super cat that just needed the right human to come along and give him all the love and attention that he deserved. 

  • 03
    Font - Freeperiod 4 days ago We tamed one of our cats from our backyard, the main thing that convinced her to come inside, we think, was the petting. At first she would just grab some chicken out of our hands, then would act like she wanted to rub against our ankles. When we finally pet her she never let us stop until we brought her inside. If we sat outside, she'd jump into our lap and get comfy to get some loving because she knew we would move for awhile. All cats just want some love, includin
    via Freeperiod
  • 04
    Font - clexpvtrv420 4 days ago It took me forever to get my rescue to warm up to me but it's been about 7 years with her, now she loves kisses and being held and any type of snuggles. She's my big baby I don't know what I'd do without her.
    via clexpvtrv420
  • 05
    Font - loose_brain_cell 4 days ago Freddy must have decided that it was time to try my lap. We have four other cats, and he'd seen them being picked up, cuddled, and sitting in laps, and I think that helped him. One day he was on the table next to where I was sitting, and he gingerly put a paw out and touched me. He hurriedly pulled it back, but then decided to take the plunge, and he jumped into my lap. I picked him up and cuddled him, and heard him purr for the first time. Now he's on me every
    via loose_brain_cell
  • 06
    Font - I_throw_socks_at_cat +1 · 4 days ago I have a 12-year old cat named Murphy. For most of her life, she was too skittish for physical affection. It's only in the last few years she's calmed down and started to enjoy it. I'm not trying to say 'wait another eight years', just that cats go through phases of life and things may change for you.
    via I_throw_socks_at_cat
  • 07
    Font - fragilemuse +3 ·4 days ago My first feral was like that. 11 years together and I was never able to pet him. He was such a sassy boy and 1000% worth sharing my home with. I've since adopted 2 more feral cats in his memory. The boy I've had for 2.5 years and he finally accepts pettings despite being considered "untouchable" from his 5 years at the shelter. The girl I've had just over a year (she spent 8 years at the shelter) and she's still a hands off kitty. No matter the pace they set, th
    via fragilemuse
  • 08
    Font - loose_brain_cell · 4 days ago My Freddy was like that. We got him from a shelter: they gave him to us for free when we got another cat from them, because people would take him home, then bring him back because he wasn't very friendly. When we got him home, he was terrified. When we got him out of the carrier, he hid under a wardrobe for some time, but one day, while I was petting another cat, Freddy lined himself next to him and wanted pets too. He loved it. It took a lot more time, but o
    via loose_brain_cell
  • 09
    Font - nenamorena 4 days ago It took our rescue almost 2 months to hop in bed too (no pets tho) and about 6 months before she let us fully pet her without her swiping or running away. Butterscotch is gorgeous, congrats on the progress!
    via nenamorena
  • 10
    Font - ChurchillsHat +2·4 days ago It took our Odo A YEAR to let us touch him, when he was still a stray. And once he was inside, it was probably 3 months before he was comfortable enough to not sleek under the couch in the basement. Now he sleeps on my bed and his morning routine is to climb under the covers with me and snuggle for 30 minutes and then cry at me when I get up for work.
    via ChurchillsHat

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Tags

wholesome cat adorable adoption pets heartwarming affection cute felines uplifting feline Cats rescue
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