At the Seattle Animal Shelter, many animals’ journeys to recovery are a collective effort, made possible by the support of compassionate individuals. One such tale is that of Eartha Kat (EK), a feline survivor, who came to the Seattle Animal Shelter after a traumatic encounter with a vehicle. In her path to healing, the shelter’s dedicated behaviorist – and Stevo the wonder kitten – played a vital role in her rehabilitation.
Eartha Kat arrived at the Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS), displaying signs of distress likely caused by the accident. The impact left her with not only physical injuries but also significant emotional trauma. She exhibited fear and fractious behavior, hissing, swatting, biting, and retreating into her shell. The image below captures her state upon intake—a frightened soul seeking refuge within the confines of her kennel.
The Seattle Animal Shelter’s behaviorist relocated EK to their office to see if living in a more home-like environment would help EK feel more relaxed over time, as many cats show signs of decreased stress when not confined to a kennel. However, this was not the case for EK. Recognizing the delicacy of the situation, the behaviorist devised a comprehensive behavioral plan to address EK’s challenges including her fear of humans, and fear of human handling.
Behavioral Plan:
– Direct supervision within the office
– Desensitization to human interaction
– Pairing with a calm social cat or kitten to offer comfort beyond human touch
– Urgent foster solicitation
To pair EK with a calm social cat, fortunately SAS had a single older kitten in the shelter. Enter Stevo the wonder kitten! Stevo seemed to immediately understand his assignment. He located Earth Kat where she was hiding and made himself into a perfect loaf next to her without invading her space.
Stevo eventually helped EK be confident enough to come out of hiding, and soon the pair were spending time comfortably napping on the behaviorist’s desk, supervising the comings and goings of SAS staff and volunteers. It was soon time for SAS’s foster coordinator to enlist a foster home volunteer for her, as EK was feeling much better about humans near her. After a short time in foster, EK was successfully adopted!
The heartwarming transformation of Eartha Kat, from a scared and traumatized feline to a more trusting and content soul, illustrates the invaluable role the shelter’s behaviorist and companionship play in animal rehabilitation, and the foster coordinator’s role in helping pets transition to a foster home from where they can be successfully adopted.
Donations to the Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation make the SAS dedicated behaviorist and foster coordinator positions possible, and facilitates these transformative connections. Thank you for being a part of Eartha Kat’s journey and for helping animals in need.
