Rescue Tails / Wheaties: Third Time’s a Charm

Contributed by FKSPCA Staff

Wheaties came to us as a young soon-to-be mother. She was a stray who had shown up at someone’s house. This was back in early 2021. A few weeks after her arrival at the shelter, she gave birth to three daughters, and the family was placed in a foster home where she could raise them in a quiet setting. When the babies were weaned, Wheaties returned to the shelter, got spayed, and was put up for adoption.

Her first chance came 2.5 years later when she went home with a local couple. Wheaties was sweet but shy. As with many newly adopted cats, she did not immediately become the life of the party. In fact, she resided under the couch for the first week. Attempting to be helpful, her adopters tried to pull Wheaties from her hiding place. It did not go well. One bite later, she was back at the shelter for a 10-day quarantine.

Wheaties waited only a month for her second chance with another couple. They were told her history and knew she would take time to settle in. They were willing to be patient and give her time to adjust. Yet, they had no way of knowing what to expect. As before, Wheaties immediately gravitated to their couch. Only this time she found her way INTO the couch, and that’s where she stayed, only coming out at night. This caring couple reached out for counseling and tried several things to build trust and increase a sense of safety. But the one thing they couldn’t change was their environment, which can affect behavior hugely. The small apartment had thin walls and plenty of active neighbors. Plus, it was located ground level on a busy street with lots of Key West noise. It was only late at night when things quieted down and everyone was asleep that Wheaties ventured out from her safe space in the couch to eat and use the litter box. Her adopters were really worried about her overall quality of life. After 6 weeks of effort with very little improvement, they decided Wheaties would be better off being returned. While everyone was both disappointed and saddened by the outcome, it was probably for the best.

Less than 10 days after Wheaties’s second return, we held our Clear the Shelter event with hopes of lots of cat adoptions. While the day was slower than hoped, it was still a great day for Wheaties! When Jane asked about Wheaties and we told her about Wheaties history, she showed no hesitation. Wheaties went home that day for a third time. Fortunately, Jane lives in a quiet house in a quiet neighborhood, which could make a big difference for Wheaties. A week later we spoke with Jane. She told us Wheaties had been renamed Grace, and while she was still reclusive, she was moving around and even sniffed Jane’s hand. While that act might not seem like much, we think it’s certainly a step in the right direction and feel hopeful that this sweet but shy cat has finally found the home where she will thrive.

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