Meet Memphis.

DOB: June 14, 2022
Sex: Male
Breed: Domestic Short -hair
Color: Grey tabby
Good with cats: Unknown
Good with dogs: Unknown
Good with kids: Unknown
Location: Saskatoon

Memphis is the 3rd foster where I've had to socialize him so he can become comfortable around humans. I've given him a hiding space in my room where he can stay away from the scary human who wants to be his friend. 10 times a day I poke my head in there and give some scratches on the head and some treats. He hisses at first, a harmless hiss, just his way of expressing his fear. When I press my hands on his body he quivers as I pet his back. He's getting used to being pet, but it'll take 2 weeks to a month for him to feel comfortable.

The other two cats I went through this process with, by the end of 4 weeks of being afraid of me, they had transformed into friendly, cuddly cats who slept in my arms at night, or ran towards me to hop on my lap when I sat on the couch. I see the same outcome with Memphis, I just gotta be patient, let him grow to trust me in his own time, and when he's ready to be friends he'll start coming to me for ear scratches and cuddles.

I keep the food bowl beside my bed at night so that he has to come out of hiding to eat. I hear him nibbling on his food beside me, I poke my head over the edge of the bed, he raises his eyes up to me, sometimes he goes back to his hiding space, sometimes he feels comfortable enough to keep eating. It's just a thousand small moments like this of gaining his trust and eventually he'll come out of his shell.

Even though he's scared of me most of the time, I can tell he's a big sweetheart. He's got a good energy. I like having him around.

Socializing cats like this is what a lot of fosters do when they take in a cat who was found in the wild. He was picked up by SOS Prairie Rescue out in the wild at a cat colony.