Would you walk by the sweetest cat in the shelter, just because her smile is a little different? This is important. Animals can sense Cordova, who has been waiting at the Valley Animal Center in Fresno, California, for over 700 days, was relegated to waiting for a forever home when she was only a year old. She was found in a dog crate along with a second cat in a shelter outside the gates. While the second cat was quickly found a home, Cordova had to undergo a significant dental surgery, leaving her without most of the top teeth in her mouth. She now has a slight underbite, which makes her look perpetually eager, sporting a “cutest little tongue-out derp” expression.
This smile, to those familiar with her, is one of her lovable qualities. However, to much of her visitors, this smile merely serves as an excuse to walk by her. “We have gotten the feeling that it is a little bit intimidating, even if she’s not the kind of cat who really has an attitude in that way,” says cat behavior specialist Anjanette Mendoza. Cordova, too, is shy, preferring the warmth beside the window to approaching her visitors eagerly. While her shyness can be found so lovable to those people who get to know her, Cordova just passes by unnoticed because of her bashful personality compared to those otherfriendlier cats.
Cordova, however, can be the ideal companion for the right individual. Cordova can easily adapt to a quiet environment, and she also does not require a place with dogs around. She can, however, be found around other cats. Her ideal life involves just lounging around while her human is reading, working, or relaxing. Many people online fell in love with Cordova just by looking at her photos, and one of them says, “She is super cute. Looks like a little vampire.”
Cases in point are Cordova’s own story, among many other such instances, and it is for reasons such as these that it is so rewarding to give a home to a special needs or shy cat. As testified by animal welfare advocates, These cats languish in shelters for months or years because they don’t stand out in the ways adopters want, writes Cordova, When they find an adopter, it’s transformative for both the cat and person.’ Special needs cats are especially resilient, whether they’re dealing with medical issues, looking different, or bearing psychological scars, Cordova continues in explanation, That may not protect them from cruelty, or from suffering, but it has nothing to do with their love or their joy or their playful, mischievous, adorable nature,
The process of acclimating a shy cat requires care and empathy. IT Architects suggest beginning in a quiet corner room that provides plenty of hiding spots, access to food and water, and visiting them slowly daily. As you gain their trust, small steps such as raising treats nearby at their hiding spots or playing interactive toys will go a long way towards this effect. “The first time they start to interact with you, like giving you a nose touch, or rubbing against you, is so gratifying and worth the wait,” expresses Amanda Kowalski, Director of Behavior at San Diego Humane Society.
But it is not only a journey that Cordova has had to take. It has also been an emotional journey that the staff members of the shelter have had to make. This is especially the case with animal care staff members. It can be a bittersweet journey since they get to enjoy every time one of their long-term residents gets adopted but are also frustrated by seeing one of their favorite animals get rejected time and time again. ”It would be really exciting, I think, for everybody that works here currently to see her go home finally,” adds Mendoza.
To take on a cat like Cordova is to provide her with a home and to provide the potential to be seen as who she really is. It’s the power that’s often described when people who advocate for special needs pets write about the relationships that can be formed as a trusted and timid pet gains your confidence. It’s a strong bond that some may consider the greatest kind. Perhaps some may notice what has been termed a “derpy” smile and walk on. But for the man who pauses and takes a moment to notice her and look in her eyes, Cordova waits to provide a lifetime of quiet companionship and the kind of love that grows daily.
