Kaslo

Debbie has just introduced me to a cat she's fallen in love with. And no wonder - Kaslo is both lovable and loving.

What is a cause for wonder is why Kaslo is friendly at all, let along a little lovebug that will sit in a stranger's lap more readily than my own cats will sit in mine.

Kaslo is thought to be around seven months old and grew up under a bush at a feeding site that Debbie visits. She's known Debbie since she was around six weeks old. Recognizing Debbie's voice, she'd appear at the promise of food only to run away again if approached.

Trapped and spayed and brought to the sanctuary, most cats (tame strays as well as ferals) would want to hide for as long as permitted in the carrier left in the cage with them. For Kaslo, before long she was out of the carrier and sitting next to it, trying to get a look at any cats to be seen through the cage door.

She allows herself to be stroked, not just by Debbie, but by anyone at the sanctuary. She likes playing with her toys. She's interested in the other cats and still spends time sitting on the floor by the door of her cage for some cat-watching.

She was a little uncertain about Debbie picking her up, but trusted her enough to let herself be held without the mad flailing that a lot of older, tamer cats engage in while they get used to the idea of this whole being cuddled business. I got a similar reaction when I scooped her up and set her in my lap. She started by looking up at me with big wide "?" eyes and finished stretched out and happily kneading the air.

All this from a young [semi]feral who lived under a bush.

Debbie says Kaslo should be quite adoptable, but recommends her to people who have experience with feral cats and who will be certain to keep her indoors.