Update: Huckle

When I wrote about Huckle last February, the little old feral girl was just starting to consider letting a few people touch her. Not much progress was made since then, and up until recently she never really made it past sitting in a cat bed on the front porch outside the singlewide.

When the colder weather comes, many normally outdoor cats find their way inside where it's warm and cozy, but some of the ferals need a little help in deciding to brave the humans rather than braving the cold. Worried about Huckle sitting out there on her porch, Marianne suggested putting her in a cage in the Connor building where she'd be nice and warm.

This was done.  The funny thing is that now, after the cage door has been opened and Huckle is free to leave, she doesn't want to go anywhere. She's decided she's perfectly happy where she is. Staff have even had to put up signs to let well-meaning volunteers know not to remove the food & water or litterbox (which are not usually needed for an open cage), nor to move the step ladder that will let her get down when and if she decides she wants to.

Not only that, Huckle is now more willing to have people touch her. She's still a bit nervous at first, but nothing she's not willing to get past once she realizes all that's going to happen to her is a bit of gentle stroking, and a little stroking feels nice.

Updated September 5, 2012: Little Huckle had to go to the Rainbow Bridge this week. She will be missed. Here are a few words from Ed, to whom she was particularly dear:

It was through Huckle that I developed a wonderful friendship with a woman who was in her late 80's at the time, who moved to California to be with her family and arranged to put Huckle at the sanctuary. Huckle was about 8 years old when she was placed at the Sanctuary and that was in 2004, so at the time of her crossing she was 16 years old.

I wish to thank all the volunteers at the Sanctuary who worked with my little girl, who helped her feel safe, comfortable and cared for. Because of all your hard work she changed from a feral cat to one who was comfortable around people and other cats.