Open: Tue–Fri 12p–5p, Sat 11a–5p Closed: Sun & Mon
Location: 19686 8th Street East Sonoma, CA 95476
Contact: Ph: 707-996-4577 Fx: 707-996-4595 info@petslifeline.org
Location: 19686 8th Street East Sonoma, CA 95476
Contact: Ph: 707-996-4577 Fx: 707-996-4595 info@petslifeline.org
DONATE Ohlone and her brothers and sisters were found on the side of the road as kittens. They were brought to Pets Lifeline when they were only 4 months old. Ohlone, like so many other animals, did not excel in the shelter environment. She was not especially outgoing and therefore was overlooked by potential adopters. After a year at the shelter, the staff at Pets Lifeline decided a foster family would be the best option for Ohlone in order to bring her out of her shell. Below is a diary which Ohlone's foster family kept.
Diary of a Shelter Cat
We brought Ohlone home for fostering on Saturday, March 27. As soon as we set the carrier down on the floor and opened the door, she took off under the bed. We set her food and litter box in the bedroom, closed the door and left her. Later, we found that she had moved into the closet, which remained her favorite spot for a week or so.
WEEK 1
We slept in the bedroom normally, and left the door to both the room and the closet open so that she could explore when she was ready. During the first week, we didn't see her out of the closet, though at night she did explore. After about 4 days, we began to lie down on the floor outside the closet, give her treats, brush and stroke her. She purred while being stroked, but would often move away after the first few minutes. As time went by, she tolerated longer sessions.
WEEK 2
In the second week she began to come out of the bedroom when we were up and about. She would immediately scoot behind one sofa or under the other, and not show herself while we were there. By the end of the second week, though, she would come out and request treats which we dropped near her.
WEEK 3
After two weeks we began to sit on the floor of the living room and wait for her to come out and ask for treats and petting. We played harp music (recommended on a feral cat socialization website) and talked to her in a quiet tone of voice, which seemed to bring her out pretty quickly. After a couple of days, she took treats from outstretched hands and began to approach within arms length for petting and brushing. During the brushing, she changed position almost constantly, moving a bit out of reach then coming back when we stopped. After a few more days, she began to jump on the couch next to us, as if asking to be petted, she would stay as long as we did. Occasionally she would settle for a couple of minutes, but most often she would leave as soon as we stopped.
WEEK 4
We introduced her to a toy, a length of wire about 3 ft. long with several sections of twine stuck on the end. We manipulatedthe wire to make the twine move like a moth, and she played with it tirelessly. Even after we were tired and stuck it between the sofa cushions, she would continue to play. By the end of 4 weeks, Ohlone was playing actively, seeking petting several times a day, and spending time with us. However, she remained alert and prone to dashing under or behind furniture when we moved. She continued to sleep behind furniture , curtains or anywhere else she couldn't be seen.
WEEK 5
This was the week Ohlone began to join us on the sofa to watch television. Usually she would start out just out of arms reach, but still wanting to be petted. After we moved to do so but showed her we couldn't reach, she would move closer and flop over. By the end of the week, she was jumping over the person lying on the sofa and settling down between the person and the cushion. She began vocalizing her presence in a room. Although she wasn't meowing for food yet, she was coming to us when the bowl was empty. After the bowl was filled and put down she would begin to eat. However, if we walked near while she was eating she would retreat until we were gone.
WEEK 6
Finally Ohlone began seeking out cuddling and playing whenever she was up and active. She would frequently follow us around the house or explore on her own when we were in the room. When she's settled on the floor, though, we could walk by within a foot of her without causing her to retreat. Often she would run flat out without any cause--she just likes to run rather than walk sometimes. Ohlone will occasionally jump on the bed if she's seeking out attentions, although she is not yet interested in sleeping on the bed, we are excited about her progress.
WEEK 1
We slept in the bedroom normally, and left the door to both the room and the closet open so that she could explore when she was ready. During the first week, we didn't see her out of the closet, though at night she did explore. After about 4 days, we began to lie down on the floor outside the closet, give her treats, brush and stroke her. She purred while being stroked, but would often move away after the first few minutes. As time went by, she tolerated longer sessions.
WEEK 2
In the second week she began to come out of the bedroom when we were up and about. She would immediately scoot behind one sofa or under the other, and not show herself while we were there. By the end of the second week, though, she would come out and request treats which we dropped near her.
WEEK 3
After two weeks we began to sit on the floor of the living room and wait for her to come out and ask for treats and petting. We played harp music (recommended on a feral cat socialization website) and talked to her in a quiet tone of voice, which seemed to bring her out pretty quickly. After a couple of days, she took treats from outstretched hands and began to approach within arms length for petting and brushing. During the brushing, she changed position almost constantly, moving a bit out of reach then coming back when we stopped. After a few more days, she began to jump on the couch next to us, as if asking to be petted, she would stay as long as we did. Occasionally she would settle for a couple of minutes, but most often she would leave as soon as we stopped.
WEEK 4
We introduced her to a toy, a length of wire about 3 ft. long with several sections of twine stuck on the end. We manipulated
WEEK 5
This was the week Ohlone began to join us on the sofa to watch television. Usually she would start out just out of arms reach, but still wanting to be petted. After we moved to do so but showed her we couldn't reach, she would move closer and flop over. By the end of the week, she was jumping over the person lying on the sofa and settling down between the person and the cushion. She began vocalizing her presence in a room. Although she wasn't meowing for food yet, she was coming to us when the bowl was empty. After the bowl was filled and put down she would begin to eat. However, if we walked near while she was eating she would retreat until we were gone.
WEEK 6
Finally Ohlone began seeking out cuddling and playing whenever she was up and active. She would frequently follow us around the house or explore on her own when we were in the room. When she's settled on the floor, though, we could walk by within a foot of her without causing her to retreat. Often she would run flat out without any cause--she just likes to run rather than walk sometimes. Ohlone will occasionally jump on the bed if she's seeking out attentions, although she is not yet interested in sleeping on the bed, we are excited about her progress.
Thank you to Joe and Carole LaTorre for sharing Ohlone's terrific progress. After being fostered for 6 weeks Joe and Carole made Ohlone a permanent family member. Ohlone has gone from being very shy, and timid to a sweet, affectionate part of the family. This is an amazing example of what time, love, and attention can do for an animal. 
Ohlone relaxing at her new home
