Maverick

Maverick is one of the cats in the shelter whom we are most protective of: he’s been with us since he was just a scared little kitten and it took some time to win his trust. His opposite is his sister, Maeve who, despite receiving the exact same treatment from us, despite all of our efforts, remained a shy cats to this day, who would need so much more patience than her brother to adapt to a new home. By the way, we are sure she would, but her chances are slim to be given this chance, we know this from experience. Miracles might happen though, we also know this.

Maverick and his sister were brought by their mom to our shelter, where she knew they would find food and water. Our street is not a very busy one, yet we knew anything could happen, and it did: they had another brother who was hit by a car just a day before we could trap them… They were all scared, running from us, coming during late evening in the beginning, so no one could see them. Their mom was cautious, keeping her distance and teaching them how to avoid us: they were hiding under cars or in the garden before our house, crossing the street and entering the neighbour’s yard, waiting for us to disappear from sight so they could climb on top of the gate and eat. We had no choice but to set up the trap and hope it would close since they were skinny but luckily for us and them, it did.

They were isolated for a while. We sat with them, tried to play with them, gave them treats and yummy foods hoping to make friends. After a while, we took them in our arms even if they did not want to – especially Maeve – to show them it’s good to be cuddled. While the girl was hissing and spitting at us, Maverick was “paralyzed” with fear but not struggling to get away from us. Slowly, he realized he liked being spoiled and was purring, showing us his belly, enjoying the attention he got – and then again, retreating shyly into his corner, behind his sister.

Time came when they had to adjust to the other cats, so Maverick became once more the shy boy, but still you could see the progress, especially when you compared him to his sister. He was curious, exploring, started to come to the kitchen to get food separately, sometimes he used to stay and sleep on the blankets peacefully. When we were alone with him, he showed us how sweet he actually was, how happy to get cuddles. The moment he was showing his belly, we knew he was relaxed and carefree. Same thing happens now, although he does choose his people: with some he is sweet all the time, with others just when it’s quiet. If he sits in a basket he follows you with his eyes, like inviting you to approach. After two-three strokes, he is showing you where he wants it: it’s the belly :))

For us, he is still THE kitten of the shelter, even if now we do have younger ones. But there is something special about Maverick, his character – not to mention those beautifully contoured eyes of his, which make you fall in love instantly. He is still cautious at times, he does not like when it’s crowded but we have the feeling that he is holding back a lot. This is the reason why he would need stability to start with, a home of his own, a forever one, where he could get used to one family, one environment – without the eternal coming and going of both people and cats which is in the shelter. Then, he would need patience and a bit of time so he can adapt and gain trust in people. With cats, he is sweet, but even with them he chose one as a friend: Owly, our FIP warrior, with whom he found the peace and quiet he wants.

We have seen Maverick’s loving and sweet character, we have been there for him when he needed understanding and we know what’s he’s been through on the streets. Since we kind of “raised” him ourselves and seen how he gained trust, the progress he made, we can say for sure that this sweetheart would bring to a family even more love than he does in the shelter. He really really needs his chance to a different life, where the focus is more on his, where he could show his belly as often as he feels like it, so he can get his cuddles. One things though, we are not sure of: how much love he can actually give, because what is giving us right now is much more than we could have ever dreamed of. So please, help us find that forever family who will love our kitten until the moon and back, he so needs it!