Mabel & Toast

Siblings Mabel and Toast have been together all their lives.  Originally adopted in August 2018, they were returned as a pair in 2020.  At that time, it was noted they'd be best in a home without children as it led to stress and fur loss.  Luckily, they got to remain together in their new home where they were loved.  Unfortunately, their mom's life changed drastically and she couldn't provide for them anymore.  She was heartbroken but wanted what was best for her babies.   She brought their most beloved possessions and a note to send with them to their new home. I set up their froggie bed and rainbow blanket and offered them treats, but they were too scared.  

After slinking around the room, they both found dark corners to hide in.  Toast shut down and stayed in the bed, where he crouched, barely moving or eating for 3 days. He did creep out the morning his blanket cover fell down to go find a darker corner-but once I fixed his kitten cave and moved him back, there he stayed. He must have crept out to go potty because I found MASSIVE pee balls in there, but I surely never caught him moving.  He'd let me come and pet him, but he'd flinch, then remained stiff and withdrawn.  When I offered him his favorite treats, he wouldn't respond until I wiped some on his mouth.  Then he'd lick it and realize it was tasty- so he'd eat all of it that was on my finger, then forget what it was if I had to move my finger away to get more.  I had to start over each time! 

Mabel teetered on the edge, wobbling back and forth between offense and defense, between sweet and spicy.  Mabel squeak at me, wanted me to pet her, leaning into my hand. Then she'd get scared and growl and hiss.  I had to watch her body language very carefully. Most of her growls and hisses morphed into mewls and a desperate desire to be comforted.  But every now and then she'd feel too scared by my presence and consider swatting at me.  But she'd stop if I backed up immediately.  Within a few minutes, she'd sweetly ask me for attention again.  She would eat puree treats but refused all other foods.  

Though some might think Mabel was more problematic, her bravery in wanting to be near me was promising and she never really wanted to hurt me.  With her, I learned to give her space and let her approach me.  By the next morning, she stopped tensing up with me.  She continued to growl and hiss at the other fosters and my housecats at the door and also at her own brother.  But every time I'd call her name, she'd chirp and come running to me for pets.  

Within 24 hours, Mabel was beginning to play with toys and rolling all the way over to show me her belly.  My husband started spending some time with us, and she was wary at first but soon began approaching him just like she approached me.  Toast, on the other hand, continued to do nothing but sit in his frog.  I did celebrate the slight improvement that he didn't flinch away when I went to pet him, but that was as far as we got on day two.  But the wait makes the reward so much sweeter. It was truly thrilling on day three when Toast emerged from his frog!  He popped out from his curtain to beg for pets with a rumbling purr rolling out.  

They continued to improve steadily after that.  Mabel stopped hissing and growling at Toast.  She also significantly decreased her reactions to the housecats at the kitten room gate.  In fact, when a kitten rushed through the gate with me and ran up to her, she froze a bit but held her ground calmly.  I was able to give them both a treat, less than a foot apart before removing the tiny intruder.  She stopped guarding the gate and began looking out with curiosity, only hissing or growling if one of the cats outside made a sudden movement.  Even Toast began approaching the gate. 

Both of them will frequently come to see me if I call for them.  And Mabel will often sneak up behind me while I'm petting her brother or working on my computer to tap me politely on the arm or leg to ask me for pets.  Mabel has even laid on me a few times.  Things are on the right track, and I'm happy to see how well they can settle when given the time and space.  

Update: 

Toast started having some concerning symptoms- gagging and spitting up.  We took him to the vet, and on the way he started hacking.  The tests all came back clear, and our rescue suspected some of it could be stress related.  We decided that it might be better to find them a home that was a little less overwhelming.  They're now taking over an entire bedroom suite and they're charming their new fosters.  They're now available by appointment only, and we're all hoping they find the perfect home.