[D7, MA] [D7, MA] Animal shelter on a chilly day (open)

[Bee Haw]

She nodded.

"He's had a lot of uncertainty in his life. He needs time to learn a place, believe it is his, believe he is safe there, and cared for. Honestly, I think that's true for most people, too. But especially rescued street cats. He's going to be jumpy. Afraid of loud noises. Don't raise your voice if you can avoid it. Talk to him. He won't understand every word, but he will hear that you are focused on him."

She spoke a little more to the cat.

"He knows that you are a new cat owner. I mean, cat foster parent. Learning, too."

[Dapper Dog]

"So how much will this set me back?" he asked.

[Bee Haw]

"Pet supplies and medical costs range from about $50 to $250 in the first month, depending on how lavish you want to be."

"You don't pay us anything, but a $30 application fee that is really like a donation to help cover services here. You are doing us a favor by taking Shadow's Fury so a space becomes available for a cat in acute need, like he was when he first arrived. And fostering gives him more one-on-one attention than we could do here."

"He's so lucky to have found you! And I think he will bless you, too."

"Staff will reach out in about three weeks to see how it's going and see if you want to do another 1-month foster, a 6-month foster, a year-long foster, a permanent adoption, etc." Or return him, but she didn't even mention that possibility now.

"We can keep him here reserved for you, until you've had time to pick up the supplies."



"

[Dapper Dog]

"Yeah, I'll be back for this little guy first thing tomorrow. Let me see that list," he said confidently.

[Bee Haw]

She smiled at Samedi. "Oh that's wonderful."

"Here is your supply list." She pulled a piece of paper out of the packet. It had pictures of each item in a left hand column, and the name of the item and directions for use in the right column, in Amharic.

She reviewed each item, using a highlighter to note each absolutely required item. She translated the instructions and made notes in English. 1 cup of hard food per day. 1 can of wet food per day. A large bowl of water changed out each day. At least one litter box for a single cat. For a cat of this size, a box of at least this size. The cat would appreciate the litter being raked every time it is used, but at least once a day.

Other items were optional but encouraged. A carrier for safe transport. "He's going to be really scared the first minute he's taken out of this building. He will be calmer and happier in a carrier with walls on all sides, a small contained space, nothing able to reach him. He won't want to go in the carrier in here, but he'd thank you for it later, if he could. If you try to hand carry him outside of a carrier, he may panic, scratch you as he tries to get out of your arms, and run back into traffic which would be terribly terribly traumatizing for him and you could lose him. I'll talk to him, and help him know what to expect, but it's going to be very instinctive. We don't want new owners or fosters to have a bad experience in their first five minutes together."

Bedding. Scratching post. Toys. Climbing tower - "if you happen to have money to spare and want to spoil him, only be careful with a big cat that its big enough for him. His last weight is 9 lbs if you need to reference."

"Any questions?"

[Dapper Dog]

"Shit, he gonna live well," he said smoothly. "I ain't no broke bitch, so it's all good."

[Bee Haw]

She grinned.

Fury purred.

"I know you are going to take good care of him! He's a very lucky cat."