After a bad run-in with a motor vehicle, Fable was brought to ACCT by a kind stranger concerned for his injuries. Between his injuries and his lack of socialization, Fable had an uphill battle. Luckily, he has spectacular endurance.
An ACCT veterinarian was able to patch Fable's arm back together, but the pawpad suffered too many smaller wounds to allow for surgical correction. For the first week or so in his foster home, Fable still carried his arm close to his chest and didn't use it too much. Now, however, Fable has almost full use of his arm, and holds his paw much like the others. He has some extra tissue that likely formed to protect the area, but it is not causing him any trouble. In fact, the other cats in Fable's foster home would like to note that Fable himself, causes much of the trouble.
Fable is on the winning side of a thin line that under socialized kittens walk, where they can either come around to the affections of people or revert to a more feral state of survival. Fable open enjoys some of the perks of inside life, like the human-sized bed, regularly scheduled food, being warm, and being able to bully cats twice his size.
But Fable is still working on a few issues where the feral kitten in him really jumps out. Sometimes his foster will stand up too quickly, and he will run three feet away and hiss at her. Fable's least favorite thing is being picked up by his foster, and he has no regrets over hurting her feelings.
Fable is also under the impression that the louder he is, the faster his food will arrive. He gets so excited about his food that he sometimes causes his foster to trip over him. But he's sturdy, so it doesn't bother him.
Fable also has severe FOMO, and is always curious to see what his foster is getting up to when she goes into the bathroom. He can be found lurking in doorways, at the edge of the bed, or perched on the arm of the sofa, just out of reach. However, once he is within reach, Fable is really starting to enjoy being pet. He just needs a slow approach, and gentle words. Since discovering how great getting pet is, Fable has been a lot more social with his foster. He is especially affectionate during breakfast and suppertime, but his foster suspects some of that is manipulation. (That's a neat trick he picked up from the resident cats).
Fable's ideal home definitely needs to come with another cat companion, or his adopters need to be prepared for his abundant energy. Fable can find a toy in anything, but he would really like another cat to chase, launch himself upon, lick and be licked by. Fable's foster home came with a set of grouchy, older cats that did a good job of teaching him boundaries and communication skills, but they have little interest in playing with him. They prefer to play by themselves, on their own schedules, thank you very much. Fable has no schedule, and his charming curiosity often leads him to seek stimulation from the television, forgotten socks, and even the coaster that his foster crocheted for her mugs that is now too torn up for human use.
Kittens are very resilient, and Fable is no exception. He will need time and space to decompress in a new environment, and he will feel much more secure if he is given the freedom to explore without the immediate expectation of affection. And Fable IS affectionate, he just sometimes gets confused about being a housecat. His foster reports that even his hisses are half-hearted, and any time he scampers away, he quickly returns.
Fable's foster thinks that his adopters should be prepared for a bit of a project, since socializing a once-feral kitten is an ongoing process, and while the power of love is not something to discount, in Fable's case, the power of love needs to be applied consistently, but at his own pace. But again, Fable is an enduring little guy, and every step forward, no matter how small, is worthy of celebration.
SHY GUY
Mixed Breed
🇺🇸
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
male, medium, adult
Mixed Breed
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
