“He just needed a chance to be in a bigger space where he could learn to be around people. ”
At Cat Town, we often pull cats who seem angry at the shelter. It can feel scary to help these cats at first, so most organizations pass those cats by, but we’ve learned that an angry cat is usually one who was once loved by someone. Having lost so much, their emotions get the better of them in a stressful environment.
Boba enjoys playtime with Jackie.
Boba was conflicted at the shelter. In one moment, he’d lunge and charge at passersby, then the next he would be flirty, rubbing on bars. One time he even bit someone. Despite this, he seemed angry rather than feral, so we brought him to Cat Town. We knew he needed to get into a real home, and fortunately, Boba found some incredible adopters who wanted to take a chance on him.
Here’s their story.
Boba came into my life in a time where I was at my lowest. I had just quit my job and was considering a major career shift. I was learning how to manage my anxiety and depression. It was my first year of being married and wanted to be the best partner to my husband, but didn’t know how in my mental/emotional state. I was also beginning my journey with therapy, and feeling extra vulnerable.
Boba was definitely part of a new chapter in my life and I couldn’t have made it through without him.
Boba Fett, formerly known as Daryl, at Cat Town.
I first met Boba when Cesar, my husband, surprised me with a trip to Cat Town on the first weekend of my unemployment. It was his way of cheering me up. My husband is a dog person and (mistakenly) thought he was allergic to cats. I never thought that we would ever have a cat, and yet here we were visiting a cat cafe!
We were on our way out when we decided to walk to the end of the hall to see Boba’s studio. On the top of the highest shelf was this beautiful, black cat with huge eyes, staring at us, bobbing his head at us with curiosity. I had to go in! We listened to his story and understood the severity of his interactions with humans that led to biting or scratching or trying to escape. After a decent second visit, and talking to Andrew (a Cat Town employee), we all thought that he just needed a chance to be in a bigger space where he could learn to be around people. Cesar and I decided to adopt with the support of Cat Town.
Boba at home.
Ensuring that Boba felt comfortable and had a consistent play and feeding routine allowed me to focus on him and not on all the worries in my life. And on the days where I was looking for work, felt down, and was working on rebuilding myself, he was there as a companion. I remember mornings where I did not want to get up because of my depression, but he meowed me out of my bed and into the kitchen to feed or play with him. Other mornings he would jump in our bed and lay on me to cuddle. He definitely lifted my spirits in a time where I had very little hope, and made me laugh with his silly antics.
In the end, we needed each other to survive a difficult time in our lives, and through it all became a family.
—Jackie M.
Thank you for allowing Cat Town to take chances on cats like Boba. If you’re looking for your own feisty feline (or perhaps a laid back senior, or a timid kitten) let us know by emailing info@cattownoakland.org. We’d love to help pair you with the cat of your dreams — because every family deserves a cat!