Jackie and Boba

“He just needed a chance to be in a bigger space where he could learn to be around people. ”

— Boba Fett's adopter, Jackie

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.

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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.

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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!

Catching Up With Cat Town Alum Jules

Today we’re sharing the story of Jules, who first came to Cat Town in the spring of last year. As a former stray from the streets of East Oakland, she found her cage at the city shelter frightening, and wouldn’t let anyone near her. Jules needed someone to take a chance on her. Cat Town brought Jules under our wing in April of 2018, and if you visited during that time, you may have noticed she spent most of her time hiding.

“There’s something deeply satisfying about
‘loving a creature back to life’.”

Meanwhile, Sabine H. was considering adopting a cat, and a friend of hers recommended checking out Cat Town. “From my first visit, I loved the place,” shares Sabine. “It felt like a cat paradise. I liked that the cats might need a little extra effort to get comfortable with a new family. There’s something deeply satisfying about ‘loving a creature back to life.”

Jules caught Sabine’s eye quickly. “Honestly, the first thing was just that she was quite possibly the most beautiful cat I’d ever seen! Then when I interacted with her, I was instantly touched by how regal and yet vulnerable she seemed,” Sabine says. While Jules wouldn’t allow anyone to touch her, Sabine was still encouraged. “There was always a look in her eye that said there was hope.”

One of Sabine’s children reading books aloud to Jules to help earn her trust.

In September 2018, Jules went home with Sabine and her three kids. For the first several months in her new home, Jules hid under a bed 24/7, still finding it difficult to adjust to her new environment. Sabine worked closely with Jules’ case manager at Cat Town through weeks of painstaking efforts to help earn her trust.

Sabine and her kids showered Jules with her favorite treats and petted their other cat, Lulubelle, in front of Jules to show her that she was in a safe place. One of Sabine’s children would regularly read books aloud to Jules. For a long time, progress was so slow it was hard to even see anything happening, but bit by bit Jules blossomed. “The day she first let me touch her was a moment of such pure delight it brought tears to my eyes,” shares Sabine. “Despite all her fear, some part of her just melted into my hand, and she hasn’t looked back since. The best part of my day now is our evenings together when we cuddle together on the sofa, and she purrs so loudly it’s hard to hear the TV!” 

Sabine and her family have discovered one of Jules’ favorite things is to have her belly rubbed. Jules and Lulubelle have also started to take steps in their relationship. “Over the months they have gone from annoyance to grudging respect to something that looks suspiciously like affection,” Sabine says. 

Jules cuddling on the couch with her adopter, Sabine. At first Jules wouldn’t allow anyone to touch her, but Sabine always knew there was hope.

For anyone considering adopting a cat who is a little more under-socialized, Sabine recommends adopters be committed and have patience — and not to underestimate the impact that dedicated and compassionate care can make in a feline’s life. “It’s so worth it!” she gushes. “There’s this huge sense of accomplishment that comes from helping a little creature who’s had a hard life find happiness. The bonds that are forged with a cat during that process are so deep.” 

Sabine is also very grateful for the support she received from Cat Town’s staff and volunteers, and encourages potential adopters to reach out to them if they need help. “From out of the gate, they’ve gone above and beyond, and they have a wealth of ideas. There were multiple times when things felt stuck, and I was starting to think things couldn’t improve, and at each of those points someone from Cat Town came up with a new way to move things forward,” she says.

Sabine continues to be amazed at Jules’ transformation. “To see a cat who was so profoundly afraid of humans and yet who so clearly longed for affection and companionship overcome her fears has been rewarding beyond measure,” she says. “Jules came into the life of our family at a time when things were challenging, and just by being herself and letting us care for her, Jules gave me and my three boys a huge gift.” 

Want to be part of the magic at Cat Town and foster a cat in need? Send an email to info@cattownoakland.org to learn more. We will match you with a cat who is right for your interest and experience level. You will also receive guidance and support from Cat Town staff, including help with everything from socialization to medical expenses.

 If you can’t foster, but still want to help save at-risk cats, please consider donating to Cat Town today!

Photos by Liz Lazich

From Semi-feral to Super Friend: Candice and Clayton

By Candice Albert

In late August of 2017, I took a trip to Cat Town. I had planned on grabbing a latte and playing with the cats, but all of that changed when I met Clayton Purrshaw (FKA Guy). Once I saw him I immediately thought "that's my cat". He was playfully chasing a string toy and sliding all over the floor. When I followed him into the quiet room, he placed his head into my palm and let me scratch his ears until he fell asleep. That moment is what sealed the deal for me. By mid-morning he was on his way home with me to begin our new life together. 

Clayton has a strong, regal presence that can be felt wherever he goes. He brings balance into my busy life. I know I can count on him to strut out of my room when I get home to say hello then demand chin scratches. Every night he can be found guarding my door or the foot of my bed making sure that both of us are safe and sound. It's mind boggling to think this cat was considerd "unadoptable" at the shelter. 

In March of 2017, when Clayton was still new at the Oakland shelter, he was considered highly fractious, and possibly even feral. He was angry, hissing, growling, and spitting—not what shelters and rescues usually see in adoptable cats. But, six weeks later, a miracle happened. Dawn, an employee of Cat Town, heard Clayton exchanging conversational meows with his shelter mate. Feeling hopeful and determined, Dawn and staff worked with Clayton in hopes of rehabilitating him. During his shelter stay, he began to show signs that a companion cat was hiding in there somewhere. After a working cat garden placement fell through, Dawn decided to bring Clayton to Cat Town. In his own private studio, staff and volunteers got to know his personality and he learned how to interact with humans without getting stressed or overwhelmed.

After a few months, he'd gained so much confidence he moved into the free-roaming space in the adoption center where he quickly became a staff, volunteer, and visitor favorite. It wasn't long after that he and I became a family. 

I am so thankful for everyone who helped Clayton turn his life around. He continues to make progress now that he has found his forever home. I don't know what I would do without him and I look forward to so many more years with him. Clayton's story inspires me. He is a daily reminder that with just a little effort a life can be changed, whether it be my own, someone else’s or the life of a formerly feral cat. With a little love and understanding, we can grow and thrive into our true selves.

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From Street Cat to Sweet Cat - Against All Odds

By Willow Liroff

Trapped and brought to the Oakland shelter as a young adult, a scrawny street cat named Lavender would scramble away from any hands reaching into her cage.

A group of volunteers had just started Cat Town in 2011. I was up for a fostering challenge and took Lavender home to stay in my bathroom. During our visits, she’d make herself as small as she could, her tense body quaking each time my hand would make contact. I realized, sadly, that she viewed me as her captor.

One day, after a disheartening visit, I was opening the bathroom door to leave when my cat Pepe poked his head around the corner. I looked over to see Lavender half-standing from her hiding place behind the toilet, her head bobbing forward for a better view, wide-eyed but not with the look of terror I’d seen at the shelter—more like a child on Christmas.

When I opened the door wider, she bee-lined over to Pepe so abruptly that I braced myself for a fur-flying scuffle. Instead, Lavender head-butted him in the face, and I heard her purr for the first time. It was in this moment that I more deeply understood her fear; she had been completely isolated from her species, her community, in an unfamiliar indoor world.

For the next month, Lavender trotted about my apartment purring after my two cats, head-bonking them when they’d sit still long enough. I was stunned by their tolerance for her, considering the agitation they’d sometimes show one another. Perhaps they understood how pure her intentions were, how rough her life had been?

As the days passed, when I’d sneak in pets as Lavender ate, her body no longer shuddered from my touch—the purr would momentarily stop; then begin again, stronger than before. This evolved to her pausing mid-meal to lean tentatively, awkwardly, then heavily into a cheek scratch. Soon after, she’d stand on her back tip-toes to meet my hand as I petted her back.

These milestones would brighten my days as I watched her blossom with the small gift of feeling safe. My modest apartment had become an oasis for her—with community, reliable food, shelter, and a new human friend.

As the years pass, Lavender continues to show me that anything’s possible, perching on her back paws for a headlong nose-nudge of my hand, or creeping into the lap of a surprised house guest. I can hardly remember that terrified cat I first met at the shelter, as she smiles at me now, often purring with just a glance in her direction.

I'm refreshed and empowered by Lavender's simple, unabashed joy, when I can’t make all the difference I’d like to in the world. It’s taken so little to make all the difference in her life, and my “foster fail” (aka adoption) has brought so much light to mine.

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London's Adoption Update

At the shelter, London was unsure of how to resolve his fear and his desire for affection.

As a former stray, London is an expert at hiding. This defense was his first thought when he was brought to Oakland Animal Services, where he hid in his bed as often as he could. He was receptive to chin scratches and pets, but he was starting to feel cage stress, and began hissing at shelter volunteers when approached.

Cat Town stepped in to help London move past his cage stress, so he could continue working on the confidence the shelter volunteers had helped him build. It was slow progress, but with patience he started peeking out of his cubby more and more, curious to see what other Cat Town cats and visitors were doing all day.

Just as London was making progress with our volunteers, Cat Town had a break-in, and he went missing. Although we had a feeling he was just tucked into a good hiding space, the uncertainty of his whereabouts left all of us who knew this sweet cat in a state of anxiety. Thankfully, we turned out to be right and he was found within 24 hours inside Cat Town.

Having finally revealed himself after a long day of hiding, London was eager for pets.

Within minutes he readjusted to life in his studio space. His air biscuits and purrs made it clear he was happy to be back in the company of his doting fans.

Maude and London, snuggling up a storm!

Then, London met a spunky kitten named Maude. She liked to play, then hide, then play again, and was curious about this handsome cat who watched her from the safety of his favorite cubby. It took only a few days for the pair to start sniffing things out. Adorable cat videos ensued — snuggles, bath time, playful flirtations — it was clear we had a real friendship on our hands. The pair gained confidence together, and as happens so often at Cat Town, quickly taught each other new ways to enjoy human companionship.

Though London and Maude weren't officially bonded, it was obvious the two were quite fond of each other. So, when a couple arrived at our Adoption Center last week looking to adopt two cats, the duo sealed the deal in a matter of minutes.

Now, London and Maude are happily settling in with their new family, who know that patience is key for this pair. As expected, London is adjusting to his new life a little more slowly than Maude, but we know she’ll help him in his new home, just like she did at Cat Town.

We can't wait to bring you more updates as his confidence builds in his new home!

London, Maude, and their new parents on adoption day!

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