Adoption Success Story: HARRY
Harry, now known as Cooper, was adopted in October 2024 from Stray Cat Blues.
The adopter was looking for a companion for her other cat, Callie. Callie is a young tortico girl who she had adopted in 2023 from a family friend who found her outside. Scrolling through the Stray Cat Blues adoptable kitties, the adopter was immediately taken aback by Cooper's resemblance to her childhood cat (who she lost at 18 in 2022). Harry’s bio said he was also young and loved to play with other cats, so she decided to meet him.
The day she met Cooper at his foster Tanya Purvis’ home, he was extremely shy. She told the adopter he and his two siblings came from an outdoor background and that they were still nervous around people. She was able to feed him a Churu that day, but could not even touch him. But she liked that he was extremely playful with other cats and loved to roughhouse - which was exactly what she was looking for as a match for Callie. Tanya explained to her that she could pet him, and that adopter would be able to pet him eventually, but that she wasn’t sure if he would ever be a lap cat. The adopter responded: “That's fine, I already have a stage 5 clinger at home!" and she decided that day that she would give him a chance.
When Cooper finally came to her house a week or so later, he was terrified. New surroundings, new person, new cat sibling. She kept him in a separate room for about a week, but even so, she could not get near him. He did not have a mean bone in his body, he would just cower in the corner or in his cave bed when she entered the room. For nearly a month, he wanted nothing to do with her and Callie wanted nothing to do with another cat in the house. It took probably two months before he started to warm up to the adopter. But, she persisted. She spent hours playing with fishing rod toys, which he absolutely loves, and sitting on the floor with him, feeding him Churus. His confidence grew slowly but surely over the months.
Then, finally, after a few months, the patience paid off and she was able to pet him for the first time! That was the beginning of Cooper becoming the absolute lover boy that he is today. Over the next few months, she watched him become more confident every day.
He is now constantly asking to be pet or cuddling next to her. He spends most of his time in the same room as her and loves using the cat tree or perch by the window to watch birds. He has blossomed into a full blown lap cat who sleeps next to or on top of her in bed at night. Cooper absolutely loves to be pet now and he will spend hours purring and making biscuits on his favorite blanket with her.
Additionally, he and Callie have developed an adorable relationship: spending their time playing, napping together, watching chipmunks out the window, and even grooming each other! Anytime she calls them to the couch or to her bed, he comes running! He still has his shy moments and is more nervous with guests, but he continues to come out of his shell a little more every day. She is so proud of how far he has come and she feels he has been the absolute best addition to their furry family. She’s so glad she decided to give him a chance because it has allowed him to learn love, trust, and have his true personality flourish!
