05/27/2026
📖 These pictures tell a story...
🐈 Back at the end of February/early March, this stray cat showed up on our property when someone accidentally left the shed door ajar. The poor thing was terrified of us, very skittish and a little on the thin side 🥺.
🍽 Of course me being me, I wanted to show this poor cat that they didn't have to be so scared of us. I started bringing dry cat food, and occasionally some treats, down to the shed. I could see the food was being eaten, but I never waited for the cat since I didn't want to force them into an uncomfortable situation.
🌞 After about a month/month and a half, when the weather started to turn warmer, I moved the food dish out into the open and closer to the house, but still a good distance away as to not make the cat more nervous. 🥣 Every day, around the same time, I would fill the bowl and it got to the point, the cat knew when I was coming with food and they would wait for me. It would take off when I approached, but the second I left, it would come and eat.
🧎♀️ We finally got to the point where I could sit outside and from a safe distance, I could watch it eat. Every couple of days, I was able to sit a little closer to the food, but they insisted on no eye contact. I also started scooping the dry food and putting it in the bowl with my hand, so that it got used to my scent. Around this time, the cat would start "talking" to me.
🩷 About a month into the same thing, day in and day out, we hit a breakthrough. I gained the cat's trust enough for it to roll over and verify the gender of this cat. It's a girl! Nearly every night, after eating, she would continue to roll around near me, which let me know that she was starting to get comfortable with my presence. I then started tossing a couple pieces of food to her, shortening the distance between us with each throw. She seemed to be okay with this new "game".
🌧 April brought quite a bit of rain and I had to once again move the cat bowl so that the food wouldn't get soggy. I moved it to our back patio where there's an awning. The cat was a little hesitant at first, so I went back to keeping my distance until she felt comfortable with me being out there with her. 👀 By mid April, she would be waiting for me like clockwork and I could sit near the bowl while she ate. This time with some eye contact. I realized I had gained more of her trust when after she ate, she would sit a few feet from me with her back to me. A huge indication that she did not perceive me to be a threat!
🫴 The last two weeks we've taken another big step in building our relationship. I FINALLY got her to eat out of my hand!!! 🎉 While doing so, I would gently try and pet her. Initially, she would retreat from my pets, but I've gone at her pace. If she shows any signs of being uncomfortable, I immediately stop. But last night was the first night where I could pet her while she ate and she didn't flinch. I hope to build upon that and that she will trust me enough to pet her, even when food is not being rewarded.
✨️ I appreciate if you've read this far, and I share this with all of you in order for you to understand my respect for your pets and their comfort levels. I never intentionally force your pets into any uncomfortable scenarios. I have experience reading both dog & cat body language. I am extremely patient and take things at their pace in order to build that trust. Because it is an incredible honor when they do finally trust you, and once that trust is broken, it is incredibly hard to earn back. The patience, the love, and the relationship I've built with this cat, is a prime example of the same commitment to quality of care, love, and respect that all of your fur babies receive from me every single day! 💖
✍️ I am incredibly proud of the story we're writing together!
🐾 With much love & gratitude,
Christa Hunsicker
In The Dog's House
