Apollo

In late January 2015, I came into the Hudson Mohawk Humane Society looking for a cat to give me something that needed me, since I was feeling extreme loss from a friend that had just passed away. When I looked around there was one cat in a box in a large dog cage that had a sign saying "Do not enter without staff." I asked about the cat that was sitting in the box and what his story was. I found out Apollo was the last cat from a hoarding situation earlier in 2014 and that he had been passed by, adopted and returned because he just was not the friendliest cat. I asked to go in the cage and was allowed. I took off my jacket and sat down with Apollo, talking to him, and petted him on the head just once. That was enough to tell me I could rehabilitate this cat. I agreed to pick him up the next day since I did not have a cat carrier with me. The staff was so happy I agreed to take Apollo (or they were just so happy someone wanted him) that they offered me a free carrier.

I took Apollo home to my small house, where I have two pit bulls, two cats, two parakeets, a house bunny and me. I put Apollo in his own room and opened the box and walked out. Although he was not happy to see me, I think he was happy to be out of the shelter. It took him some time to come around to me walking around the house and him not panicking and running for the closet. What was amazing was he was not afraid of the dogs and was very friendly to the cats. He spent his days in the room for about the first month before he ventured out of the room to look around. Now two months have passed and he walks around the house like he's just a normal kitty. He still doesn't want me to pet him but I am sure he will come around.

I want to thank the staff at Mohawk Hudson Humane Society for saving Apollo. I am sure when you look on the outside he seemed like a cat that could not be saved, but from the inside he is a playful, curious, loving cat! If it wasn't for you taking the chance on Apollo, he would not have been there to help me with my sadness and healing of losing my friend. I truly commend you all for what you do and hope this story will help you in deciding in the future that sometimes feral kitties can change and want to. They just need a chance!

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