Cat is all smiles after trip to the dentist

One more contented purr has joined the chorus at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. The sound rumbles from Anthony, a tabby cat curled up beside one of his feline friends, snuggly and at ease. When he spots a caregiver carrying his favorite treat, he lifts his head, stretches long and slow, and strolls over with quiet confidence for a taste.

It’s a far cry from the cat who once wasn’t so sure people belonged anywhere near his bubble.

Anthony arrived at the Sanctuary as part of a group of 71 cats from a shelter after being taken in from an overcrowded home. Best Friends’ goal is for all shelters to reach no-kill, and that means working together with other animal welfare organizations to save pets’ lives, giving each one what they need to move out of the shelter and into a happy new life.

Anthony was perfectly content to spend time with his feline friends. He’d curl up alongside them and quietly observe the activity around him at the Sanctuary from a comfortable perch. Cats, he decided, were easy to understand. People were another matter.

VIDEO: behind the scenes in Cat World at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary

Having had little exposure to people, Anthony wasn’t so sure about humans in his space. His trust, like Rome, wasn’t built in a day. He kept his distance from the caregivers.

But soon, staff discovered that his shyness might not have been tied solely to a fear of people.

An exam at the clinic revealed Anthony had inflammation in his mouth that made it difficult to eat, and he needed a few tooth extractions. A sore mouth might have contributed to how withdrawn he was.

After his dental work, caregivers began noticing subtle changes. Anthony seemed more comfortable. He showed more interest in food, spent more time around people, and appeared more relaxed overall.

And his special diet for his healing mouth doubled as a trust-building exercise between him and the caregivers.

Every day, caregivers spent time with Anthony building a relationship on trust and a whole lot of soft foods. “We had to spoon-feed him meals every day,” caregiver Riley Prewett says.

What started as medical care quietly became something more. Meal by meal, Anthony began learning that people could bring comfort instead of stress.

His trust grew from there. He started accepting a stroke here or a gentle chin scratch there. First came the occasional head bump for a gentle brush. Then Anthony lingered nearby instead of retreating. Before long, he was seeking out company and relaxing in areas where people moved about.

As he settled into life without discomfort from his teeth, his affection toward those around him — even those who didn’t come bearing tasty spoonfuls of food — blossomed. “It’s been a huge turnaround for him,” Riley says.

Then came a groundbreaking moment. One day, Anthony climbed straight into a caregiver’s lap. “It was unheard of for him,” Riley says.

Faces of No-Kill: Treats help cat unwrap her sweet side

Now, Anthony spends his time soaking up affection, curling up with feline friends, and eagerly trotting over when caregivers arrive with his favorite treats. “These days he eats like he’s never had food before,” Riley says. “He’s so excited about it.” But he’s just as excited about the cozy snuggles from people.

For Anthony, kindness and care didn’t just help his mouth feel better. It opened the door to all the comforts worth purring about.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.