Faces of No-Kill: Cat goes from swats to purrs

Bubba leans forward to boop Best Friends caregiver Jesse Short on the forehead with his nose, his rumbling purr filling the room with the sound of contented joy.

It’s a scene that once felt so far away for the cat who refused to let humans into his bubble and preferred the quiet sense of safety that came with disappearing into his hidey-holes. When Bubba first arrived at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, from Texas with a handful of other cats, he preferred his furred friends over humans. But the caregivers at the Sanctuary were determined to help him see that people can be friends, too, and help him land a family of his own.

During Bubba’s early days in Cat World at the Sanctuary, where hundreds of cats are cared for on any given day, he made it clear where he stood on interacting with people. He chose his hiding spots strategically. “He didn’t like having people even to be near him,” Best Friends caregiver Riley Prewett says. “He’d swat a paw at us and hiss.”

Caregivers worked at Bubba’s pace. Riley remembers thinking in those early days, “We’re going to win you over.” Bubba had won their hearts, and they wanted to help him see that humans can mean love and affection.

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

Progress came slowly — never rushed — with a curious glance here, a step closer there. His perch from the corner of the room allowed him to watch over the interactions between his fellow cats and the caregivers and volunteers, which helped too.

And then there was the baby food on a spoon — a feline favorite. Caregivers offer the tasty snack using long spoons, allowing shy cats to keep their distance while deciding for themselves when it’s safe to come closer. Bubba soon discovered the treats were well worth investigating.

Two local volunteers played a part in Bubba’s journey to trust. Vicki and JT Crofts stopped by often. Bubba found the special treats they offered worth a trip out of his hiding spot, but he wasn’t quite ready to fully trust yet.

Through months of patience and quiet observation, Bubba stepped a little closer every day — trusting more and more and enjoying the treats people offered.

But one day, he shocked everyone. He purred. It caught caregivers off guard, not quite sure it was Bubba who’d made the noise. From there, Bubba only grew more confident, stepping closer and closer until he allowed Riley and the other caregivers to offer him a gentle stroke while he ate his tasty treats.

His surprises weren’t done though. Once a cat who preferred to keep well out of a person’s reach, he tried something brave: He climbed into caregiver Jesse’s lap, his gentle purr motoring along. “He’s a purring machine now,” Riley says. “He wants to snuggle and be petted and purrs the whole time.”

All the cats Bubba came to the Sanctuary with from Texas were adopted. And with his newfound confidence and comfort with people, it was Bubba’s turn.

Shy cat’s leap of faith leads to love

These days, the cat who once vanished into hidey‑holes is far more likely to be found leaning into a gentle scratch or climbing confidently into a person’s lap, his steady purr filling the room. And when a family came to the Sanctuary looking to learn more about Best Friends and meet a few cats, they were just the right match for Bubba — patient, loving, and willing to meet him exactly where he was.

The shy cat who once kept his distance has now traded his hideouts for a home of his very own, bringing that hard‑won, heartfelt purr right along with him.

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.