Life is sweet for once-shy cat

As soon as Ayo arrived in the foster home, she made a break for it. In a flash of black fur, she bolted from the cat carrier and wriggled underneath a dresser, peering out with pupils the size of saucers. The tiny tortie was afraid of everything: people, places, plants, parakeets. (Well, she never actually met any parakeets that we know of. But if she did, she definitely would’ve been scared of them.)

However, there was something that could coax this cautious kitty from her hiding spot: treats, especially the squeeze-up ones. Tasty treats would be the key to helping Ayo to trust.

Ayo came to the Best Friends Lifesaving Center in New York from a city shelter. Just a year old, she was too terrified to let the medical team touch her. So right away, Best Friends staff worked to place Ayo with foster volunteers who knew just how to help scared cats feel safe. Patient people, a peaceful home environment, and a steady supply of treats would bring out her confidence.

Best Friends’ goal is for all shelters nationwide to reach no-kill, and people who step up to foster pets, like the different families who fostered Ayo, play a vital part in reaching that goal. When one family’s foster assignment was over, another was waiting to take her in.

[Shy cat finds the confidence to climb higher]

In each foster home, Ayo adjusted just a little bit quicker than the last. It always started with some hissing and hiding. But within a few days, she would be leaping to catch toys, relaxing in sunny spots instead of under furniture, and rolling in catnip, which she loved almost as much as she loved treats. She replaced wide-eyed stares with sleepy slow blinks. She never stopped being cautious, but slowly and steadily, she stopped being scared.

After several months in foster homes, a family connected with Ayo during a virtual meet and greet. They recognized how sweet she was and felt they had the patience — and the treats — to be the right fit for her. They decided to adopt her, and soon Ayo was home.

[Cat transforms from shy guy to snuggly sidekick]

It was her foster families who helped Ayo discover the joy of companionship, and treats helped seal the deal. So the next time you're debating whether you need a treat, trust Ayo on this one. Yes, you do.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill in 2025. 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.