SMOKEY

HISTORY: Smokey was found as a stray and brought to CFC when she was quite small. She tested positive for FELV.

MEDICAL NOTES: FIV+. More about FIV+ here.

I was very shy and depressed when I arrived at CFC. I hid in the corner of my condo and hissed when anyone tried to pet me. It’s taken a lot of time and patience, but I’m now at a point where I can enjoy pettings if you approach me quietly and gently. I would do best in a home without small children and lots of loud noises.

I was also not very thrilled with other cats at first. But now Mittens and I have all kinds of great kitten fun running everywhere in the room and driving the older cats crazy! We get put up in our condos at night just to give the others some rest. I would be happy in a home with another kitty. Not sure how I would do with a dog, though!

Volunteer Update August 2024: I’m so proud of this girl. I could not get near her when we first met. She’s still unapproachable when I surprise her on the floor but I can now stand on a step stool and approach her atop a tall condo where she usually hangs out. On the day I took her picture with Sai, I petted her for over 20 minutes as she rolled around, purring. I’ve even been able to coax her down to a tower with treats.

Volunteer Update July 2025: Progress with Smokey
Smokey remains the shy and skittish cat I wrote about last July but she’s making definite progress in overcoming her lack of trust in humans. She’s almost always atop a condo in the Observation Room but on several recent occasions I’ve found her down on the floor when I arrive. When not in the high safety of her condo perch, she usually runs when I approach. But recently, I entered the room and she allowed me to come near her. She stood still and let me pet her. I didn’t push it and moved to a nearby chair. Smokey then hopped onto a tower and curled up.

After spending a few minutes with other cats, I rose and slowly moved to Smokey on the tower. She remained relaxed and didn’t flee. I petted her and she began to purr within 40 seconds. After about five minutes, a staffer came into the room and that drove Smokey atop the condo. But as soon as the staffer left, Smokey was back down on the tower, wanting more pets. She’s been at CFC since 2017 and will always be nervous but First Time interactions like this make my day. And maybe Smokey’s too.