Meet Sylvie: The Oldest, Meanest and Most Unwanted Cat
- 11 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Ryan was looking for a mouse catcher after moving into a farmhouse just outside of Leavenworth. What he found was a best friend who enjoys snuggling, making biscuits and keeping watch over the homestead from his big kitchen window.
Meet Sylvie.
She's a bright-eyed, 7-year-old tabby cat whose persnickety attitude earned her quite the reputation at Leavenworth County Humane Society. She was surrendered to us when her owner entered long-term-care. Her struggle to acclimate quickly manifested into hissing, swatting and tense whiskers, causing her to be overlooked by potential adopters and spend far longer at the shelter than most pets.
And then Ryan came along.
When Ryan discovered mice in his new home, his boss, Natalie, an LCHS volunteer, suggested he adopt a cat from the shelter.
Ryan grew up on a farm surrounded by horses, donkeys, cows, barn cats and dogs that mostly just showed up with nowhere else to go and became part of the family. Adopting a pet—much less a cat—was never something he imagined doing.
"And then suddenly I'm walking in there and saying, 'I'll take the oldest, meanest and most unwanted cat,'" he laughs. "I didn't mind...something told me we would eventually get along."
Ryan visited Sylvie four times before deciding to take her home. The first few days were a little iffy. But within a week she was weaving her fluffy body around his feet each morning and curling up beside him in his recliner at night.
"She's really so sweet," Ryan says.
She just needed some time and patience.
"This was an animal who wasn't feeling seen," he recalls. "Now she is."
Raised as a house cat, Sylvie had gone from living in a quiet home to the unfamiliar sights, sounds and routines of a busy shelter. Looking back, Ryan believes she simply needed time to feel safe again.
These days, wherever Ryan is, Sylvie isn't far behind. She spends her days lounging on windowsills, soaking in the sunshine and basking in the peaceful life she almost never had.
“I can always count on her to sit or be by my side wherever I am,” he says. "It's very nice to see her so content."
And yes...Ryan says Sylvie turned out to be an excellent mouse catcher after all.
Not every shelter pet is looking for a perfect home. Sometimes they're simply waiting for the right person to see them. Your support helps make those connections possible. Please consider donating today.
Comments