12 Saves of Christmas: Day #7 – Tiela
Each day, we’ll share one of FieldHaven’s 12 most heartwarming cat saves of 2021. Each happy story was made possible through your generosity!
Tiela and Joy
Tiela arrived in February. Since she was a kitten, she had lived a beautiful life with her mom, a single woman. Then came big changes in their lives, and it was more than Tiela could bear. She started lashing out at everyone, including a new baby, and after her mom consulted with FieldHaven, it was decided that it was in everyone’s best interest for Tiela to find a new home.
At FieldHaven, Tiela hated life even more. She lashed out even harder! We felt it would be too risky to send her to foster, so Joy, our co-founder and executive director, took her home, offered up a very cool cat room with a catio, and began to play the role of cat therapist.
The first few weeks were not lacking adventure. Tiela definitely was a feisty gal! Through plenty of TLC, nose boops, and bonding over treats, the old Tiela began to shine. Joy had uncovered a happy little girl with a gentle sense of humor. It took time, but finally, she was ready for a new home…or was she?
We found one home, with a lovely woman, but Tiela had none of it. We brought her back to Joy’s house.
Next, a longtime volunteer took her home. Tiela was there for nearly two months, but she hated her Energizer Bunny roommates who romped the house and annoyed her.
We were at a loss. We just didn’t know what the next step would be for Tiela, but like so many times in the past, we just had faith that an answer will be found.
Finally, another kind woman asked about Tiela. We crossed our fingers and paws, and off she went. Almost immediately, Tiela relaxed. We had found the one!
Your support allows us to take our time, getting to know the many cats who come through FieldHaven. We don’t judge their backgrounds or hold it against them that healing time may be needed. We treat everyone as an individual and understand that while some cats may be adopted within hours of arriving, others take longer.
Tiela was not a medical case that required us to spend a ton of money, but she did require daily care, lots of treats to build confidence, and time. Donations support everything we do and having programs to help cats like Tiela is a huge part of lifesaving.
We’re thrilled that this holiday, all donations up to $60,000 are matched. That means when you donate to FieldHaven right now, your gifts are doubled—and you’re also giving the gift of time for cats like Tiela!
Thank you for standing up for us time and time again, and for recognizing, like us, that every cat is an individual, and some just need a bit more than others.
– Joy Smith, executive director of FieldHaven
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