Description
Salad has the sort of face that makes it look as though she has already formed an opinion about you.
Usually a fairly serious one.
Add her beautiful calico markings and one eye, and she has a distinctive appearance that is difficult to forget. But Salad’s expression only tells a very small part of her story.
Before coming into care, Salad lived on the streets.
During that time, she became a mother and gave birth to a litter of kittens. Life outside is difficult enough for an adult cat, but Salad also had babies depending entirely on her for survival.
Sadly, only one of her kittens survived.
Salad did everything she could to protect that remaining baby. While they were still living outside, she guarded her kitten and kept him safe until eventually both mother and baby could be rescued.
They are now living safely in foster care.
Interestingly, once Salad realised that the daily struggle to keep her kitten alive was over, she appeared equally ready to declare that her career in motherhood was finished.
Although she worked incredibly hard to protect her baby when he depended on her, she now shows very little attachment to him. He is becoming independent, and Salad seems perfectly happy with that arrangement.
For her future adoption, this is important because Salad and her kitten do not need to find a home together. She can be considered entirely as an individual cat rather than as part of a pair.
And after everything she has spent her time doing for her kitten, Salad appears quite ready for life to be about Salad.
Her foster home has allowed her to experience security and comfort while still having access to the outdoors. She can explore, spend time outside and then return to the safety of the home rather than having to survive permanently on the streets.
It is a significant change from her previous life.
Salad no longer has to spend every day finding somewhere safe for herself and her baby. She does not have to remain constantly responsible for protecting a vulnerable kitten. She finally has the opportunity to relax and establish her own routine.
Her missing eye is also part of her appearance, but it does not need to define her.
Cats can adapt remarkably well to having vision from only one eye, particularly once they are familiar with their surroundings. Her future family should simply be aware of it when introducing her to a new environment and give her time to become familiar with the layout of her home.
Salad’s history is also a good reason to allow her to settle at her own pace.
She spent a significant part of her life making decisions for herself on the streets. A cat with that background may need time to understand a completely new environment and the people within it. Giving her choice, allowing her to approach interactions comfortably and providing quiet places where she can retreat will help her adjust.
A predictable routine will also make the transition easier. Regular feeding, comfortable sleeping areas, scratching opportunities, places to observe her surroundings and appropriate play will allow Salad to build a life that is no longer centred around survival.
What makes her story particularly interesting is the difference between Salad the street mother and Salad now.
When her kitten depended on her, she protected him with everything she had. Once they reached safety and he no longer needed that constant protection, she was apparently quite happy to hand in her notice and return to being her own cat.
Now she can concentrate on finding out what she enjoys.
And if her photographs are anything to go by, she intends to do so while maintaining the facial expression of a tiny calico queen quietly judging everyone else’s decisions.
Salad has already completed the hardest part of her job. She kept her surviving kitten safe until help arrived.
Her next home can finally be about her.