Kitty Yoda

Those who listen to instruction will prosper;
those who trust the LORD will be joyful.

“NO,” ANGIE SAID STERNLY, picking up the plump young cat before she could sink her claws into the sofa. Angie set her down in front of a tall scratching post and gently placed the cat’s paw against the rough sisal.

The light-brown cat Angie had affectionately been calling Sandy Claws dug into the sisal post with gusto. “Good kitty,” she praised. “See, isn’t that so much better for scratching than my sofa?”

“Why do you go to all this trouble?” Angie’s friend Sam asked while he pet Kitty Yoda, another one of Angie’s foster cats—so named because of his prominent ears.

Angie redirected a third cat, Oreo Mittens, from the curtains and placed him beside Sandy Claws.

“Because I want the cats I care for to end up in their forever homes,” Angie answered. “You’d be surprised how many get adopted only to be surrendered weeks or months later because their owners can’t deal with their furniture being scratched or their new cat jumping on their table or hissing at their kids.”

Angie intercepted Sandy Claws on her way back to the sofa and set her on top of the scratching post. “And while I wish every adoptive family would invest the time to train their new cat, many just don’t have the time, knowledge, or patience.” Angie wiggled a felt mouse back and forth in front of Oreo Mittens and laughed when he pounced on it. “I just figured if I’m going to foster cats, then I’m going to give them the best chance of staying in their new homes.”

Sam scooped Kitty Yoda onto his lap. Angie knew that the affectionate cat had been working his way into her best friend’s heart—in spite of Sam’s protests that he wasn’t a cat person and that his house wasn’t cat-proof. The eight-month-old kitten curled up on Sam’s lap and purred loudly.

Having picked up on Sam’s affinity for the little cat who had been with her the past six weeks, Angie had been working extra hard to get Kitty Yoda ready for adoption—which she hoped would be by Sam. But if not, Angie had no doubt the friendly guy would be adopted soon.

Kitty Yoda had been surrendered by an elderly couple who had taken the kitten in for a friend who couldn’t care for him. But when the wife was hospitalized, the husband knew he couldn’t properly care for the energetic kitten and stay at his wife’s side. Thankfully, he took Kitty Yoda to the rescue organization that Angie had been volunteering with for the past five years.

Kitty Yoda had adjusted quickly to life at Angie’s house—and to the two other cats she was fostering at the time. After giving Kitty Yoda several days to acclimate, Angie had begun her kitty bootcamp training with him.

She used positive reinforcement, redirection, and an abundance of patience as she trained her foster kitty to scratch only approved scratching surfaces, to stay off counters and tables, and to tolerate a variety of noises and situations.

Angie would play with the cats and pet them at their scratching posts so that they would connect the structures with a positive experience. When they scratched on the posts, she would reward them with treats. Alternately, whenever they would begin to extend their claws toward the sofa, she would pick them up and move them to a scratching post, where they would earn another treat for scratching there instead.

Angie also worked hard to desensitize her cats to various stimuli like vacuum cleaners, exuberant children, and being put into a carrier. It was often a slow and laborious process, but her kitty bootcamp had proven quite effective. So effective that she had a collection of thank-you cards from happy adoptive families.

“Hey, Ang,” Sam said with a tone that made Angie smile. Sam was holding Kitty Yoda up to his face. “You’re sure he’s not going to destroy my house?”

Angie held up her right hand and swallowed a laugh. “I promise he will not destroy your house.”

“This was your plan all along, wasn’t it?” Sam asked. “It took you five years, but you finally wore me down. I want Yoda.”

And by the way Yoda was rubbing his nose against Sam’s cheek, it was clear the feeling was mutual.

PAWS & PONDER . . .

In what ways did Kitty Yoda, Sam, and Angie all prosper because of their willingness to listen to instruction? Can you think of a time when you prospered because of your willingness to listen to instruction? When have you experienced joy as a result of trusting God? What instructions are you struggling to follow? What small steps of obedience and trust could you take today?

Paws & Pray

God, please forgive me for the times I have gone my own way and ignored your instructions. I long for the peace and joy that come from obeying you. Continue to teach me. Incline my heart to yours and help me to follow you.