Safe for the Night

An important part of feline rescue is working with those cats and kittens who have been traumatized by neglect, abuse, or the need to survive against all odds. Healing their bodies is but one aspect of our rehabilitative process; dealing with minds and hearts are all together different issues. Many residents come to us so frightened they can hardly function. It's these individuals who require months, sometimes years, of continual relationship building before we can begin the process of finding them a human companion. Here's where Noel and I, as Cat-Dad's primary assistants, often play a significant role. Chief among these is modeling relationship behaviors.

We cats take great comfort in routine, and thus one of our first steps is gradually introducing all newcomers to our daily regimen. My mother, Nakindi, as the Mistress of our house has the responsibility of being in charge when Cat-Dad is away, and even when he is here, she sets the tone and ensures that routine in the daily schedule is maintained.

One ritual we observe which many troubled minds find comforting occurs every night at bed-time. Shortly after midnight, Cat-Dad will announce that the doors are closing; they are being locked, and bolted against the night. Nothing can get in to hurt us and we are safe until the morning. Surprisingly, his words affirming our security have a calming effect even on me!

Then, as the lights are dimmed, several timid shapes can be seen slinking into the bedroom seeking the warmth and safety of Cat-Dad's bed. Sometimes he reads aloud to us, sometimes he just reads silently. But this shared time increases the sense of intimacy and relationship building between us all. Through physical closeness, we help our residents and patients temporarily forget their pain, and give them peace from the phantoms of the dark - specters of hunger, pain, and sickness that haunt their dreams from a world all too real on the other side of those bolted doors.

I, of course, have my favorite sleeping spot curled up always on Cat-Dad's left, usually across his arm. How often have I been awakened in the night by soft muffled cries, only to watch his hand reach out to cover the small trembling body and make the bad dreams go away. The human-feline bond in this home is so natural, so subconscious, that I know my Cat-Dad is often not even awake. Yet the silent message is clearly conveyed through the warmth of his hand. Memories and fears are quieted and the oblivion of sleep once again envelops us all.

How do we deal with fear? One incident at a time. Like humans, no two of us cats are exactly alike, yet all of us respond at the subconscious level to being protected and feeling secure. If fear is an issue in your life, I invite you to try our method. Tonight, just before bed-time, say these words out loud:

"The doors are closing. They are being locked and bolted against the night. Nothing can get in to hurt us. Truly, we are safe for the night."

With purrs to all,

Sasha
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I reached for sleep and drew it round me like a blanket muffling pain and thought together in the merciful dark.
- Mary Stewart