The Price of Fear

It's often been said that humans are born with only two innate fears, that of falling and of loud noises. All others are simply learned responses. And while I wouldn't think falling is a fear we cats necessarily have (we worked that one out centuries ago being always able to land on our feet), we do share a human dislike and fear of loud noises. Beyond that, cats are subject to a variety of other learned emotions, and nowhere will you find a greater variety of these than in a feline rescue/foster home. Our patients and residents come to us with histories of abuse, human betrayal, and hardship - all difficult, emotion stimulating experiences. These learned and unnatural fears suck the joy out of life and can condemn both cats and humans to living life at half its potential.

And so it is with my friend, Scotty.


Scotty was brought to this safe environment four long years ago with severe emotional disturbances. I remember as just a kitten admiring him for his beautiful fur and hoping that one day mine could be so soft and luxuriant. This cat was originally from the streets, where he'd been existing on the outskirts of a feral colony, stealing bits of their food to survive. But never was he accepted into the group. The notches torn into his right ear bear witness to the reception he often received from other cats. As a kitten, such rejection cemented within him the permanent deep-seated fear of others, and that is the singular reason why he still remains in foster care today. For all these years, Cat-Dad and eventually I, too, worked with Scotty attempting to break through that wall of emotion to demonstrate the wonderful loving relationship that is possible between feline and human.

The going has been tortuous and slow, but a strange milestone has now been reached. In his mind, Scotty has developed an unusual dichotomy. Fearful of humans by day, at night he is the first to respond to Cat-Dad’s call when the lights are dimmed for sleep. Here, in the dark, a flood of pent up warmth and affection is released, on cats and Cat-Dad alike. This behavior confirms that our efforts have not been in vain, and also that such deep-seated trauma will eventually be healed.

Yet when daylight comes, the terrible memories and old fears return.

In this home we teach the truth that while pain in life is inevitable, suffering is a characteristic always within our control. How desirous we are of helping Scotty to reach that total trust upon which is built true feline-human relationships. But for now, despite everything he is choosing not to have, we accept him for who he is. Cat-Dad and I will continue to work toward that time when Scotty can find his forever human and no longer feel the need to pay the price of fear.

With purrs to all,

Sasha
------
Fear makes the wolf bigger than he is.
- German Proverb