Ryder (a 2-pound kitten) was in the San Jose Shelter, trapped the end of August 2018. The shelter deemed him an unworkable feral in late September and took him back to where he was trapped to release him. He would not go out of the trap! The shelter started pinging rescues to pull him and was planning on euthanizing him on October 2nd, 2018. Whis-Purr rescued this little man from San Jose on his “FINAL” day.

While we tried to reach out to him, he was so afraid.

We placed him in a cage with 6 other kittens we were working with, also rescued as older kittens. 4 of those kittens found homes with 3 remaining in the cage: Ryder, Rio and Reese. We moved the 3 into The Meow House, which was a bigger, more comfortable living space. As of today, the 3 are still with us.

Ryder adores all the other 11 cats that live with him in The Meow House, but he has had no time for humans, mostly running from us to another area when we enter the room. At times Ryder would allow us to greet him with our finger though… Don’t touch! Petting was totally off limits for Ryder. Fear in his eyes and then away he would go. We added Ryder to clicker training with Cat Pawsitive in January 2020, because even though there was this reaction from him, there seemed to be a part of him that really wanted to be with us. Ryder would sit up in the higher trees and watch us, always out of reach but curious with a calm posture.

Amazed and with pure joy, we have experienced a breakthrough with Ryder. While working with another Cat Pawsitive kitty in the room, Ryder decided to come check things out. As mentioned before, he loves all the cats in the room so began head bumping and rubbing up against his friend that was being trained and circling around another curious kitty as well. I reached out and began petting him. His friends, including my trainee moved aside and Ryder remained with me! We had a ½ hour of glorious petting. I was not going to stop until he said it was time. There were head bumps, chin lifts, rollovers and lots of purrs. Ryder was being worked with another trainer in the program who had only been working with him for 1 week. I immediately called his trainer to give her the news! She too was amazed and on Ryder’s next training day, she too was able to have a petting session with him.

Ryder continued progressing to a calmer, less fearful kitty.  When I would enter the room, he would come to greet me, not bolting.  I have been able to continue petting and loving him when he joins his other friends on the floor of the room. He is not as excited about things when I find him alone in a tree, but I am confident all this will come in time. Ryder went from a scared little kitten to a calmer, engaging cat. 

Now, fast forward to 2026, Ryder is the Meow House 'Official Greeter'.  Walking into the room, Ryder is the first one out to say hi and get pets.  He no longer lingers in the high trees out of reach and will also allow some pets when he is not on the floor in the Meow House.  A bit nervous when receiving attention anywhere else, but with a careful, slow approach will respond and engage with people.

Ryder would be happy to have a visit from you in the Meow House.  Reach out to us and we can arrange it.