Saturn: One Tough Cookie
Saturn surrendered himself to rescue when he was about 4 months old. He was a wise and tough street-kid who heard there was a local kitten rescue in his hood that took in strays and helped them find their intended forever home. He had spent too much of his short life struggling and scraping by and knew it was time to make a change.
So naturally, Saturn traveled to our hard-working little rescue and set up camp under the front porch of my home. He immediately captured my attention by jumping out from underneath the porch and swatting at my leg every time I stepped foot on the front step. He was thin and noticeably starved, so I began feeding him canned cat food twice a day - which he devoured. Saturn was cute and curious, but on closer inspection, he was also in need of medical attention. He had a swollen face, cuts on his lip and ears, and bilateral hyphemas (that's blood collected in his eye globe). There was no way of knowing what type of trauma Saturn had endured, so I did my best to treat what I could. I started sneaking antibiotics and pain medication into his food (along with dewormer and oral flea killer) since Saturn would not allow me to approach him, at all. After a few weeks of hearty food and a safe place to recover, Saturn's injuries showed signs of repair. Now, how to get him to feel safe around humans?
He was extremely cautious and spent all of his time under the front porch, which he assertively protected from intruders like other strays, raccoons, and critters. I once saw him chase another cat two times his size away from his porch. He did not end his pursuit until the other cat was completely off the property. Then he casually trotted back to his lair and took a well-deserved nap - what a badass!
After a while, I started inviting Saturn to come onto the screened porch. Although curious about the other kittens he watched frolicking daily on the porch, it took him about 45 days to finally accept my invitations, and he claimed the porch as his new territory. Comically, it only took another 24 hours for Saturn to welcome himself into the home, following the kittens through the cat door and exposing himself to the wonder of a warm, soft, kitten haven.
Once Saturn officially moved into foster care, he definitely stuck out from the rest of the kitten pack. He was a hardcore, gritty, street-tough kid and these other kittens were soft, sensitive snowflakes who never heard a loud noise, let alone seen the things Saturn had seen or experienced - total marshmallows. Don't get him wrong, Saturn was delighted to be around them, they were fun to chase, stalk, and hunt like he was at a carnival and the kittens were the shooting gallery where he could win a huge stuffed unicorn! When one of the little unsuspecting kittens walked by him, he would jump out, chase after them and make them scream "Uncle, Uncle, UN-CAAAAAAAL" in a similar cry to Ralphie's little brother Randy in "A Christmas Story". Saturn never hurt the kittens, but was simply rough-housing and definitely didn't understand their soft, gentle world…though he’s slowly learning! Don’t worry, his antics don't seem to keep the other kittens away; they continue to interact with him and even will nap with him and follow him around like a cool older brother. I secretly think these pampered little coddled wonderbread's are captivated by Saturn’s tough exterior and mysterious, nomadic personal history. They live a “PG-13” life and Saturn is totally rated “For Mature Audiences”
As for his human interactions, it's definitely easier to look after him and tend to his needs as an indoor foster kitten. Since he and I have taken our relationship very slow, Saturn allows me to pet and approach him (he will not allow anyone to pick him up…that is a hard stop for him). He gives me little gifts like finding him cuddled beside me in bed in the mornings. I wake up whispering a gratifying "YES" when he shares these moments of softness with me. He goes a little gooey whenever I scratch behind his ears. Surprisingly, he also comes when I call him. These are all behaviors which speak volumes for his potential to become a fully domesticated family cat.
I actually don’t know what type of forever home would be best for Saturn, as he is such a unique cat. Perhaps a family with other cats, or other dogs, or both. A family home where there is a lot of room to roam or a lot of places to explore. A family who will appreciate his personal journey and will give him the time and patience he needs to feel like he belongs. Saturn definitely enjoys spending his days on a screened porch, laying in a cat tree, and imagining his best self. However, like any foster kitten, Saturn just needs a family to call his own who will love him for who he is.