You’re probably familiar of the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde — a doctor who is transformed into a monster by drinking a potion. Both characters are two sides of the same person; one a creature of evil and cruelty and one a brilliant and friendly man.
Sometimes, it seems like our guests at the cats-only boarding facility must be drinking the same potion. Cats that are perfectly calm and well-behaved for us may be stressed or violent on the vet side of the building (and vice versa).
Once in a while, I get a look at both sides of a cat’s personality in one day.
A guest named Maury has been pretty unhappy with his stay. He spent most of his week at the boarding facility hiding in the back of the little tunnel where we usually put the litter box. (Since he spent the majority of his time there, we set that up with a blanket and put the litter pan in the main part of the cage.)
Maury was definitely not fond of the human caretakers. He greeted all of us with hissing and spitting (and sometimes yowling). But I don’t think he liked the other feline guests much, either. We had to move the cat that was in the cage next door to Maury’s because Maury was hissing and spitting and carrying on so very much!
Maury was due to go home today, and his owner showed up while I was working. Just minutes before dad showed up, Maury was still hissing at me — but at the first sight and sniff of his human family, his demeanor changed. No more hissing. No more spitting. Maury even came right up to me and rubbed his head against my hand! He was a whole new cat now that his family was home.
I was chatting with the owner about Maury’s behavior, and dad was (thankfully) very understanding. It seems that Maury just doesn’t like being away from his home and his family — and nothing anybody does can get him to relax and be happy outside of his comfort zone.
Working at the boarding facility has been such an education for me in animal behavior. They have such amazing and unique personalities! I’m glad I got a chance to see happy Maury — rather than only unhappy Maury.