I write about this extensively in my book, about how I get unsocialized kitties to let down their guard and let me in. I generally work during their heaviest prey time which is between 2:00 and 6:00 a.m. This is when their prey (mice) are alert and active and the Queen will leave the nest to go hunting.

Although they weren’t with the Queen long enough, somehow, deep inside of these kitties lies the natural instinct to prey, play and pounce during this period of time.

I use an interactive toy and just lie in bed very still working them closer. Once they are involved in the play, I slowly sit up and become a bit larger propped up by my pillows, sleep still in my eyes and fog on my brain.

After I play with them a bit and have expended that nervous energy, I will quietly move and scruff a kitten and place him in my lap. This morning, it was Scotty’s turn to be petted.

I reached over and lifted him and placed him on my lap. One hand on his scruff the other wrapped a bit around him for security. I started petting him, careful to avoid his beautiful eyes. I talked to him and just kept stroking him and gradually I felt him relax. I pulled my arm that was securing him to my lap away and he didn’t jump off and run away- instead he settled down rolled over and displayed his beautiful belly for a tummy rub!

It brought a smile to my face that he felt he could trust me. We sat there in the early morning hours- me unplugged from my world, lost in the wonder of his soft fur and listening to him purrng away.

It is a quiet time, before the day catches me full in it’s grasp and there will be interruptions in the day, food issues to deal with, fights to break up, litter pans to scoop and oh so many distractions and worries.

But for just one moment- there is a brief spot in time where a once-traumatized kitten sleeps on my lap showing no fear and the world stays at arm’s length.

I don’t know what will happen today. Who might call and ask me to take in their cat because they are fighting a losing battle with the bank and the bank is winning. I don’t know if the carport recently damaged in a high wind storm will finally end up collapsing on our car by the weight of the rain on the roof. The insurance company said “Sorry Act of God,” when they came out to inspect the damage and saw half a pine tree top sticking out of our roof. I had a Christmas tree over my car way before Christmas… at least, I still have a roof over my head after that scary storm the other night.

I don’t know if Mike will fall again and if he does, I don’t know if he will be able to get up on his own.

But what I know is that for one brief moment, I am lost in the wonder of a kitten who had been shoved into a letter box and left to die. I see his trust starting to develop and marvel at his striking mackeral tabbiness on my lap. For that one moment however brief, before the day assaults me- I smile and know that all is right with my world.