Angry And Distant Cat Finds His Sweet Side After Being Adopted
When Hale first arrived at the Sanctuary, he would bite and scratch, but with patience and gentle care, he learned to enjoy cuddling.
What do a museum painting and a bright-eyed tuxedo
Originally, they shared a strict “look but don’t touch” rule.
For the painting, this rule protects the artwork, while for Hale, it protected people’s hands and fingers.
Found alone and orphaned at just 2 weeks old by a family in Hawaii, Hale was barely able to crawl and still needed to nurse.
The family took him in, bottle-fed him, kept him warm, and slowly taught him to use the litter box.
As he grew, Hale didn’t realize his own strength.
Typically, kittens learn to be gentle from their mothers and siblings, but Hale, being alone, missed out on this and became quite rough in his play.
For Hale and his family, this behavior became a problem.
He would swipe at ankles and could not be touched without reacting with claws or teeth.
At 2 years old, Hale was taken to Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.
There, he found the space to relax and learn safer ways to interact, embodying the sanctuary’s goal to help pets like him find a forever home, supporting their mission for all shelters to become no-kill by 2025.
Hale’s room at the Sanctuary had a “Staff Only” sign because he didn’t do well with others, having grown up alone.
Caregivers gave him space as he settled in, wearing protective gear when they had to enter for cleaning or feeding since he tended to nip at legs.
Despite being wary of the new people and routines around him, caregivers were patient, speaking softly and not rushing interactions.
This approach helped, especially when Hale couldn’t avoid contact due to needing treatment for ringworm.
He required daily medication and topical treatments, making handling inevitable.
Caregiver Bee McCarroll used treats to make these interactions smoother, rewarding Hale for tolerating touch.
This method, along with teaching him the meaning of “no” to curb his energetic reactions, gradually helped him adjust.
After recovering from ringworm, Hale grew more comfortable with familiar caregivers, even welcoming occasional head scratches.
Still, he was not a fan of strangers.
When Emily Garcia, a new caregiver, first met him, he repeated his old habits of circling and nipping.
Undeterred, Emily was determined to help him become more comfortable.
Trading Swats for Snuggles
Emily built on Bee’s groundwork with Hale by setting new goals.
She aimed to make him comfortable with petting without treats and to teach him new commands using clicker training.
Initially, treats were essential for bonding, and Emily started by offering his favorite, Temptations.
After they got used to each other, Emily introduced clicker training, which Hale quickly mastered.
“It only took a few sessions for him to learn sit and high five,” Emily explains. These commands helped Hale learn to gently paw for attention instead of being aggressive.
Soon, Emily was confident enough to pet and scratch Hale without treats.
One day, Hale approached Emily, lay down, and rested his head on her lap, purring.
Recognizing this progress, Emily began spending her lunch hours with Hale, resulting in more cuddles and soft pawing for more attention.
He might have drooled a bit, too—a sign of his deep relaxation.
“He craves love and affection just like any
He even began to trust strangers a bit, letting them pet him right after they met.
When construction required Hale to find a temporary home, Emily chose to deepen their bond by taking him to her house to foster.
Hale the ‘House’ Cat
“I don’t even think about it anymore when Hale curls up on my chest,” Emily says, describing how well Hale has adjusted to her home.
He sticks close to her like glue, always following her around with his
Hale spends his days cuddling with Emily, drinking from the sink, and enjoying activities he missed out on when he was too tense. He has human friends, a
Hale has made huge progress in both distance and his behavior.
It used to seem like he wanted nothing to do with people or their homes, but now, he’s fully embracing domestic life.
“A home is exactly where he belongs,” Emily says. “After all, it is only fitting for him. His Hawaiian name translates to ‘house.’”
Photos courtesy of Emily Garcia and Molly Wald
