Sometimes you come across stories that attack you with the touch. This week, the story is all about a cat named Garbanzo who saved her life twice and a dedicated foster parent. Rachel Robertson is the epitome of an animal lover. Working in the pet care industry, raising young kittens and caring for their own cats and dogs. However, when a local animal shelter contacted her in early February and told her that one of her former foster parents had been brought to them, she was not shy to call. Initially she wanted the inger cat to escape from her home, but Garbanzo (Bonzo for short) surrendered by the person who adopted her four years ago. What was even more tragic was her presence.
At 25 pounds, Garbanzo is morbidly obese, her long coat is matted and smelly, she absolutely petrified and assaulted in an attempt to touch her. It’s a far cry from the loving, confident young cat that Rachel returned to 2021 to say goodbye.
Garbanzo’s miserable state
Initially, the owner of Garbanzo blocked Rachel’s attempts to contact her, but ultimately reached out to explain what happened. A while after I hired Garbanzo, a man came to the scene. After he finally leaves, a housemate comes with his own cat and Garbanzo suffers from stress-induced urinary problems. Rachel knew that her home, along with various cats and dogs, was not the right place to start rehabilitation of Garbanozo, but fortunately, her ex-partner was able to help with some space in his home.
The first few days were challenging for everyone. Bonzo rarely refused to venture out of the trash bin, drink or drink. Every day she grew a little more relaxed and grown up, and Rachel took things at a very slow pace. The cat was clearly hurt and terrified of a human, but it turns out she is at odds. This was not a naturally shy or withdrawn cat. This was a cat that wanted human contact, but the experience taught her to fear it.
I’ll progress
When her second week began, they saw two signs of great progress when Garbanzo issued a reliable “slow link” and a little Chirrup! There was still a long way to go and the hugs were very off the table for now, but they were finally beginning to see those walls coming down. By this stage, Bonzo and Rachel had a considerable support on Tiktok and Instagram, with gifts and donations from around the world filling her simple sanctuary with the latest cat furniture.
With the help of some mild sedatives and her Feliway diffuser and spray, Garbanzo went on a veterinary visit for a health check and grooming session towards the end of the third week. This was a very turning point. With her freshly holed body with an adorable lion tail, Bonzo seemed more relaxed, comfortable and friendly, and after almost three weeks of grumbling, hissing sweep and foot swiping, she finally began to show off her true soft side. She was more confident when playing games and eating from Rachel’s hands, and began to allow for a little bit of contact. From that point on, her personality began to shine, bringing it a new milestone every day. On the 23rd day, she moved to a large room where she had access to the house, and on the 24th her hissed hess turned into a demanding cry, eventually allowing Rachel to give him the right putt. The old Garbanzo had a comeback.
Regaining trust
Watching her relax in the sun, lavishing in the bed, seeking petting, she could almost forget that just three weeks ago she was a borderline stray. While it’s not easy to win the trust of a cat who has been so disappointed in humans in the past, Bonzo shows that she’s not only loving Rachel, but also being confident and friendly to new people, ready to find an eternal home. With a 16 pound slim down weight, she immediately performs dental procedures to sort out her gingivitis, and she is in top condition too.
While Rachel’s love for Bonzo is clear, she also knows that she can’t provide her with what she needs in a permanent home. With multiple pets that require a lot of attention and attention, Rachel knows that this ginger diva will quickly feel stressed and resented in competition, let alone financial and time tensions. It’s easy for Rachel to simply succumb to her emotions and maintain this gorgeous cat, so it’s admirable that she can put her furry family and Garbanzo’s needs before her heart.
Currently, applications are open to those who want to provide Forever Home to Garbanzo, but the standards are strict. Rachel is looking for someone:
- I have experience with cats
- There are no young children
- There are no other pets
- People living within an hour of their home in Los Angeles
You don’t need to feel obligated to keep up with Garbanzo’s social media, but I’m sure her fans will love it if you do! If you want to consider, you can find more information and fill in the application hereand you can keep her progress up to date by following @RachalRayrobertson.
So, what’s next for Rachel? Warm weather and long days mean that kitten season is approaching us, so we hope she can take a short break before her home is filled with the sounds of hungry, groaning kittens!
You can also donate to animal shelters and charities, recruit cats and kittens from shelters, and castrate or castrate cats.
All images courtesy of Rachel Robertson, @RachalRaerobertson.
