If you’d asked our team a few months ago if “Spooky” was real, the answer might’ve been “We think so?”
When this handsome cat first arrived at Friends For Life, he was terrified. Not in a “hiss-and-puff” kind of way—more like a “vanish into the void and pretend I don’t exist” kind of way.
Spooky chose a spot under a kennel and refused to come out. Ever. For weeks. We had to serve his meals like room service, sliding food and water bowls under the kennel where he lived like a fluffy cryptid. We even placed his litter box nearby (real VIP treatment), and volunteers had to guard his meals to keep the other free-roaming cats from stealing them.
He was such a mystery, some staff members joked that our behavior team had finally cracked and was hallucinating a cat. It wasn’t until Melissa, our Behavior and Training Director, posted a video of two glowing green eyes peering out from the darkness that everyone believed:
Spooky was real.
And he was scared out of his little mind.
Enter: the FRAIDY CAT PROGRAM.
This program was built specifically for cats like Spooky, the ones who’ve been through trauma, who never learned to trust people, or who are just plain overwhelmed by shelter life. It’s a slow, gentle approach that builds confidence and trust through positive reinforcement, choice-based interactions, and lots of love.
Our behavior volunteers showed up every day with patience and churu. They gave Spooky space when he needed it and support when he was ready. No pressure. No timeline. Just consistent, compassionate care.
And now?
Spooky asks for kisses.
This once-invisible cat now reaches up to Melissa with his paws, pulls her in, and demands affection. He leans into cuddles. He trusts. He knows he’s safe.
And that transformation, that magic, is exactly why our Fraidy Cat Program exists.
These are the cats who are often overlooked. The shy ones. The “not-ready-for-adoption-yet” ones. But with time, trust, and the right resources, they absolutely shine. Spooky is living proof.
👉 Want to help fraidy cats like Spooky find their courage?
💜 Click the button below on June 4th and help us compete for a $25,000 bonus through the Chevron Houston Marathon’s Run For a Reason Charity Challenge. Every dollar supports transformative programs like the Fraidy Cat Program—turning fear into trust and hiding into head boops.