MSI Press Blog

  Kokee (Sophia) posing with her owner by her choice Sophia came to me courtesy of the one and only local TNR volunteer. Normally, cats in her situation would go to a shelter—but no shelter would take Sophia. She was “too wild.” She’d earned that reputation. The first time she was trapped, she somehow escaped the cage, streaked through the room like lightning, clawed her way up the curtains, hissed, spat, and evaded every attempt to recapture her before vanishing. When she was finally retrapped, she was put under close observation. Snipped, but not subdued, she allowed no one near her. “Not adoptable,” they said. Like so many of my cats before her. Sophia—whom the four-year-old in the household quickly nicknamed Kokee for her Sokoke breed—was special even among the feral arrivals. The Sokoke, from Kenya, is considered the last truly wild domestic cat breed. They are rare in the United States, known for their intelligence, agility, and fierce independence. We placed Sophia in the c...

Our feral-turned-feline-friend, Sophia Ever had a domesticated darling go full feral in a flash? Or a streetwise bruiser melt into a trembling puffball at the vet, making you look like a drama queen for warning “He’s a killer”? Welcome to the feline paradox. 🔹 Triggers for the feral flip Even the most pampered housecat can channel her inner alley warrior when: Cornered or restrained (especially by unfamiliar hands) Overstimulated (petting that goes one stroke too far) Startled by scent or sound (new animals, vet smells, vacuum cleaners) Pain or illness (cats mask discomfort until they can’t) It’s not betrayal—it’s survival. Cats are wired to react first, apologize never. 🔹 Why ferals flop at the vet My beautiful, untouchable at the time, Sophia, a Sokoke (those last remaining remnants of the wild cat-converted-to-domesticity breeds), generally untouchable and out of reach, terroized me when I carriered her for her first vet visit after rescuing her. Oh, my! What would she do...

  This book is the first in the Charming Cats series for cat owners and cat lovers. Information about integrating cats into families, herding cats, and more, along with illustrations, fill the pages. By Luna Norwood.  Book description: Welcoming the Whiskered: Understanding and Integrating Cats into Your Home Bringing a new cat into your life—or into a multi-cat household—can be a delicate dance of trust, territory, and feline politics.  Welcoming the Whiskered  is your compassionate, practical guide to understanding the complex emotional and social lives of cats so you can create a harmonious home for every whiskered resident. From the first tentative greeting to long-term bonding, this book walks you through the crucial steps of gaining a cat’s confidence, managing introductions, and navigating the dynamics of alpha and beta personalities. You'll learn how breed tendencies, territorial instincts, and emotional cues shape your cat's behavior—especially when visitors...

When people hear that we live with a large and peaceful cat family, their first question is often, “How do you manage to get them all to get along?” The second is, “Aren’t some of them from the street or shelters?” The answer is yes—our family includes cats born feral, cats adopted from shelters, and cats who were clearly abandoned by former owners. Integrating them takes time and care, but with the right approach, they can not only settle in, but thrive as part of a loving feline household. Over the years, I’ve come to notice distinct differences—and some striking similarities—among these three backgrounds when it comes to adoption and integration. Understanding those patterns helps enormously when preparing to bring a new cat into an established family. 🐾 Different Beginnings, Different Needs Feral Cats These are cats born outdoors, often to generations of unsocialized cats. They may never have had a positive interaction with a human before being rescued. They tend to rely hea...