* Warning – Extra long heart felt post to follow Moe Wagner was the very first trash cat to come to us. There was a Moe before there was a Castle Snackpaw. He was accompanied by two friendly kittens who were held over for a spa day and then shipped off to an adoption center. We were told by @castleblackpaw he might turn the corner or he might have to be released. Moe was already full grown and had lulled me into a sense that he was calm. That resulted in some blood shed when I tried to get him back in his cage the first time. If you haven’t had the experience of a well muscled adult tomcat decide to chew on your hand, I would add it to the avoid column. Moe was held in a medium size metal dog cage by himself and his litter box. Each time we checked on him we’d find that he had ripped the blanket into the cage. As part of the escape process he had broken his nose and cut his muzzle trying to escape the cage. At one point he had successfully detached the back of the cage (built to hold a 50lb dog) and couldn’t get out because the wall only let it open a few inches. We felt like we were doing Moe more harm by trying to socialize him and decide that we would let him out of his cage and give him his own room for two days and if he didn’t calm down we would release him as a TNR. That extra space made all the difference. At first he would hiss everytime we came in the room. We spent a week sitting on the other side of the room talking to him and tossing him treats. We’d lay on our stomach and hold a treat out in front of us and he’d come out for the treat and then run away. @giannamirabelle was able to get some head scratches in. This turned into shoulder and chin rubs as well. The true turning point came when Moe decide to flop on his side one day and purr like an idling diesel engine. It was rewarding watching a 2 year old cat who was experiencing his first propper petting. Flash forward 7 months and we now have this handsome chunk of kitty that loves nothing more than belly rubs and treats. ·
* Warning – Extra long heart felt post to follow Moe Wagner was the
