This is the story of two voids from Brooklyn
These days Truffles and Star share a private room in Crown Heights. Their story, like that of all the cats of Brooklyn, is a unique one.
In their room, they lounge on an IKEA couch, sit on the windowsill to watch the squirrels outside and play with toys.
BUT HOW DID THEY MEET?
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Let’s go back to 2021…
A short time after moving to Cypress Hills, Michelle Z noticed a handful of cute but not very friendly cats outside her new apartment. Always a cat lover, MZ started feeding them.
Some of the cats were older, some were kittens. She reached out to a rescue she followed on social media and luckily was able to get a handful of the cats TNR’d and even adopted two of the kittens!
Over time, new cats would show up, always needing to be spayed or neutered.
Having gotten TNR certified, MZ trapped the cats one by one and a fellow rescuer, Michele G helped with transport, recovery and ASPCA appointments.
Now it’s 2022 and we’re about to meet Truffles
MZ noticed a black cat hanging around in the fall of 2022.
She named him Truffles because of his mushroom shaped head. This youthful boy came for dinner regularly but didn’t show much interest in her otherwise.
Everyday he was Trufflin’
One cool March day, MZ set her box trap out with some tasty food and Truffles walked right in!
Off he went to our holding space and the following morning he went to the ASPCA.
There he was neutered, received a rabies vaccine, an FVRCP vaccine and his left ear was tipped to signify that this void would not produce any others.
After the neuter…
After a male cat is neutered, their testosterone levels adjust. While this will often result in them becoming less territorial (and thus reducing fighting), it can also make them friendlier!
MZ now began to see Truffles spend more time playing and he would often wind himself around her feet when she came outside to feed.
But what about Star?
In May of 2023 MZ and Truffles didn’t know Star existed.
He wasn’t even a twinkle in their eyes.
But other trappers were hard at work!
The ACC (our city shelter) has limited capacity for TNR projects but just a few blocks away, they were working on a different corner of Cypress Hills.
As part of a large project, Star was trapped, neutered, vaccinated and microchipped in May 2023.
Star takes a walk
Freshly eartipped, Star wandered a few blocks over in July 2023 and realized there was a consistent and caring feeder on this little cul-de-sac.
Pretty soon he was a regular and it wasn’t long before he found that there was another male cat right around his age!
A friendship is born
Star fit right in with the regulars at MZ’s colony.
During this time she was working to socialize all of the cats and one by one they would take up residence in her bathroom while they awaited a foster or adopter.
Star and Truffles became the BEST OF FRIENDS. Always together, always playing.
MZ knew they couldn’t be separated.
A foster is found!
Since there were two cats, a bathroom wouldn’t be a good option for any real length of time.
Luckily a friend shared a foster application and they were willing to take a chance on these two shy but sweet cats.
In January 2024 Star and Truffles were re-trapped and brought indoors for some initial vetting.
At Michele G’s place they became adjusted to using a litter box, got their vaccines updated, were snap tested for FIV/FeLV and best of all, skipped the cold January winter.
Sadly the foster they went to didn’t like having cats and asked to return them pretty quickly.
So here we are…
Since being “returned” from their first foster attempt, Star and Truffles have been blossoming in the spare room at Michele G’s.
Truffles loves to sit by the window or in the desk chair. He thinks he is in charge. He is the pushier of the two cats and will make his way to the front of the line for a Churu.
Star can be a bit timid at first. Newcomers make him run under the couch and then he comes out again when he realizes there really wasn’t anything to be scared of.
Be a part of their journey
While the voids are safe and comfortable inside, they are not truly experiencing indoor life.
The resident cat is not appreciative of houseguests so it is less stressful (and thus safer) for them to live in their own world.
The next step in the process is to find them a foster, or foster-to-adopt family that can bring them into the whole home. A world where they watch TV, sleep on your bed with you and try to see what you’re cooking.
What will #voidlife be like?
Your first few weeks with the voids will look pretty similar to how they live now. To make sure they have the opportunity to get comfortable with you and don’t have too much space to hide, we request that they start off in a single room. It can be your bedroom or office, but they should only have access there for awhile.
Daily interactions should include time “ignoring” them while doing your own thing in their presence, petting, brushing and offering treats.
Once you feel confident that they won’t hide and never be seen again, feel free to bring them out into the rest of your home.
vital stats
Truffles and Star are approximately 2.5-3 years old.
They are both up-to-date on their vaccinations and have tested negative for FIV/FeLV.
They are both microchipped and have tested to be free of parasites.
They strictly eat beef Fancy Feast; other foods have shown to upset their tummies. They are excellent with their litter box and use Petco’s SoPhresh Paper Litter.
Churus are a must!
They get along with all cats but haven’t yet met a dog or small child.