Staff warned not to adopt angry cat – but it turns into a softie when it meets her new mom

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Belle was an angry-looking cat with severe behavioral issues, and that led the shelter she was kept at to conclude that she was not adoptable.

When Sarah arrived at the shelter looking for a pet, the staff immediately informed her of Belle’s situation. Still, she decided to take a chance on the feline, vowing to do anything to make her happy.

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Instagram: @grumpybarbara Source: Instagram: @grumpybarbara
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“She appeared and I was up for the task,” she told The Dodo. “I didn’t know the extent, but I definitely was ready to commit — whatever it took.”

So Sarah took the kitty home and gave it a new name: Barbara.

At first, the two didn’t really seem to get along. More specifically, although Sarah had the best intentions towards Barbara, the cat would hide, making it hard for the woman to approach her. It was as if she didn’t want to have anything to do with Sarah.

Then, suddenly Barbara’s behavior changed and she started chasing the woman all around the house to the point that Sarah had to wear knee-high boots to avoid scratches.

Instagram: @grumpybarbara Source: Instagram: @grumpybarbara
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All the while, Sarah could see that there were good qualities behind those angry eyes. She soon realized that the kitty just wanted time to adjust to its new surroundings. She had no idea how long this would take, but she was determined to give her more space and time as needed. So, she stopped pushing and took a step back, letting Barbara acclimate to the new environment.

Little by little, the cat was starting to feel more comfortable around Sarah. She stopped being as aggressive she was in the beginning, and the woman could tell that the wall between them was starting to fall down.

And then one day, all of a sudden at 4 in the morning, Sarah woke up to find Barbara all over her! The cat had realized that her new mom loved her and now she was ready to return the affection.

From then on, the two have been inseparable.

Instagram: @grumpybarbara Source: Instagram: @grumpybarbara
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“I’m at the point now where sometimes I think I need to get a restraining order,” Sarah said. “Because she will not leave me alone. I mean, she’s too cute. It should be illegal.”

Since Sarah and Barbara’s story was made public, she has been receiving tons of messages from people asking her how they can approach their aggressive cats too. They’re asking for tips and tricks in order to get their cats to overcome their trust issues and finally feel at home.

Unfortunately, Sarah does not have a magic “kitty love” potion. Her only advice is to give the cat time to adjust to its new environment. For Barbara, it was one month – but every cat is different, and others may take much longer. Regardless of the length of time, however, Sarah promises it is worth the wait.

We’re so glad Sarah and Barbara found each other. You can follow Barbara’s adventures on Instagram.

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Source: The Dodo, We Love Cats And Kittens

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