by Allix Ollivier

Allix Ollivier is an Outreach Associate at Valley Animal Center in Fresno, California. VAC shares their animal rescue adventures with us every month. Check out KRL’s interview with VAC to learn more about what they do.

When Mothership first arrived at the Valley Animal Center as a feral cat, she certainly was alien to humans and needed her space. Brought in with her two kittens, Alien and Predator, Mothership immediately needed to be put into isolation because she was diagnosed with a severe upper respiratory infection. Mothership’s kittens, however, were in better shape than she was. Shortly after Alien and Predator entered the Center, they were neutered, received their vaccinations, and were all ready to be adopted. Alien and Predator found their forever families quickly, leaving Mothership at the Center.

Mothership

Now without her kittens, and with a severe upper respiratory infection, Mothership was more anti-social than ever. She was held in isolation for a long time. Unsure if Mothership was ever going to get better, the staff at the Valley Animal Center was really concerned for her. One staff member in particular, Mandy, worked very hard to try to bring Mothership back to health and get her accustomed to human interaction.

When Mothership was brought in, she did not like being petted and preferred to not have any human interaction at all. Mandy knew this, and so while Mothership was in recovery from her respiratory infection in isolation, Mandy took time every day to help socialize her. Mandy worked with Mothership to get her accustomed to human interaction by playing with her and petting her. At first Mothership was resistant to Mandy’s friendly overtures, but over time she became more accepting of human interaction, and began to enjoy it.

Finally, after a long recovery period, Mothership was ready to move from isolation into the feral cat room at the Center. The feral cat room is meant for cats that prefer more independence than our regular cats. Mandy continued to work with Mothership while she was in the feral cat room, and over time she eventually became social enough with humans that she graduated from the feral cat room into one of our regular cat rooms. Now Mothership spends her days hanging out with other cats, and loves to say hi to any human visitors in her room. She loves to be petted, and enjoys making friends with anyone who wants to play.

Mothership is currently up for adoption, and she truly is out of this world! Our adoption centers are open seven days a week from 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. to help you find a new furry friend. As a no-kill shelter, our animals (including Mothership) will stay with us and be cared for until they find their forever homes. In order to care for lovable cats like Mothership, and also the canine cuties we have at our center, we appreciate any and all donations. Your contributions help support the dogs and cats cared for at our facility until they find their forever homes. As always, the Valley Animal Center is grateful and appreciative of any and all donations.

Keep up with VAC’s animal rescue adventures here at KRL, and learn more about adopting from them, volunteering, and donating to VAC on their website If you advertise with KRL you can designate 10% of your ad fees to go to VAC.

Check out more animal rescue stories in our Pet Perspective section. Advertise in KRL and 10% of your advertising fees can go to a local animal rescue.