The witness also described incidents in which Snowy was forcibly restrained during grooming.
According to the account, Snowy sometimes approached the caretaker voluntarily, only to be grabbed when she came within reach.
Investigators could not establish exactly how often these incidents occurred or whether they caused all of Snowy’s injuries.
However, the information suggested a possible connection between her fear response and previous handling.
Snowy may have learned that approaching a person could lead to being grabbed, even when she was the one seeking attention.
The shelter’s behavioural team adjusted her care accordingly.
Volunteers stopped reaching toward her head.
They avoided grabbing or lifting her unless necessary for veterinary care.
Instead, they allowed Snowy to initiate interactions and provided hiding spaces she could enter whenever she felt uncomfortable.
Emma began sitting beside her enclosure each afternoon without attempting to touch her.
Sometimes she read a book.
Sometimes she simply sat quietly.
Snowy continued extending her paw through the bars.
But now, when she reached out, Emma kept her hands resting in her lap.
Over the following weeks, the cat began spending longer periods near the front of her enclosure.
Her body language gradually became more relaxed.
She occasionally rubbed her cheek against the bars while Emma sat nearby.
But direct touch remained difficult.
One afternoon, Emma arrived wearing a soft blue cardigan.
Snowy approached as usual.
She stretched one paw through the bars and rested it gently against Emma’s sleeve.
Emma remained still.
Snowy withdrew her paw.
Then, several seconds later, she reached out again.
This time, she touched Emma’s wrist.
Emma did not move.
Snowy leaned forward, sniffed her fingers, and briefly pressed her cheek against the stationary hand.
The contact lasted only a moment.
Then Snowy stepped backwards.
Emma let her go.
It wasn’t a sudden transformation.
Snowy still avoided unfamiliar hands, and her rehabilitation remained ongoing.
But for the first time, she had initiated a moment of physical contact without immediately retreating.
Later that evening, Emma returned to check on her.
Snowy was resting inside her enclosure, her white paws tucked beneath her chest.
When Emma sat beside the gate, the cat lifted her head.
Slowly, she walked toward the bars.
She extended one paw.
Emma placed her sleeve beside the opening.
Snowy touched it.
Neither moved.
For nearly a minute, the little cat remained there, quietly resting her paw against the fabric.
Snowy was not ready to be held.
She was not ready for someone to reach toward her whenever they wanted.
But she was beginning to learn that she could ask someone to stay without having to accept being touched.
