A Shy, Gentle Cat Waiting For The Right Heart: Huntington Adoptable Of The Week

EAST NORTHPORT, NY — Peekaboo was first noticed in May 2024, moving quietly through hedges in a Farmingdale neighborhood, a sleek shadow learning how to stay unseen, according to Debbi Larkin, president of the Grateful Paw Cat Shelter.

At the time, he was not alone. Peekaboo had two siblings by his side — “three small black figures learning how to survive a world that had already taught them to be careful,” Larkin said.

Life changed quickly after that. Peekaboo and his siblings entered foster care, but by August 2024, it became clear that Peekaboo needed more than food and shelter.

“He needed patience. He needed quiet,” Larkin said.

Peekaboo was placed into a peaceful foster home with a volunteer experienced in caring for cats who “speak softly and trust slowly.”

Now about a year and a half old, Peekaboo is a sleek black cat with expressive yellow eyes. “Eyes that seem to hold questions, memories, and a cautious kind of hope,” Larkin said.

Something in Peekaboo’s early life taught him to be wary. What that was remains unknown. What is known, Larkin said, is that he is “gentle to his core.”

His siblings were adopted first.

“They were braver, quicker to greet the world,” Larkin said. Peekaboo remained behind, watching from the safety of his cubby and learning from a distance.

When approached, Peekaboo may hiss — “but not in anger,” Larkin said. “It’s simply his way of saying, ‘I see you. Please be gentle.’”

And when that gentleness is returned, something changes.

“If you reach in slowly, scratch his chin, or softly pet his head, something magical happens,” Larkin said. “His body relaxes. His eyes soften. His little motor starts to hum.”

Peekaboo melts into touch, revealing what Larkin describes as “the sweet baby boy he’s been all along — one who desperately wants love, even if he’s not quite sure how to ask for it.”

In foster care, once he felt safe, Peekaboo showed his true self. He enjoyed curling up on a lap, snuggling beside his human in bed, or quietly napping nearby.

“He doesn’t need constant excitement; he needs connection,” Larkin said. “He prefers company to solitude and shows affection in the most tender ways, even gently washing his human as a sign of love.”

There is, however, another side to Peekaboo.

“Give him a feather toy, and the shy panther transforms,” Larkin said. He runs, leaps, and chases with joyful abandon, forgetting his worries and simply playing.

Peekaboo is healthy and ready for his next chapter. He has tested negative for FELV, FIV, and parasites. His eyes, ears, and heart have been checked. He is fully vaccinated, litter box trained and neutered.

“What he needs now isn’t medical care — it’s emotional safety,” Larkin said.

Peekaboo’s ideal home would be a quiet one. Older children are welcome, provided they understand that he will be timid at first. A small, enclosed room would help him adjust without feeling overwhelmed.

“Sit with him while he eats. Speak softly. Let him come to you,” Larkin said. “With patience, he will reward you with devotion.”

He may also enjoy living with another calm, older pet who could keep him company while his human is away.

“Peekaboo is a special soul looking for a special human,” Larkin said. “Someone who understands that love doesn’t always arrive loudly.”

“Sometimes,” she added, “it hides in a cubby, hisses hello, and waits for the right heart to listen.”

Peekaboo is available for adoption at the Grateful Paw Cat Shelter, located at 3 Verleye Avenue in East Northport. Visiting hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 12–4 p.m., with Thursday evening hours from 7–9 p.m. by appointment.

Those interested in meeting Peekaboo can call 631-757-4517, email cats@laphuntington.org, visit the shelter’s Facebook page, or stop by during visiting hours. Peekaboo has been waiting for a long time.

“We would love to see him go home in the New Year,” Larkin said. “A new beginning for him. Will you be the one to give this struggling mini black panther his forever home?”