Getting Along

Mr Whiskers and Ms Patches have some really beautiful moments and then some tumultuous exchanges, probably not unlike any relationship. Mr Whiskers kind of pushes her out of the way when he wants my full attention--I mean completely out of the room. In trying to decide if I should adopt them out together i consulted with my TTouch Mentor, a wonderful animal trainer and supporter, Mary Bruce (see http://taviandfriends.org/). She said I may be able to alter this behavior but I have to catch them in the act. So I try to redirect Mr Whiskers, or I hold him at his chest and say "leave Ms patches alone, she belongs here." I try to do some simultaneous  slides on them while they are there together.

It is pretty typical for him to push her off my bed after a while. So today, I had to remind him a few times. Then he surprised me. He came over to her on my bed, and lay next to her. This is usually a prelude to putting his arm over her shoulder, a kind of dominance move. But instead, he started to clean himself. Then Ms Patches started to clean herself.

Then after about 5 minutes of this they curled up and fell asleep. So sweet! The first time I've seen them sleep so close. Now I'm not naive enough to think they will be perfectly happy from now on, but I think their relationship is developing very nicely. Thanks Mary!





When I came back from work they were in my office, sleeping together again, on the sofa. Sweet.

Mr Whiskers Out of Cage

About a week went by and even though he is full grown, he just seemed to be getting too big for his cage. He was coming forward as I fed him, not retreating into his crate, and meowing once again. I was able to touch him with the feather--to stroke him. So I felt he was comfortable enough to roam the room. The lady who's porch he was living on brought over his kitty pad and the blanket I bought him the beginning of last winter. He uses them all the time. It's very sweet.

I get to do some touches while he is eating, stroking along the side of his head, his ears, a bit don his side.  He is growing less fearful once again. Tonight he even brushed up against me, but then retreated. It made me chuckle because we're constantly reminded in the Tellington Touch training that it's moments, not minutes, and I think Mr W gave me a sample of that tonight. Now he knows it can be safe. He's beginning to really talk. He meows, I respond saying something like "Here's your dinner," then he meows in response and we go back and forth a bit like this.

Tonight I'm spending time near him, working on my computer. He's under the bed, but not too far under as evidenced by his feet. They look pretty relaxed. He's lying close, but where he's safe.

I'm hoping we can find a home for him soon, so I don't get too attached. And it's a bit challenging because I have to make sure I spend enough time with the other 3 downstairs. They know something is up and are a bit needier these days. A friend is a bit nervous that I may become a one of those ladies with 32 cats. I do not think I could survive anything like that.

Mr Whiskers Inside

So many things happened at once. I sent an email announcement about Mr Whiskers being available for adoption. Got an invitation to an evening fundraiser for Foster cats, where I brought a big poster about Mr Whiskers and Ms Patches. The next morning I got a call from a rescue group saying they had a foster home could I get Mr Whiskers to the vet right away. Got up bright and early the next morning. Mr Whiskers was very cooperative going into a cage so I could get him to the vet. He got a totally clean bill of health. Yes, Mr W!! All was going swimmingly til I was not hearing back from the potential foster mom. Long story short now Mr W is on the third floor of my mother's house, awaiting his next destination. I made him a little home in a cage until he gets a little calmed down, then I'll let him free in the room. I'm praying that his person will come along so they both can enjoy each other. As you can see he has a place to retreat into, the necessaries, a couple of toys and a piece of wood to scratch on. What I've found so far is that the strays living outside either have never experienced corrugated cardboard or have forgotten what it's for. But they love to scratch wood. He did come out to try it out. Right now he's very scared of me, which is sad cause we were really getting to be great buddies. He's inside the carrier. When I first come up he's usually resting in the little cat bed on top of the carrier. Oh well, hopefully in a couple of days he'll trust me more again. I have been doing a little TTouch with the feather--easy strokes around the side of his face and a little on the top of his head. He puts up with it, once he even settled and sighed. Right now he's sleeping. Not sure if he's escaping or just really relaxed. Saying a prayer tonight that we find his home very soon. I feel horrible that he has to be cooped up in a cage, but am telling him and me that this is just temporary--a period of adjustment.