Settling In

So happy to be able to say that things are settling down. The stress of moving affected us all and knowing how cats hate change I would say they did pretty well through it all. Mr Whiskers decided to move down to the second floor and I was happy for this, though this was where all the renovation was taking place. It was too hot up there--no air conditioning--and we've been having record setting heat waves. (There is an attic fan which is heavenly on cool nights.) The fact that he is venturing down, means he is getting more comfortable with us. His first time down was very cute because he meuwed his whole way down. He crept low and carefully, but steadily. It was kind of like he was saying, "I'm coming down, ok? ...Is this really ok? I'm almost down, ok? I'm down, ok?"  I thought it was a bit comical because I would think if you were creeping you would want to be really quiet. I think he's down to stay. He does have the third floor to retreat to if things get too busy on this floor.

 I only had to separate Mr Whiskers and Ms Patches a couple of nights--this was because they started brawling just after I turned the lights out to go to sleep. And because it began after I closed my eyes, I was never exactly sure what they were spatting about. This was disturbing because initially they got along fine. Even began eating together (dishes side-by-side). Once I heard the brawling, I thought the romance was defiinitely over (if you are new to their story you can get their history at the "Mr Whiskers and TTouch" posting). I had the feeling Mr Whiskers was trying to take over my room and this was where Ms Patches was getting used to sleeping. I as too exhausted to to do any observations, so Mr Whiskers slept on the third floor with a fan and lots of water. I had consulted with a vet who said that cats have the ability to adjust to extreme weather. He did do alright with the heat--he was fine in the morning--hungry and love-seeking as ever. And he and Ms Patches ate together peacefully.

 Also in the heat, Mia comes up to the second floor seeking the coolness of the bathroom floor (pushing her way past the room divider I place at the top of the stairs to give the 4 cats their separate space.) So then Mia and Mr Whiskers ended up having a confrontation. I never usually sleep so deeply that I don't hear Mia coming upstairs, but evidently there was a very heated moment between them--sorry Mom!! I owe ya.  Sooo, now there is a barricade at the bottom of the stairs leading to the second floor as well as the room divider at the top of the stairs.  It is quite an event going up and down the stairs in this household at night. I've heard some people let their animals move about freely and figure it our on their own, but I'd rather control the interactions to have experiences be as positive as possible and avoid as many spats as possible. Also, Scooter, my mother's cat, sprays and we like to keep this at a minimum, for our own sanity. Keeping the foster cats upstairs, hopefully lessens his anxiety about other cats in his territory.

Once in a while Ms Patches, who has boundless curiosity, makes her way down the stairs and so I give all the cats treats and do reintroductions. When I get a bit more settled in, I will give them a little more time to interact. Ms Patches seems the most affable of all the animals. She just loves to explore.

I'm realizing that all of this doesn't really sound like settling in, so now I will get to that part. Right now, for example, we are having a rain storm. Mia hides up here in the bathroom (gets some calming touches--complete body strokes called Noah's March--these really help). I've placed a gate across my bedroom door. Ms Patches is sleeping on the bed, Mr Whiskers on the cedar chest, and Mia is happy and feeling safe in the bathroom. The only thing I don't like about this arrangement is that I have to bring the kitty litter into the bedroom. Plus I don't like keeping my long-time canine buddy out of my room, but I tell him and Cuddles it's just a phase...we all have to be patient. And I think they are.

Here's (finally) an example of settling in:
Mr Whiskers, who usually only let me pet his head, is now allowing me to touch his whole body--head through tail. I can only do slides, no circular touches (TTouch reference). So I tried to introduce a brush once again. Up til now he hated anything but my hand or along feather near him, but now he likes the brush (wire brush that holds the hair and I use a long toothed metal tick comb to remove it.) I let him smell it to begin with. Then held it and let him come towards it. Then slid it along his cheek a little, waited. He began to push against it, which is a sign he liked it--yeay!

But he did want to know why I wasn't using my hand. See him sliding his face onto my hand>>>






Before you know it, he's allowing me to move along his whole upper body. Mr Whiskers sheds quite a bit, so this is wonderful to be able to brush him. And I've heard it is very good for the skin and coat.