Well Folks, here I am again. As I had mentioned last time, I was going to give Penny up to a "No Kill" shelter but just as I had made plans to do that.... I began feeling very, very sad and became tearful at different times throughout the day and evening. I was very troubled and even though I had tried to "steel myself" for the eventuality of not having her around, it was affecting my sleep and disposition in general. I was imagining her in a cage waiting for someone to adopt her and more importantly I would miss her sweet face, high intelligence and somewhat demanding manner. Yes, she is a handful of boundless energy (sometimes way more than I can handle) at my nearly 72 years BUT... this once bedraggled, scrawny, bitten on the hip and face-scratched kitty was so endearing too!
Oddly enough too, just about that time that the shelter wrote informing me of when I could bring her in, she was beginning to change; After having her for three months, she was becoming a bit less scratchy and bitey and was showing real signs of affection for us too. One day when we were out of the apartment for several hours when she was alone here, it appeared our absence must have really disturbed her... so much so that upon our return she welcomed us with open paws. She has demonstrated significant change after roaming the streets for so long and fending for herself. Grant it she still has a long way to go and we do accept that she does not and likely will never be a "lap cat" but she is very sociable.
I remember when my son first found her, when I rolled one of those plastic balls with the bell inside she didn't even know what to do with it. We taught her how to play with it and then she relished running after the ball. Slowly, she began to play as a sheltered cat safe from outside harm would know how to do. We had bought her a 3-way tunnel which she loved and I made a super-quilted comfy blanket she would sit atop on the window sill while looking at the traffic and at the trees (now bare) which will soon be laden with bushy leaves and birds fluttering about. At first when I put her up there she was terrified and began shaking and now she thoroughly enjoys it. As a matter of fact, I've just ordered another single tunnel to serve as an extension to the 3-way she has. We had bought her toys, some she is amused by.. others not so much, and looking at those toys and realizing that soon they would stand as a reminder only that she was once here when we gave her up.... was difficult... very, very difficult for me to imagine. So, that's the story here presently. Needless to say, I will be posting and asking for assistance as all others do as various issues arise. As a cat-mom of 2 prior fur babies, I fully understand how unique and endearing each one is... and... how very precious. I am so very happy we did not surrender her.
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..... does she like laser pointers? That is a way you can tire her out with out running after her.
