I've posted here a few times about potential adoptions. The last foster fell through due to some inconsistencies from the shelter, and I was heartbroken.
And then not 3 days later, I found another rescue here in BC, emailed them with what kind of kitty I was looking for, and they sent me 2 names.
One of them was a fit.
And I mean, a perfect fit. He's 2yrs old, calm, stable, affectionate despite his awful past, sweet and soooo cute. Within a few minutes of meeting him, he rolled over and pulled my hand in for belly rubs. I was in love after an hour.
He's been home since Saturday, and my home is split in half currently.
He was in the bathroom for just a day, and got very curious to explore.
When I put my Petunia in the bedroom and let him out into the living room, I witnessed complete, abject joy the likes of which I have never, ever seen in a cat before. He did little jumps, he tried playing with everything - walls, the glass door, the carpet, the fireplace, the furniture, the books, actual cat toys, the tiles on the kitchen floor - it made me laugh in a way I haven't in ages.
Right now I'm up to room-swapping the two cats a few times a day.
He wants to play with Petunia, and purrs and trills at her (kind of like a half purr, half soft mew) but she's still taking her time warming up.
They do eat on either side of the door, this morning even with a towel I rubbed his head with under her dish, and Petunia didn't hiss - just ate. Food is turning out to be a spectacular motivator for her.
I've been carrying around kitten kibble in my pocket - as they're tiny so won't fill her up and blow her diet and she LOVES them - and trying to give them to her every time she walks up on the door and hisses. Play doesn't distract her. Only food so far.
What's curious, is that she paws at the doors to get into the room where he's at, regardless if it's the living room or the bedroom. Even shoves her paws under the door, like she wants in. But when he comes to the door, trilling at her with soft little mews, she goes into full on hiss mode with some spitting if he keeps at the door.
They've seen each other exactly twice so far, through a sliver of the door.
Petunia's tail today isn't all puffed up and her ears aren't flat on her head today, so her fear is decreasing pretty damn quickly. I make sure to spend extra time playing with her and cuddling, after the half hour she sticks her nose up at me for spending time with him has passed.
She'll go onto the bed where he's lain, the sofa and the cat trees in either room, sniffing but not hissing. All good signs, I'm thinking. If anything, she gets snooty with ME when they swap rooms and she realizes 'oh GOD he was in here wasn't he'.
My question - because I have one! - is Petunia's paws under the door, knowing he's in the room, a kind of 'paw in the water' to see if he'll respond?
Should I attempt putting the baby gates up with a sheet over 95% of them in one of the doorways, and reward with treats to see if she's actually cautiously curious?
Or will this set back the progress so far too much?
I don't want to let her languish too long in 'well I'm getting comfortable' zone, I know I have to keep challenging her. I just don't want to send her into this 'well screw you, I'm going to just freak out and revert and good LUCK getting me out of it this time' mode.
If any of you have experience with a slightly spiteful, stubborn cat, I'd love to hear feedback! Thank you all so much.
Oh, also, here's my new boy. This was taken on the second morning I had him. Knowing what an abusive, neglectful home he was taken from, I'm amazed by his ability to trust so fast. (he has one ear tip missing from an infection due to a neglected infection)
He still doesn't have a name. Though I'm considering 'Cricket' because he chirps/trills nearly constantly. Rarely mews at all.
(any recommendations for a 6lb tiny male all black cat with a heart of gold would be lovely too!!)
You're all amazing.
And then not 3 days later, I found another rescue here in BC, emailed them with what kind of kitty I was looking for, and they sent me 2 names.
One of them was a fit.
And I mean, a perfect fit. He's 2yrs old, calm, stable, affectionate despite his awful past, sweet and soooo cute. Within a few minutes of meeting him, he rolled over and pulled my hand in for belly rubs. I was in love after an hour.
He's been home since Saturday, and my home is split in half currently.
He was in the bathroom for just a day, and got very curious to explore.
When I put my Petunia in the bedroom and let him out into the living room, I witnessed complete, abject joy the likes of which I have never, ever seen in a cat before. He did little jumps, he tried playing with everything - walls, the glass door, the carpet, the fireplace, the furniture, the books, actual cat toys, the tiles on the kitchen floor - it made me laugh in a way I haven't in ages.
Right now I'm up to room-swapping the two cats a few times a day.
He wants to play with Petunia, and purrs and trills at her (kind of like a half purr, half soft mew) but she's still taking her time warming up.
They do eat on either side of the door, this morning even with a towel I rubbed his head with under her dish, and Petunia didn't hiss - just ate. Food is turning out to be a spectacular motivator for her.
I've been carrying around kitten kibble in my pocket - as they're tiny so won't fill her up and blow her diet and she LOVES them - and trying to give them to her every time she walks up on the door and hisses. Play doesn't distract her. Only food so far.
What's curious, is that she paws at the doors to get into the room where he's at, regardless if it's the living room or the bedroom. Even shoves her paws under the door, like she wants in. But when he comes to the door, trilling at her with soft little mews, she goes into full on hiss mode with some spitting if he keeps at the door.
They've seen each other exactly twice so far, through a sliver of the door.
Petunia's tail today isn't all puffed up and her ears aren't flat on her head today, so her fear is decreasing pretty damn quickly. I make sure to spend extra time playing with her and cuddling, after the half hour she sticks her nose up at me for spending time with him has passed.
She'll go onto the bed where he's lain, the sofa and the cat trees in either room, sniffing but not hissing. All good signs, I'm thinking. If anything, she gets snooty with ME when they swap rooms and she realizes 'oh GOD he was in here wasn't he'.
My question - because I have one! - is Petunia's paws under the door, knowing he's in the room, a kind of 'paw in the water' to see if he'll respond?
Should I attempt putting the baby gates up with a sheet over 95% of them in one of the doorways, and reward with treats to see if she's actually cautiously curious?
Or will this set back the progress so far too much?
I don't want to let her languish too long in 'well I'm getting comfortable' zone, I know I have to keep challenging her. I just don't want to send her into this 'well screw you, I'm going to just freak out and revert and good LUCK getting me out of it this time' mode.
If any of you have experience with a slightly spiteful, stubborn cat, I'd love to hear feedback! Thank you all so much.
Oh, also, here's my new boy. This was taken on the second morning I had him. Knowing what an abusive, neglectful home he was taken from, I'm amazed by his ability to trust so fast. (he has one ear tip missing from an infection due to a neglected infection)
He still doesn't have a name. Though I'm considering 'Cricket' because he chirps/trills nearly constantly. Rarely mews at all.
(any recommendations for a 6lb tiny male all black cat with a heart of gold would be lovely too!!)
You're all amazing.
(I am partial to black kitties). He sounds and looks like an absolute sweetheart and I really think they will be best of friends in no time.
He's really gorgeous. 
