"I actually typed a post a couple days ago but then I forgot." -I actually typed a post a couple days ago but then I forgot. So they are doing pretty well. The camera shows they usually basically just sleep when I'm away.
They eat together, play with each other and are usually together. They've taken to getting up on top of the wardrobe for naps (one of Charly's favourite spots but he lets Yoda come along) or on the bed together when I'm out. Sometimes under the table on adjoining chairs.
They're basically either both up exploring or playing, or both sleeping near each other Charly hardly ever vocalized anymore when they're playing rough and he's becoming more pouncy as well. He's learning how to cat wrestle from Yoda I guess. He seems fine with it though as their playing has turned into mainly silent wrestling and there are almost no swats or anything anymore. Just a little sometimes but he does think he's king of the universe and will do that to us too if we dare to want to get the remote while he's sitting on it so... Nothing out of the ordinary.
I've noticed a few tiny scratches on them behind the ears (minuscule really) and a couple spots with less fur on the nose, so I'm trying to manage that by clipping even more regularly now. There have been two intense wrestling matches with fur flying which I hadn't seen before but they went to sleep together a few minutes after. Apparently they like it rough.. I just want to prevent accidental injury, Im sure neither of them wants to inflict injury because they are back to being bros after, but it could always happen accidentally so I'd rather prevent possibile injury. Not sure if I should intervene more but I wouldn't want scolding to create any negative associations and they both seem to love it, so as soon as I turn my back they go back at it usually.
They are out together full time, the longest they were alone was probably around 8 hours in the day and once 10 or 11 but most of it was during night time (Im finally back to socializing sometimes (as much as is possible with COVID anyways) after months of kitty care as a full time occupation besides my normal job.)
theyve adjusted to my schedule very well and sleep with me every night. They don't wake me up anymore, Yoda is getting a bit more of a PITA in that he seems like a frickin kitten chewing on things, trying to get into cupboards, so I'm breaking out my kitten proofing stuff from when Charly was a baby. No biggie though. Overall seems to be adjusting decently to being indoors. Endless energy (like a kitten I swear! Charly was like that for a good 6-8 months) so as much play as possible (2-3 times per day high energy interactive play for 10,15 mins). He has learned a bedtime routine similar to Charly's and part of it overlaps (licking a coat & skin health treat from a tube) and they are cute. Maybe I could try and get a video sometime. They both love it like crazy but respectfully take turns. It's adorable. Charly has known the routine for ages and it helps that after that, he goes to lie down on my legs as soon as lights are off. Yoda has been following his lead and had now also started associating the routine with bedtime for the human, let's cuddle up. So sometimes he'll lie down before Charly nowand then Charly still goes to lie close to him.
it's still probably 80/20 on who follows who, who shows interest in who (can you guess? I bet you can) and who lies next to who. Charly is accepting yoda's advances more and more though. He is unbothered when he lies down next to or touching him, he doesn't hiss or swat when they walk past each other brushing up against each other ,(due to space, not for touching purposes), or when Yoda comes up close to him to sniff around. He seems to love sniffing Charly everywhere, which he mostly tolerates. Also lots of nose touching. He even lets Yoda sniff him while going to the litter box.. and he is fine with Yoda using his box. Yoda uses both but Charly's more than the other one. Charly hasn't used his as far as I'm aware. I took away the third box after weeks of it being untouched.
they're off the zylkene now for the most part, although feliway remains and probably will. Charly being an anxious skittish cat I've had the classic basically since he was maybe six months old.
Individual play has become increasingly hard, if I put Yoda in the bedroom so Charly can play (he doesn't really get into it with Yoda around, I guess he still feels on guard a bit sometimes), he will sit in front of the door until I let his brother come out again. Yoda doesn't care if Charly is around, he'll go nuts for his feather toy either way, where Charly wouldn't get into it (he likes chasing his stuffed animals attached to a fishing pole and proper biting and bunny kicking the heck out of them usually). So I've been working on a way to have them play in different areas (one on floor and one on bed) with wand toys, which requires coordination but it's working. Charly is slowly becoming more comfortable and plays with Yoda around, although he seems quite vigilant (not unusual even pre Yoda when playing, but more so now) and sometimes they play for very short times together on the bed with their individual toys. Charly gets a couple bunny kicks in then he goes back to being a bit wary but we're getting there. I'm being careful though because Charly is prone to lashing out when hyped up playing (not sure if that counts as play aggression or redirected, but it's happened to me a few times before I learned the signs and it was painful and probably the most blood he's drawn was during hyper play mode and me getting my stupid hands or feet or his reach). Although I guess cats have thicker skin and a couple times its happened to Yoda that he was caught in the middle of that. He's always utterly unfazed by it as with all of Charly's swats, hits, etc.
It's so precious when they both come to cuddle. They are so different but I love both of their characters (my boyfriend has dubbed Charly grumpy old dude which I have to agree fits well but I love him for it and just go with what he feels comfortable with and giving him his space when he's like that).
Charly has returned fully to his previous routines (jumping on sink to be brushed when I come out of the shower, jumping up when I sit down in the evening for some cuddles and head butts, coming ti lie down on my chest if he wakes up mid nap).he hadn't really been doing it much during the early stages of Yoda being out but has now slowly returned to his usual routines.
Thank you so much for all the help in getting us to this place.
Some recent pics coming up.
and then Charly still goes to lie close to him." - Awwwww, WONDERFUL!!!Hahahaha, the pics TOPPED my expectations of ADORABLENESS!!! Those are off the charts!!!!View attachment 408711charly loves to bury his head in me sometimes and get head scritches. His preferred (and only tolerated) mode of cuddles. only happens when he feels like it (sometimes once a day sometimes less) With yoda next to us (who would gladly cuddle 24/7.
View attachment 408712View attachment 408713Charly left and Yoda right in these two.
View attachment 408714charly in the back, it's like catception.
View attachment 408715charly in front. Don't remember what they were watching. Maybe breaking bad
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What can I say. My heating cost has gone down significantly with these two radiators
Last night Charly was next to me and Yoda laid down half on top of his bum. He accepted it although he did look at him like uhmmm dude.. but he was tired so he kept sleeping.
My goodness, are those pictures ADROABLE!!!!
Look at the 2nd picture, paw on the other one (I am guessing Yoda on Charly). TOO ADORABLE!!!! I don't think you have any reason to worry but if anything changes let me know and we'll fix it.
WHAT?!?!?!?It's Charly on the right so the paw you're referring to (I think) is Charly's actually
so I'm guessing increasingly bolder Charly now has to deal with some growls from yoda, who is also learning in return now that even more proactively playing Charly won't harm him. Charly has actually accepted Yoda encroaching on his cuddle time a few times now. Usually if Charly was on me to get some cuddles, if Yoda tried to climb on too he would hiss, swat, growl and sometimes bite his ears or head a little. Now he may look at him wide eyed for a little or seem on edge for a sec but he doesn't lash out and somewhat settles down which both of them on my lap or chest if I'm lying down. "Yes they've come a long way!" - Yes and it is the pace at how fast is happened that is wonderful and honestly so impressive!!! You deserve SO MUCH CREDIT and should be SO PROUD!!! And so should Yoda and Charly (especially Charly)!!Yes they've come a long way! Charly is now becoming more boisterous and has picked up on how to cat wrestle from Yoda - all wrestling still looks rough but I'm noticing retracted claws and inhibited bites. Charly has actually overall learned bite inhibition (!!!). It's a huge deal for me since he was (understandably) not very good at that having been raised as a lone bottle baby. He would quite often draw blood from me or my boyfriend when overstimulated if I didn't read his signs correctly and prevent it from happening. It still happens sometimes but his bite is now inhibited and barely hurts. Amazing to me.
He doesn't always respect the growl if that means he should back up - he will continue to hover and corner him a bit for a couple minutes more. Although when he does run away then Yoda becomes the chaser again and they're playing in a more balanced way again and usually fall asleep close-ish (on the same bed or together on the wardrobe) after. So I'm not sure if respecting would be leaving him alone. He doesn't strike or hurt him so I'm happy with that. It seems all play, much like how Yoda sometimes was so fixated on playing whatever Charly wants or doesn't and would continue despite yowling and growling and hissing and general uncomfy vocalisations from Charly. Those have 96% disappeared and their WWE training is now silent
Should yoda's growling be a concern or will it be fine if Charly doesn't actually harm him? It looks like what Charly went through when Yoda was the instigator 90% of the time. Maybe now it's yoda's turn to go through the same as the ratio is evening out and Charly is becoming much more proactive in starting and chasing and initiating play.
In general, hisses are down to almost never. They pass each other very closely, eat together, and generally hang and play a lot. Earlier Charly was dozing and Yoda was insanely energetically playing with the feather right next to him. He only looked up once when he did a record breaking high jump and just went back to snoozing as Yoda continued to jump around like a rabbit on crack right next to him.
Yoda is teaching him!!! 
" - Hahahaha, seriously you are so funny!!! I had to google what WWE is. :/ WWE training. TOO FUNNY!! Great. Cats will vocalize and it can mean a lot. It really is a total package that is the key meaning it is how they act, during and after, how they make sounds, etc. It is a whole picture. They definitely love each other. Hahahahaha, a "rabbit on crack". Seriously, you are too funny!!!
I'm proud of both of them, Charly for obvious reasons as you mentioned, and also Yoda for just being such a non reactive, diplomatic chat overall. He seems to really have been the best possible match for Charly.) who did the usual wide eyed look for a second then went to continue snoozing. He turned around a bit later and laid down again, just as close to Yoda as before. Yoda slept with his head on Charly's bum When they woke up Charly gently pawed at him which was so cute.
"Thank you!" - You are welcome but THANK YOU!!!Thank you! I'm very happy with their journey too
Yoda came to cuddle next to me last night, then got up to go lie down next to / on top of Charly (I felt snobbed but also happy
Later on they were playing and Charly got over excited. He was chasing Yoda like there was no tomorrow and it looked more than rough play at some stage, there was some vocalization from both sides too and he was swatting and hitting him like crazy. Looked almost like an attack and Yoda was not comfortable. But Charly was in go go go mode... Like when he gets play aggressive (happens sometimes). I think I've mentioned before I was scared of this happening at some point. Unfortunately when he plays with toys, when he gets really amped up he sometimes lashes out at me or my ankle. Definitely gotten better but happens, and looks like last night Yoda was the victim of that. I was in the bathroom so I went out but he would. Not. stop. Calling, clapping... nothing. I pushed him away from Yoda who was under the bed at this point and Charly sitting in front waiting to strike.. I used their cat tunnel to push Charly away from Yoda (first thing I could grab) and pulled out two toys. They both responded after a moment and played with the respective toy I was waving for each for a while and then I gave them a bit of kibble and they settled down near each other. So nothing bad happened and Yoda didn't take it personal or become scared of Charly, but that was the first time Charly's demeanor has been so aggressive, even if it was play aggression.
They were normal after and throughout the night (I assume. They didn't wake me up so probably slept a lot, they must have been tired from all that). This morning I woke up with both of them on me and they've been pretty normal all morning.
We've also just switched back the furniture this morning. So far they seem fine, curious and a bit confused but exploring together with play chase in between. I'll hold off on my weekly cleaning for today and just hang out and see how they go now.
Happy to have my bedroom back as a bedroom and living room as living room after almost half a year
I'm proud of both of them, Charly for obvious reasons as you mentioned, and also Yoda for just being such a non reactive, diplomatic chat overall. " - AGREED!! ) who did the usual wide eyed look for a second then went to continue snoozing. He turned around a bit later and laid down again, just as close to Yoda as before. Yoda slept with his head on Charly's bum When they woke up Charly gently pawed at him which was so cute." - AWWWWWWWWWW. THAT is SO HEARTWARMING!!! I LOVE when they have so many options of love and are so torn over which to choose. 
GREAT JOB!!!! That is part of being a bottle baby I believe. " - It was all worth it though!!
"It was really worth it yesIt was really worth it yes
I went out for a couple hours tonight and kept the camera on. They now sleep on the couch in living room rather than the bed now that we've inverted them again.
I thought they would still choose the bed because of scent and all that. That couch hasn't been used by us in about 5 months really. But apparently it's about location.. although before going out we spent quite some time chilling on the couch with them. There's much less space so they squabbled a bit but eventually fell asleep next to each other (touching).
When I was out I peeked in through the camera and they were both sleeping on the couch the whole time
View attachment 409991
" - 
" - Awwwwwwwwwww " -Awwwwwwwwwww
"They adjusted well to the "new" old furniture layout." - Great
They are just boys. They do stuff like this. :/
"It's happened only once or twice that Charly wouldn't be distracted or called back and had Yoda cornered under the bed or table, who was proper growling and hissing." - Ok, good, that is not worrying.
I think it will be fine. I would not worry one second. Just enjoy yourself and your time with them and look forward to seeing your family again!!!
OH MY GOODNESS!!!! I have tears of joy running down my cheeks!!!!! My heart is exploding with love and joy seeing these pictures!!!!View attachment 412976
That's Charly sleeping on Yoda.
View attachment 412977
He seemed surprised when Charly decided to snuggle up. So was I
View attachment 412978View attachment 412979View attachment 412980
They look like angels but they do require intense play sessions and even with that, they still wrestle lots and sometimes Charly gets over excited and there's dramatic hissing yelping, growling from Yoda. Happens probably once or twice a day but they're always fine after. They always come when hearing the treat bag though or if a visual barrier is put between them (pillow, anything) they calm down. Sometimes theres a little bit of fur. When it gets too crazy sometimes I'll put one in a different room for 5-10 mins to cool off slightly.
Camera shows they sleep lots when I'm away but sometimes I see them up and wandering around or playing and they're always fine when I come home so even if they also get into their little brother fights when I'm not here they're always fine after and can handle it themselves.
Not sure if it's an issue but sometimes Charly gets a bit violent, although not in a malicious way - just the way he is with his toys and anything that gets in the way. He gets tunnel vision and goes into hunt = attack mode.
Yoda then gets very defensive and growls hisses and hides under the table or in a corner. If Charly keeps going or continues lashing out (chasing and biting which seems uncomfortable to Yoda but no blood) and some chasing in a more 'aggressive' way, lunging with his front legs but no claws that I've seen. Again, no injuries and they're always fine either working it out themselves and just getting tired of it (like if im woken up by it at night, sometimes I don't have the strength to get up and they just keep at it until they're tired, go snack on some food if there are leftovers from their dry ration and settle down on or around my bed and fall asleep). Or if I intervene and gently lead one into another room or distract them with treats or toys it's like nothing ever happened.
I've noticed Yoda would just love to groom Charly but he's not having it most of the time. Usually he will gently swat at him if he's very sleepy. Sometimes he will mock bite and progress to hiss and maybe real swats at which point Yoda gives up and moves over a bit. It's a shame but also with us he only wants to be touched when he wants it. Just makes me feel for Yoda sometimes because he looks like he'd just love to love on his brother that way.
They have that bond, that base of trust and love. THAT is the important thing. He might win over Charly.
