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We finally have a new cat.
It was an unexpectedly laborious process. The cat rehousing people (I don't like calling it an adoption--adoption is for human beings) wanted three references, the name of my veterinarian, and a signed contract stating, among other things, that they could enter my house to inspect it any time over the next four years. What are you, the Gestapo? Seriously, people--it's a cat. It's not a human child. It's a freakin' cat. I changed the inspection clause to remove its teeth and crossed out a few other clauses. (One read, "I understand cats are animals and that they do not react the same way human beings do." No, really?)
I also had to promise to send them vet records showing I did regular vet visits for the next four years. Sure. I'll get right on that.
In reality, though, I think they'll forget about it. Lots of other cats to rescue, you know.
Anyway, we now have a new kitty. She's a black shorthair, about 10 months old, and extremely shy. We put her in one of the bathrooms with her own litter box, food dishes, and a cat bed the cat lady said she used a lot. We put the cat bed in the tub. The first day, new kitty refused to leave her cat bed. She let us pet her, but she didn't respond. After a couple hours, we let Dinah into the bathroom. Dinah sniffed her way up to the tub, peeked over the edge, hissed once, and stalked away.
The second night, we left the bathroom door cracked open. In the morning, new kitty had vanished. Later, we found her in various hiding places--under the bed, behind the dryer. Each time we found her, she moved to a different hiding place.
Dinah's personality instantly changed, which I find interesting. When she's the lone cat in the house, she's Needy Kitty, Greedy Kitty, demanding attention and petting, to the point where it gets annoying. You can have her on your lap for an entire two-hour movie or a three-hour nap, and the moment you get up, she demands more attention. But whenever there's a second cat in the house, she becomes quiet and reserved. Right now, she's sitting on top of the cat tree, surveying the house. Watching. That other cat is here somewhere, and damned if she's going to let it get away with anything!
We're thinking of names. The cat's original name was Little Black, which we don't like. Darwin has plumped for "Fraidy," since she's so shy, but I don't know. We'll have to think some more.
It was an unexpectedly laborious process. The cat rehousing people (I don't like calling it an adoption--adoption is for human beings) wanted three references, the name of my veterinarian, and a signed contract stating, among other things, that they could enter my house to inspect it any time over the next four years. What are you, the Gestapo? Seriously, people--it's a cat. It's not a human child. It's a freakin' cat. I changed the inspection clause to remove its teeth and crossed out a few other clauses. (One read, "I understand cats are animals and that they do not react the same way human beings do." No, really?)
I also had to promise to send them vet records showing I did regular vet visits for the next four years. Sure. I'll get right on that.
In reality, though, I think they'll forget about it. Lots of other cats to rescue, you know.
Anyway, we now have a new kitty. She's a black shorthair, about 10 months old, and extremely shy. We put her in one of the bathrooms with her own litter box, food dishes, and a cat bed the cat lady said she used a lot. We put the cat bed in the tub. The first day, new kitty refused to leave her cat bed. She let us pet her, but she didn't respond. After a couple hours, we let Dinah into the bathroom. Dinah sniffed her way up to the tub, peeked over the edge, hissed once, and stalked away.
The second night, we left the bathroom door cracked open. In the morning, new kitty had vanished. Later, we found her in various hiding places--under the bed, behind the dryer. Each time we found her, she moved to a different hiding place.
Dinah's personality instantly changed, which I find interesting. When she's the lone cat in the house, she's Needy Kitty, Greedy Kitty, demanding attention and petting, to the point where it gets annoying. You can have her on your lap for an entire two-hour movie or a three-hour nap, and the moment you get up, she demands more attention. But whenever there's a second cat in the house, she becomes quiet and reserved. Right now, she's sitting on top of the cat tree, surveying the house. Watching. That other cat is here somewhere, and damned if she's going to let it get away with anything!
We're thinking of names. The cat's original name was Little Black, which we don't like. Darwin has plumped for "Fraidy," since she's so shy, but I don't know. We'll have to think some more.
