Miss Teia Honey - 8 weeks in...

To all of Miss Teia's friends;

As I type, it has been 8 weeks to the hour since Miss Teia Honey has entered our home and our hearts.

She is still Queen of the Spare-room, but the door has been open 24 hours a day going on 3 weeks now.  She spends most of her time on a chest by the window, on the floor by the foot of the bed or in her carrier on her blue towel.  Very seldom does she bunker up under the headboard now, even if one of the other girls comes into the room to try and visit; a hiss or two, or a low grumbly noise is enough to enforce her personal space.  She hasn't really growled in a couple of weeks, and has yowled only once, when Hildie pushed past the limit and got within a couple of feet...does not seem to mind if one of the other girls comes in and sits or lays just inside the doorway, though.  She'll even keep playing if Hildie comes and is laying on the bed watching, after registering a protest.

Patience is winning out, she no longer swats Anita's or my hand when she had enough petting, just rolls away, maybe hisses a little.  She did bite me once a few weeks ago, but it was one of those here's my teeth on your bare skin, I could have hurt you if I wanted to, type of bites.

But she really likes getting her head and ears rubbed.  She walks with a little "stumpiness" in her forelegs, so I think some of her sensitivity to touch may be due to old injury.  We still have a long way to go I think before she'll let us pick her up.

The way the spare-room is laid out, the foot of the bed is about 6 feet away from the door and the side about 3 feet.  It is getting to the point now, that if Teia hears us coming down the hall and she's interested in a little play time, she'll be waiting about 3 - 4 feet away from the door in plain view of the hall.  Her plush mousie keeps moving on its own (she doesn't play with it when we're around).  She absolutely loves the strip of suede we dangle or drag for her.  I also got her a cardboard scratch pad; she is WILD about catnip and really goes to town when I renew the nip on the scratch pad.

Ah, breakfast and supper times; she absolutely loves wet food!  She's gotten attuned to the established feeding times here at Catamount Grange.  She'll be waiting for me at the side of the bed, starts meowing and chirping softly when I say "breakfast" or supper" as I'm putting her portion in her bowl (a 9" cake pan actually).  She'll not start eating until I say, "okay, that's for Teia."  She is not a guard cat when it come to eating time; we can pet her while she eats.

The cake pan; I was using a saucer, like the other girls eat from, but I think her inexperience with the wet food showed in her pushing about half off the flat plate.  With the pan, she has something to push the food against so she can get it in her mouth instead if in the carpet. ,-)

This has been such a good experience thus far,, and looks promising for more positive developments.

Be well and thinks for the interest; I'm glad Miss Teia's story has helped bring a little happiness to some here when they've been dealing with kitty troubles.

Pip

[Savas]

That sounds like good progress.

It sounds like they've worked out their territory and even have a demilitarized zone set!

I'm glad things are going fairly smoothly. In a year or two, Teia may even let the other cats into the room!

(No, I don't think it'll take THAT long!)

[Jade59]

Hi Pip,

I'm glad your continuing the updates on Miss Teia.  I love reading about her.  Sounds like she is coming around slow but sure.  With the love and patience of you and the Mrs, I never had any doubt Miss Teia would come out of her shell.  She has come such a long way from the days under the bed.  You guys are so awesome and Miss Teia is a lucky girl! :)

I learned something from you too.  Jade has trouble with her wet food and pushing it out of the low sided bowl.  Her previous owners only fed her dry, so I guess Jade was "inexperienced" with eating wet too.  She does much better now than she did 3yrs ago 'cause like you, I switched to a bowl she could push the food up against the side.  I THOUGHT she ate that way because she has a tiny little mouth, but now I see that maybe she was just inexperienced like you say.

Take care, Pip

[zodiacqueen]

Hi Pip!!!!!!!

Things are getting better and better w/ Teia!  I'm so happy to hear that she's starting to adjust to your family.  I have a feeling that you will continue to see these improvements.  Continued good luck to you.

Thank you for your happy posts.  We sooooo need them sometimes!  =D

ZQ

[HelpinUtah]

Hey Pip!
Wonderful stories about Teia! Thanks for sharing - it brought a smile to my face!
Hugs,
Janet

[Piparskeggr]

Today is 9 weeks, not quite movie material ,-)

Miss Teia is allowing Miss Hildiekatt into her presence, without too much of a protest.

Teia has not (insofar as we know) jumped up on the bed.

Hildie will come in, when Anita is playing with Teia and sit on the foot end of the mattress, looking down at Teia.  Miss T will hiss a protest, maybe even growl softly and then go back to playing.  Hildie has taken to staying on the bed even after Anita leaves for 10 -20 minutes at a time, without there being a confrontation.  (Hildie is a mommy's girl, as Teia seems to be becoming a daddy's girl ,-)

Anita saw Teia coming out of her room during the day yesterday.

She is still very sensitive to being petted beyond her shoulders, and bit at me when I went too far yesterday.

She's come a very long way from what we expected, however.

It is all good!

Pip

[Piparskeggr]

Coming up on 12 weeks now...

Miss Teia is now an aficionado of wet food, almost exclusively; very vocal at meal time.  She's now sitting just a couple of feet inside the bedroom door a good deal of the time when she's not sleeping, and ventures out a little more often.

Still hisses at the other girls to keep their distance, but her voice is less "angry" of "fearful" than before.

She does "talk" to both Anita and me when we visit to play or pet.

She's definitely a daddy's girl, likes to groom my fingers when I'm petting her, but 5 minutes seems to be the limit of physical contact.

Teia is also, finally, starting to purr out loud.

She's come a very long way for an older cat who started out life as rough as been described to us by her previous family.

Oh, Chesapeake charged in to try and start some trouble a couple of days ago, but Miss Teia's posture was (to me) that of an experienced "street fighter;" ears back, sideways stance, chest low, forepaw raised and at the ready...Chessie backed off at the warning yowl.

We watch for visits like this and will only intervene if the ruckus gets serious; same as with all the other cats we've had.  A little trading punches, yowling, and fur flying is ok, but we've never allowed a full-fledged fight .

Afterward, Teia spent a few hours bunkered under the bed, but was back out right a regular feeding time.

[Piparskeggr]

Coming up on 15 weeks now...last evening Miss Teia, who has taken to sleeping atop the spare bed, came and stood on my lap when I sat down next to her.  She was purring as I pet her and licked my hand, but didn't settle down.  A breakthrough nonetheless.

She does seem to have definite people contact time limits, though.

But, the sighting to hiss/growl factor between her and the other cats is improving, as is the closeness she'll tolerate with them. She doesn't seem to mind Miss Hildiekatt coming into the room for a short visit, but no closer than 3 - 4 feet.

[Jade59]

Morning Pip,

I'm so happy to read this!  Stood on your lap?  Awesome!!  We have had Jade 3yrs and she's Never stood or jumped in our lap.  Ms Teia has come such a long way.  I love how she licked your hand...gave you a little kiss :)))

This is all really a 100% improvement from the "under the bed" days.  Aww...such a happy story!!!