Teia Update Number ???

[Piparskeggr]

Hey all;

A couple of nice bits.

Chesapeake, our youngest (the one with the manners of a tire iron across your forehead) had a real, nice moment with Teia a couple of evenings ago.

Teia taught herself how to open the closet door (bi-fold type) and "bunkers" in the closet when the outside world gets too noisy.

Teia and Chessie's encounters ere now have been hiss-growl-spit.

This time, Chessie lay down just outside the opening between the closet door halves right where Teia could see her.  Very peaceful!

Chessie seems to finally understand that Teia does not like the direct approach and Teia seems to have seen that Chessie is not an enemy (not a friend either, yet).

...and tonight, dinner for three.

Teia was joined by her usual meal time companion, Hildie, plus Kessie (Hildie's older sister) ate with them.  Chessie dined alone in the kitchen.

As Teia is spending more time near the doorway to "Her" room, maybe we'll get her out and about soon.

Folks, if you have ever hesitated at adopting a cat labeled as difficult (like Teia was presented to us), don't.  Persistent, gentle, kindness; not taking kitty's "No" for an answer, not reacting negatively when she (or he) lashes out...  There will be progress and setbacks, but overall, you'll be rewarded.

take care - Piparskeggr Kattweard

[Cassandrajane]

I am glad she is doing well!!!

I am hoping my cat will pull through

I'd adopt anything as long as they are safe and in a loving home... being looked after. Difficult or not! Love is the key! :)

x

[Jade59]

I love the Pip Family Saga :)  I really look forward to these updates on Teia.  Maybe now that Chessie has got a clue, lol, she and Teia will progress to friends which sounds like this is definitely a possibility in the near future.  

Thanks for adding the comment about adopting a difficult cat cause all it really takes is patience, love and Never yelling or scaring kitty out of an undesirable habit.  Just easy does it each and every day and you will end up with an awesome pet!  

[29sillygirl]

Oh, and Opus....I sit here waiting for my brother in law to pick me up for birthday dinner, and Shadow is complaining loudly and frequently.  Think I could manage a twice daily outlng most days:).  

Realized how much my life has changed when I began preparation for dinner...the hair, make up, clothes selection. Whew!   In ways a pet keeps things real.  I guess I haven't put on make up or done any hair braiding since I got my little guy!

[29sillygirl]

Thanks so much Pip for sharing.  Yes, I have come to conclusion that Shadow is half flying squirrel.  Today, we spent about an hour outside.  I took Da Bird to keep him within our 'yard'.

At one point he dashed at a tree climbing up several feet, then leaping down.  

A harness is next on my list of things I need.  You know I was so cooped up with cancer and agoraphobia, this walking with my pet is a good thing.  He accepted a small collar with a bell ...no complaints.  I think he is a natural for the harness.....but know there will be initial struggle.

The weather is getting cooler...80s...so we will both benefit from daily walks.  Notice his tongue was hanging out from all the leaping and running in sun...so just sat down under largest oak, and he was content to do same.

Best...Silly

[Piparskeggr]

My little friend Tuna (1978 - 1994), who my parents took care of after I wed in 1982 and could not take along, was quite the aerialist.

One day my mom heard Tuna purring in the kitchen, but couldn't find her.

She opened the refrigerator door and a light thud came from the top.

Tuna's head poked out from between the appliance and the bottom of the soffit.  Seems she liked to jump up and lay on the ledge at the back of the soffit on cold days as is was nice and toasty from the refrigerator cooling coils. =)

This was a 25 cubic foot refrigerator and Tuna was never bigger than 4 - 5 pounds.

Her territory was our yard, the yard behind ours and the adjacent lots...I never saw her cross the street.  Though she was tiny, other cats stayed away.

She was a real climber, too.  She and the squirrels would play together.

As for harnessing Shadow...even a high energy kitty like him will take to being "dressed up."

All of our cats thus far (save Teia) have been accustomed to being in harness.  Only Queen Victoria and Calamity Jane really liked to go for walks, though.

He'll fight it at first, trying to wiggle out, but treat him special when you "gear up."  He'll adjust, especially as he gets older.

Take care - Pip

[29sillygirl]

Pip and Opus,
Thanks for the feedback.  Yes, I believe I simply have a very healthy kitten...getting close to a teenager now @ 7 months.  Pip, I know I just can't let him out again at night ..it really is dangerous for a small black cat.  If another animal doesn't get him, a car might.  Soooo, here we are after an eventful day, awake:).  He pulled out all the stops when I closed my bedroom door to get some rest.  First, I hear a sound like a rock hitting my glass vase, then lots of chirping and running , then his food dish being shoved around.  I got up, and found that he had squirreled away a small rock he got from top of credenza, and was knocking it against a floor arrangement:).  Back to bed.  Door closed again. Next sound is a scrunchy nose and chirping at door.  I thought, ah, he is ready to snuggle and we are going to sleep as always.  Wrong.  He had unearthed his crinkly sounding ball and just did it to get me to open the door.  As soon as he zoomed in and onto bed, started tugging on my hair which is in braids......and on and on it goes.

Opus, I was at Petco today getting his Wellness food and litter, and almost got a harness.
He zoomed out this afternoon as a friend was leaving, so I followed and made a game of it.  It is such a joy to see him scampering around in middle of complex....I walked near, and called him from time to time.  He will still come, but that time may pass.  I felt like a goat herder with my funny call, which he always responds to...LOL.

Oh, I can imagine your guy leaping over the shower door.  As Shadow has now pulled two wheat sheaves from an arrangement on top of fridge, doubt there is any place he can't go in this small apt:).

Let's share our kits good times....we have had too many sad stories lately.

Best.....

[zodiacqueen]

It looks like your patience is being awarded!!!  Patience is really ALL it takes to get these "difficult" kitties around!

I love hearing Teia's updates and really look forward to them!  Keep 'em coming!  =)

[opus88]

Ahhhh the Pip family saga continues...isn't it a joy to watch all the 'drama' unfold, they each have their own way and time of acceptance don't they Pip.
So true on the persistent, gentle, kindness, I do believe there are few if any lost causes..It just takes a long while to undo the cruelty of others and allow them to once again trust.

Ans SG.....I can imagine the change in your household with this youngster.
I'm 60 and my 6 y.o Himalayan still races and tears around my small home like he's a kitten, there are time when I literally think he will scale a wall he can jump so high...over the shower door and gets trapped inside if you can imagine!!
I only take him out in the back while on a lease, and he loves the yard......so I get pestered all day long, we go for an hour morning, afternoon and eve. weather permitting...it for some reason we can't he's not at all happy and tells me repeatedly.
I sometimes tell him.....I'm sorry, you are such a lively young teen and I'm an old lady, we are not a good mix, but I love you and I know you love me....so lets make the best of this!!!   lol...............I know he'd love to run wild out there and explore, and in here he's like a caged lion. We do what we need to do to keep them healthy and safe.
Its a horrible world out there for animals that run loose...good luck keeping your youngster in SG, perhaps when you go out somewhere put Shadow in a closed room, so when you return he can't meet you at the door and scamper out?

keep those darling stories coming everyone!!

♥Opus

[Piparskeggr]

Shadow sounds like a healthy normal kitty ;-)

Chesapeake got the wandering bug a few weeks ago, disappeared for 15 hours.  Luckily, no close encounters with other animals (we have coyote, fox and feral cats around).  Has not been outside since...

take care - Pip

[29sillygirl]

Great update Pip....

Can visualize your bunch.  Good advice on adopting....cats, like people sometimes get labeled.  Teia is a shy girl....that is all....maybe difficult applied to her past before she came to bunk with you.

My 6 month old, Shadow, can be a real handful..........but at the end of the day is snuggled next to me or on my chest as we drift off to sleep.

I had to scour the apt. complex for him again today as he zoomed out as I entered back door with packages.  He now sports two small bald spots....think he got in the middle of a territorial dispute that is being waged between two adult males.  Funny...as they are all neutered, but I saw it last night....know that is what happened to my scamp.  I was holding him as we watched the fight ...couldn't stop it.

A neighbor has several kits and she is adamant about keeping cats in this area inside.

I'm doing my best, but at 75, am no match for a determined small fast cat.  Think I'll start kicking the door as I come in.  Going out to laundry room at night gave him the opportunity to do the night door dash.........whew!

Life is not dull with a kitten in the house.  One night I thought he'd escaped and he was doing what Teia does....hiding in closet...never made a sound, but sneezed once or twice.  I thought I was going bonkers, and was hearing this...going out periodically to see if he was outside...........and here he was in closet all the time...little imp!

Just now, he is asleep in back of me on couch.  .......