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Post by Catman on May 19, 2019 23:18:11 GMT
Miko had fun chilling out in Catwoman's room this afternoon.
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Post by rachelcarson1953 on May 20, 2019 4:43:55 GMT
Miko had fun chilling out in Catwoman's room this afternoon. This must be such a positive thing for both Miko and Catwoman! Kudos to Catman for making it happen.
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Post by Catman on May 24, 2019 23:01:51 GMT
Finally a chance to photograph Katsura's paws. Before today, she was either intimidated by the camera or wanted to rub her face against it. The catnip is coming in nicely this year. Both Miko and Katsura think it's the cat's meow.
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Post by rachelcarson1953 on May 25, 2019 19:02:04 GMT
Finally a chance to photograph Katsura's paws. Before today, she was either intimidated by the camera or wanted to rub her face against it. The catnip is coming in nicely this year. Both Miko and Katsura think it's the cat's meow. Awww... My catnip died out, so I bought a new kind this year to replant, in a different location. It's called "Kitten Around", and has tiny little leaves on it, and pretty little blue blooms! I haven't tested it yet... we'll see!
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Post by Catman on Jun 5, 2019 1:29:28 GMT
For the past couple weeks when Miko has been visiting Catwoman, Katsura has been given free reign of the house. For the most part, she seems to have spent her time finding good places to nap. Miko has invented new ways to cause trouble. Catwoman has an old electric Singer from the 30s which has a cabinet for holding spools of thread and whatnot. None of the other cats have ever thought that was of any interest, but Miko discovered a way to get at the spools, and she pulled one out, got it to unroll, and wrapped the thread around and around the wheel of Catwoman's wheelchair. She was quite put out watching Catman cut the thread loose and put all the spools of thread into a container to be stored in a cabinet Miko should be unable to open. Both cats have been enjoying the box their food came in a couple weeks ago. Thus far Catman has managed to get one decent picture of Miko playing in the box but none of Katsura.
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Post by Catman on Jun 15, 2019 19:05:44 GMT
Today Miko wore a harness for the first time. The harness had originally been intended for Gusty, but she just flopped over onto her side and yowled the few times she wore it, so the harness was put away and never used again. Miko thought it was a bit strange, but she took to it quite well. Catwoman was still on her way from the dining room, so Catman let Miko explore the hallway. A gentle tug on the leash was all she needed to remind her that resident rooms were off limits. She worked her way around to the fake fireplace outside where Catwoman's room used to be, and she seemed quite comfortable with the experience ... until someone walked by, and she got a bit freaked out. Then one of the residents a long way off started hollering, and she was quite unnerved. Unfortunately, to get back to Catwoman's new room meant going toward the noise. She made it with a bit of help from Catman. She seems more comfortable in Catwoman's new room, perhaps because it is smaller. Today she even took a nap on Catman's lap for a short while. But of course, there are always sounds outside the door that warrant a cat's attention. Katsura has been allowed to roam the entire house when Miko is out visiting Catwoman. Catman's only rule is that she only destroy toys and nothing else. So far, she seems more intent on find a good place to nap. Today Catman forget to put Miko's food bowl up so Katsura wouldn't eat it, but Katsura hadn't even bothered that. She has two new toys she somehow discovered: a wooden bead and a sheet of tissue paper (the sort you'd use to wrap a present). She found that if she hit the bead just the right way, it would roll under the back door to her room. When Catman opened the door, she'd wander out to pick up the bead in her mouth and carry it back to her room. Sometimes the bead just disappears for a few days but then magically reappears. As for the tissue paper, Katsura likes to roll herself up in it and attack other toys. After she completely destroyed the first sheet she had found, Catman gave her another sheet, and she destroyed that in a few hours. The third sheet has survived now for several days, perhaps because she fancies the green color.
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Post by rachelcarson1953 on Jun 15, 2019 19:25:49 GMT
Awwww! What a great update!
I had a kitty, years ago, who would not only wear a harness, but also walk on a leash out in public! I was working for a shelter back then, and if we had a fundraising event, he was our goodwill ambassador. His name was Sunshine, and he was the happiest, most social cat I've ever known. He could be surrounded by little kids wanting to pet him, and be just as calm as if he was at home. He was a love!
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Post by Catman on Jun 20, 2019 20:12:37 GMT
So today the veterinarian sent an email wish Katsura a happy birthday.
Catman didn't know, what her being a feral cat to start. Fortunately, he had some toy mice he'd picked up for Miko's birthday on June 29th, so Katsura got a toy mouse, some fresh catnip, and a few extra treats. Catman also sang her the birthday song, which she seemed to enjoy.
Miko also got a mouse and catnip so she wouldn't feel left out. She seems to have hidden her mouse somewhere.
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Post by teleadm on Jun 20, 2019 21:45:33 GMT
Tuna and catnip mix never failed when I had cats
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Post by teleadm on Jun 20, 2019 22:06:36 GMT
They say cat's are colour blind, yet every year I brought this tetra-pack, they knew they were in for a treat. It's a very creamy milk used by old ladies and fashionable drink creators. Some partes of Swedes use it when we eat fresh picked strawberries, like me, looking at cats "Are you finished yet, and give us that yummy cream! look
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Post by Catman on Jun 23, 2019 1:25:48 GMT
This morning for the first time Katsura saw Catman wearing a rain coat. She did not like it, but she kept her composure long enough to finish her catnip. Miko had a good visit with Catwoman. All that purring wears a girl out, so later she settled in a quiet spot for a rest. Still later, Catman and Miko went around to the seating area by the fake fire place, and Miko met some more nice people. She was even more worn out by the time she got home.
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Post by Catman on Jun 28, 2019 2:45:25 GMT
Katsura was lying on the bed on the pad Andrew liked to lie on, so Catman thought that would make a nice picture. Of course, Katsura got up and hopped down from the bed before Catman could take a picture. But she was happy to jump back up and snuggle down next to Catman, too close for any pictures. Then Miko walked into the room and looked at the bed, pondering whether she should jump up and lie down next to Catman. Fortunately, she realized Katsura was there, and after sharpening her claws on the kitty condo, she decided to lie down next to Catman's feet. Katsura, of course, had been able to see Miko the whole time, and she stood up and looked down at Miko, and she was seriously thinking of leaping down right next to her. Fortunately, Catman was able to convince her to jump off the side of the bed instead, and after looking at Miko a moment, she decided to lie down by the closet. Miko pulled herself closer to Katsura, and the two cats looked each other over for several minutes. During that time, Miko did not growl, hiss, or grumble. After a while, Katsura went into the closet, and Miko sat up. Catman decided to end things on a positive note and called Katsura back up onto the bed, picked her up and carried her down to her room. Surprisingly, Miko followed close behind and watched as Catman closed the door to Katsura's room. Seemed like a good time for a bit of canned food, so Catman served Miko on the counter where she likes to eat and took a bowl down to Katsura in her room. All in all, the most positive close encounter the girls have had since Katsura joined the family.
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Post by Catman on Jun 30, 2019 1:59:11 GMT
Today (June 29th) is Miko's birthday. She got a toy mouse and a few extra treats to celebrate. Katsura also got a toy mouse and extra treats.
Later Miko visited Catwoman for a few hours. The duty nurse was so excited to see Miko that she picked her up and gave her a hug. As a kindness because it was her birthday, Miko did not rip the nurse's face off.
Some people live a charmed life.
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Post by rachelcarson1953 on Jun 30, 2019 13:44:55 GMT
Today (June 29th) is Miko's birthday. She got a toy mouse and a few extra treats to celebrate. Katsura also got a toy mouse and extra treats. Later Miko visited Catwoman for a few hours. The duty nurse was so excited to see Miko that she picked her up and gave her a hug. As a kindness because it was her birthday, Miko did not rip the nurse's face off. Some people live a charmed life. LOL, some people do! And sometimes, kitties just know to be nice to a clueless person. I've seen it happen many times. Years ago, friends of mine had a Golden Retriever. Another couple came to visit, with a small child. They visited for a while, then noticed that the dog and child were not in the room. They heard a faint whining, and ran to see what had happened. The dog was sitting perfectly still, but the child had her teeth imbedded in the dog's ear so deeply that the dog's ear was dripping blood. But the dog never defended herself. She knew this was not an attack, just a clueless child. I have had cats that are normally reclusive and defensive, hop up in a visitor's lap and purr. Anyone else would have been eviscerated. Animals are smart that way! Happy Birthday, Miko!
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Post by Catman on Jul 7, 2019 2:49:32 GMT
Katsura has seemed to be getting a little too fat, so Catman weighed her, and sure enough, she's a good half pound heavier than she was last month. Time to cut back on the dry the food, so now she'll be getting half a six-ounce can of wet food (1/3 at night, 1/6 in the morning) and 2 tablespoons of dry food (half about an hour after her morning wet food, half in the afternoon). She'll still get treats since that's a good bonding experience with her taking each treat from Catman's fingers without biting him.
Actually, that's the amount of food Miko has been eating for a few weeks now even though she had a quarter cup of dry food available each day. Her weight is the same as last month.
Katsura is spending more time upstairs when Catman is home. Today she was upstairs almost seven hours. Miko has figured out ways to avoid direct interaction with Katsura for the most part, and Katsura is getting less interested in trying to confront Miko. Catman can even take a short nap if needed while Katsura is upstairs, and Katsura likes to lie on the bed during the nap. She still hasn't figured out the cuddling thing, but she's working on it. With luck, she'll figure out that nibbling Catman's fingers while he tries to nap is not a good idea.
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Post by Catman on Jul 9, 2019 21:57:00 GMT
Since things have been going so well, and since Catman was feeling bone tired, he decided to take a nap this afternoon. After a few minutes, Katsura joined him and took a bath while lying to Catman's left. A few minutes later, Miko hopped up on the bed and settled down on Catman's right. Both girls started purring, and Katsura kept trying to walk over Catman, but Catman kept her on the left. She finally got tired of that and hopped off the bed to play with some of the toys near the closet door.
A while later, she hopped back up on the right side of Catman's feet. The two girls regarded each other for a few moments, then Katsura walked over Catman to his left side. She settled down more or less, but she kept wanting to play with Catman's hand. After a few failed attempts, she decided to rest her head on Catman's forearm while clasping his pinky finger between her forepaws. Both girls started purring, and though it soon was time to get up, Catman decided to lie there a while longer.
A good afternoon.
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Post by Catman on Sept 5, 2019 22:12:11 GMT
Katsura's room has no ceiling just bare rafters. The paneling reaches up to the rafters, but on the north side, there are gaps through the rafters into the unfinished part of the basement. Catman has known this presented a possible route for a cat to escape, but he never expected that anyone would actually try.
A couple nights ago, Catman heard someone walking around on top of the HVAC venting, and when he went downstairs, he found Miko perched between the rafters peering into Katsura's room. She was coaxed down fairly easily, and Catman resolved to move the boxes she had used so there would be no more such adventures.
The next morning, Catman moved the boxes (and found some things which really should have been tossed years ago) to another part of the basement, leaving only an old steamer trunk and some low-profile plastic containers. Surely even Miko could not manage a six-foot vertical leap to get back up into the rafters.
Of course she not only could, she did. She was easily coaxed down again, but Catman didn't like her jumping down from that height. Granted, Cassie used to do that all the time when she was that age, but it seems risky.
Fortunately, one of the things Catman should have tossed years ago but never got around to is a huge cardboard box. Properly cut down, it can be stapled to the rafters in the unfinished part of the basement to discourage further high-climbing adventures.
However, that night, it was far too late to engage in such construction, so Catman decided to let Katsura have the run of the house for the night. While Catman slept, Miko snuggled on his right side, Katsura on his left. No major incidents to report, though Katsura did chase Miko when it was time to get up.
If Katsura is no longer in her room at night, that removes some incentive for Miko's adventures, but Catman will still put up the cardboard as a precaution. In the meanwhile, Katsura will have the freedom of the entire house except when Catman goes to visit Catwoman or is out for errands. Miko likes sleeping in Catwoman's chair that time of day, so it shouldn't be a problem.
One thing that is rather amazing about all this: How did Miko figure out that jumping up onto the vent work, she would have access to that room?
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Post by Catman on Sept 14, 2019 21:36:18 GMT
Having Katsura stay out all night has worked out rather well. She sleeps on the bed with Catman, and Miko sleeps on Catwoman's chair, probably because she really doesn't like the fan blowing on her all night. Now that it's getting cool enough to not use the fan, she'll like as not take up her spot on Catman's other side.
Katsura now spends most of her days upstairs, going to her room to eat, and staying behind closed doors only when Catman is out visiting Catwoman. Her interactions with Miko are mostly peaceful, though she still does chase Miko now and then. At least Miko now longer screeches like her tail is on fire.
Miko's weekly visits with Catwoman are going well. She likes to lounge on Catman's lap while Catwoman pets her. When CNAs or other workers come in, she's always ready to greet them. And when Catwoman needs a bit of privacy, Miko likes exploring the area near the fake fireplace. People coming and going no longer startle her, and she even walks up to them for a scratch on her head if they're up for it. The other residents enjoy seeing her and tell her what a pretty cat she is. She, of course, already knows this, but it is nice to hear anyway.
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Post by Catman on Sept 25, 2019 20:52:38 GMT
Miko has discovered the joys of conducting lagomorph surveys out the front window.
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Post by Catman on Oct 5, 2019 2:53:13 GMT
This morning when Catman went out to the grocery store, he decided to let Katsura roam free in the house with Miko.
And when he got back ... nothing had happened.
Perhaps peace has come at last.
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