Walter Mitty Reimagined...

Well, Fang is definitely liking his new abode. I'm still leaving the outside door open, so if he gets spooked he can take off (more on that later). So I went out this morning, thinking he wasn't there, and then I turned around and he's in the middle of the floor, stretching and yawning. While he slept on his bed for a while, apparently he's found a more "secure" place back behind a bunch of boxes (with a path to it only someone his size could possibly fit through). But he was quite happy eating his breakfast and playing with the string and climbing on my shoulders. And of course, the wonderful world of the windowsill - which stretches the length of the porch. This afternoon I got him a fuzzy dangling toy, which he finds quite fascinating. And he's curious about the litter box - if he continues to prefer the indoors to the outdoors, it shouldn't take long for him to figure that out. ;-) Tomorrow I'm going to try and get some pictures (not of the litter box).

Anyway, the dogs are presenting the only real fly in the ointment. Not so much Muffin (the Pom) - she's so far into her own little imaginary world she has no idea what she's barking at or why - she just thinks she should - and then forgets about that almost immediately. I don't think she even realizes there's another animal out there.

Petey (the Jack Russell) is a different story. I had my hands full on one trip out there, and left the inner door open, just the screen door between Petey and Fang. Well, it took a few tentative sniffs from about a foot away - and then I'm not sure what happened, but suddenly Fang arched his back, hissed and swung at Petey - which set Petey off, of course. Jacks can be very aggressive (terrier) but I have never seen Petey that angry before. So Fang raced out the door, and Petey tried to come through the screen - oy!

Anyway, thank goodness it had rained all night so was wet and muddy outside. Fang hates that, and hadn't gone very far at all. He was more than happy to have me come and carry him back inside (after closing the door, of course). And now, as long as that inner door is closed, he just glances over when the dogs bark, and otherwise ignores them. But when I open that door to go inside - he's ready to bolt.

I don't know what to do about Petey. He's either pawing and whining at the door to the porch, or pawing and whining at me for attention. He's so jealous he'd put the Emerald City to shame. And I can't help but feel sorry for the poor guy - he was an abandoned pet (about 2 years old) when I adopted him, so I'm sure that plays a part (or am I humanizing him too much?). So I'm trying to love him up a lot more than normal - but the more I do the more he demands.

Argh...

38 days...

That's what Fang is, apparently.

My brother - the one who's already coughing if he spends too much time around Fang - has decided that, since it's less than six weeks until Fang goes to his new home, he needs to get used to being inside.

Yeah.

My brother figures it's only for a few weeks, and he's only down on weekends, soooo... I'm clearing up the front porch, so it's kitten-safe, and I'll start letting him in there. I'll have to prop the storm door open, so he can get out if he wants to (at first), and move his sleeping box in there. Then next weekend my brother's bringing his large dog carrier down, so I'll move Fang's sleeping coat (an old winter coat of mine) into that, so he can get used to being in the carrier.

He's also going to be getting gradually acquainted with my dogs. That's inevitable, I think, once he's in the porch. But they can get used to each other through the door first. :p 

But this will definitely make it easier to get him used to the carrier, and he won't go totally berserk when I get him up to Canada and he finds himself in a strange house - with a dog. So, yeah, it'll make the transition much easier for him. And hopefully make the trip easier on both of us.

I'm also more sure Fang is a boy. Don't ask me how - I'd rather forget that little bit of voyeurism - but yeah, I'm pretty sure. I'm just wondering when those little nubbins are going to show up. Unless he's younger than I figured. But he's definitely people-oriented. He follows me around the yard like a puppy, and if either my brother or I come outside, he's right there, demanding attention. He's definitely going to keep his new family occupied :D

Well, Fang is back 100% - not only walking normally, but jumping without any stumbles, and - unfortunately - doing his 'bliss drool' again. In fact, I think he's making up for lost time I think he's put most of his weight back on, but his hips still seem bony to me - but maybe that's just the way kittens are. It's been years since I had a cat, so...

I seem to have developed a routine for him - or he has for me, anyway. I go out the same time of day and give him his food and water, and he ignores it and heads right for the chair I sit in for his snuggling. So now I take his food dish (just a little saucer, really) and he eats on my lap in between his gyrations for a rub here and nuzzle there. Not that he's spoiled - I just want to make sure he eats enough before the bigger cats come in and take it (which I know they must be doing - no way he could eat the amount I put out for him).

I figure there are four more steps to getting him ready for his new home. One, get him used to being in the pickup. Two, get him used to being in the pickup after I close the door. Three, get used to being in the pickup while I start it and it's running. And last, get used to being in the pickup while it's moving. I figure after step 1 is accomplished, I'll put his box in there each time we work on the last three steps (and of course, I'll be inside with him - reminder to wear thick clothing ). He's been pretty good about new things though - like with the petting and then picking him up - it was just a matter of letting him go when he got scared, so he knows he's in control. And then it only takes a couple of times and it's old hat for him. Don't know if the truck will be quite that easy, but taken slowly, he should be fine. Last step will be putting a litter box and the floor and hope he realizes it's the only dirt-like surface for him to do his duties in.

And I'm already building my mother-hen list of suggestions for Tracy

I was getting a bit concerned about Fang. The last couple of days I've noticed that he's positively drooling when he's on my lap - I mean, it was like dripping from his mouth. Having had dogs for most of my life, I was used to dog drool, but I'd never seen evidence of that "problem" with cats before. And of course, the more he drooled the more concerned I got, even though he seems very healthy and is actually putting on weight (I can't feel his ribs much at all any more).

So to the wonderful world of the internet. And there I found the answer - vets call it "bliss-related drooling". Apparently some cats, when on your lap or getting their ears scratched or some other very pleasant thing is happening, will drool.

Good grief.

So better keep the wipes handy, Tracy ;-)

Oh, not without getting my ear chewed off. He let me know he was still upset with me for yesterday - never will understand how something that little can be so loud! Wow.

Anyway, I learned my lesson as far as the rain/food thing. He now rates two sets of dishes - one in the garden, where he's used to being fed, and one in the toolhouse where he grab a midnight snack if he wants to :p  Just as well, anyway. I can give him his "indoor meal" in the morning, and then his "outdoor dining" in the afternoon. The way he's scarfing down the food, he needs two meals a day, I guess. The food offering definitely is increasing, at any rate.

So, after giving me my well-deserved scolding, he ate a bit and then spent the next almost-hour crawling around my lap, playing with the zipper tab on my jacket, pushing his head up against my chin, kneading and purring - just generally enjoying the adoration and pampering. :p My friend is going to find herself dealing with a real monster, as far as demanding attention. If I quit petting him, the protest was loud and clear, I'll tell you. Good grief.

I'm going to dig out the carrier this weekend and clean it up, and then I've got a bit of sheepskin to put on the floor of it. Figured I'd put in the tool house and prop the door open, let him get used to it there. Better than leaving it out in the garden, open to the elements. So his "house" and food dishes will all be together, and he can get used to it on his own time. :D

Now, if I could just quit worrying about the bigger cats and the neighborhood dogs, the traffic, the kids... but I figure he's lasted this long, he probably knows how to hide from all of the above pretty effectively. I'll just be very happy and relieved when he's safe and sound in his new home.

Gad, it seems like all I have to write about any more is this little bugger...

Caught him on my brother's lap yesterday :D Outdoors with a good breeze, otherwise I'm sure my bro would've come in all stopped up and sneezing... He (bro) proudly informed me that Fang was crawling up on his shoulder earlier today.

As for me, I have to take Fang over to his dinner bowl now, or he'll spend all his time getting petted by me. And this evening, after examining my face, glasses and sweatshirt very carefully, he curled up on my lap and "allowed" me to rub his ears while he kneaded my wrist and dozed.

Checked the website for Paws and Claws (the adoption agency in the city) and it confirmed my hopes. They check out prospective adopters, make sure the animals are spayed/neutered, make people sign an agreement that cats will be kept indoors unless on a leash (also law in most cities now), and that people won't declaw until they've had them at least 30 days (and have tried to work around it first). And they do not euthanize unless the animal is terminally ill. So will call them tomorrow, explain the situation and what stage of domestication Fang is at, and hopefully they'll either find a suitable home for him or at least a spot in their sanctuary before the cold weather hits. That's my biggest concern, of course.

I hope they can find a place for him soon, though. I'm trying very hard not to get too attached, but the longer he's here, the harder that will get, of course.

Fang was waiting for me yesterday - quite grouchy that his dinner was late ;-)  And he was very vocal when I had the audacity to quit rubbing his ears - the little tyrant! He did let me pick him up and put him on my lap - although he jumped down immediately and gave me a very unkitten-like glare. :p But then he came right back for more ear-rubbing.

I'm thinking, with the fast progress and his beautiful coloring, I should have no problem finding him a good home before the cold sets in. I'm happy! :D

I have a kitten in my yard. We generally have 1-2 cats who take up abode in the out buildings for whatever length of time, but this one is a kitten, and on its own. I generally try not to get "involved" with the feral cats (or other animals without collars or known "other residence"). The last time I did that we started out with an abandoned mama cat and two kittens, which I fed because they were obviously starving. Two years later, we had 27 cats prowling the yard and neighborhood, all very friendly (climbing on our shoulders as we worked in the gardens, following us into the house, etc). Eventually between inbreeding, disease and the highway we lost them all and I vowed that was the last time! Nature, however cruel, should take its course.

Now I have The Kitten.

It's around 8-10 inches long, with a long tail, huge feet, and is, I guess, a silver tabby with rust blended in (I thought at first it was called a tortoise shell but that's something different - and yeah, I looked it up ). I can't tell for sure whether it's a boy or a girl yet, but it's very shy and very verbose. And loves trying to catch butterflies.

And also loves the dog food I've set out for it.

Yes, I've done it again.

Only because it appeared to be very hungry, very young, and alone. If I had evidence of a mama around, I probably wouldn't have done anything. I swear I wouldn't have. But in the course of a couple of days, it's gone from running at the first sight of me, to coming within a couple feet (if I stand still and talk softy).

I'd try to tame it for myself, but with two rather obnoxious (ie, spoiled) dogs and a brother who is severely allergic to cat dander, bringing it in the house is out of the question. And I'm worrying how it will make it through the winter, being so young now and without other "family" to help stay warm. So now the plan is to get it tamed so it feels comfortable being held, and then I'll take it to the local animal adoption place and see if they will take it. I'll pay for the neutering/spaying if necessary.

I should've just ignored the little bugger. I really should have...