Sassy is adjusting very well. When she first came in, she seemed to hate being inside. I imagine it must have been a huge adjustment for her; coming from being an outside kitty, always having to fend for herself but also having the freedom to do as she pleased where and when she pleased to being an inside-only kitty, not having to worry about where her next meal would come from but being closed in a guest bedroom/office all the time. She loved us and was always excited to cuddle and be lovey, but when we would leave her in the office, she would just cry and cry. She would also insist on trying to get back outside by going to the window and climbing the blinds. She has actually ruined the blinds in the office – they won’t open or close or go up or down. I have them permanently pulled all the way up because if I mess with them at all, they will fall completely apart. Oh well!
We do let her out of the office for a bit every day to roam around the apartment. When we do this, we put the other three cats in our bedroom and then let Sassy out. We also have “Sassy Nights” every so often (Sassy Nights are when we go in the office and sleep on the futon with her). The reason we have to keep her in the separate room is because she is still acting aggressively towards the other kitties. She hisses and growls and jumps at them, and seeing as FIV is transmitted mostly by biting, we don’t feel that Sassy is quite ready to coexist with the other cats. It seems as if it will be a slow integration process, but Bobby and I have both been noticing some progress!
Overall, I am very excited and encouraged about the progress Sassy has been making. She has put on some weight (which was needed), she looks healthy, she seems healthy, and she has been showing Bobby and I both some great lovey moves. Some examples of lovey moves: making biscuits, neck snuggling, head butting, suckling (in Sampson’s case), the list goes on. Some of Sassy’s signature lovey moves = suckling (I couldn’t believe we got another suckler!), snuggling, and drooling! She’s a HUGE drooler!!! When she is being super sweet and lovey, she drools all over us and poofs her tail. It’s hilarious.
I’m excited for what the future holds for Sassy and the rest of our kitty clan! I’m sure I’ll have nothing but good news to report from here on out! Until then, MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Sharon says
Great article. Fun reading.