Wednesday, October 24, 2018

Raleigh's New World



Raleigh is learning about his new home. He is adjusting to its sights and sounds, smells and routines. He has not been consistent in his actions and reactions. One day, he comes out to await his dinner with the others, and precedes me with his rusty-hinge squeaks and creaks, while I bring his food-bowl to where he eats. The next, he has to be coaxed out, slowly, from behind the couch in the library. One day, he hides, from morning until evening, and then through the night; the next, he is almost out-going.

He also is tremendously startled by ordinary things I may do, even those that have not troubled him previously. I try not to move abruptly near him, and give him warning when I am about to touch him.

Raleigh lived roughly in the outside world, on the edge of a feral colony, trying to survive. That is not a situation a cat easily leaves behind. He has fewer problems with the other beasts than he has with me, but that makes sense, considering his recent past.

His FIV may also have a role in this. That terrible condition is like an open door that lets in any draught of cold air, any dust and dirt, any stranger. Perhaps this peachy-hued fellow will feel good one day and not the next, with no external evidence. I must take this into account in all I do with Raleigh.

His mouth, with its stomatitis, is also a problem, and may, right now, loom larger than his FIV. I know his mouth hurts him in certain situations. He grooms himself, but not very effectively. Fortunately, he loves his soft-food, so eating gives him no trouble, so far as I can determine. He even crunches on some hard-food now and then. He goes to the hospital for his dental surgery next Tuesday. I will watch him when he comes home, and give him the time and space to recover. It is well that the others don’t much concern themselves with him, and will likewise leave him be.

Raleigh can lead a normal life; just today, I saw, for the first time, my new boy playing by himself. He was attacking a fuzzy mouse that was behind a bookcase. It did not last long, but it was a start. My goal is to make the cosy apartment a welcoming place for him, so that he will prefer it to the dubious freedom of the outside. I know he enjoys the kindnesses of an affectionate human; he may not want them all the time, but I believe he appreciates their availability, and probably missed them deeply while living outside. I will try to make sure he doesn’t lack for them again – except when he wants to.

9 comments:

  1. He's had such a hard go of it in his short life, hasn't he? We're so glad he's under your care, and will keep our paws crossed that all goes well for his dental and his recovery. The biped sends him smooches and cuddles! ♥

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  2. Am sure that the dental surgery will help him settle in, once he's healed and the pain is gone. Pain makes one grumpy and moody! Raleigh is in the bestest place EVER for his recovery from fringe feral life!

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  3. we bet that the surgery will help and once he recovers from that he will be better able to adjust

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  4. I think that once Raleigh is over his dental surgery and starts to feel better you'll see a cat with a totally different temperament. Eastside Cats is correct - Raleigh couldn't be in a better place to recuperate. Please let us know how his surgery goes on Tuesday.

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  5. I certainly hope Raleigh is feeling better soon. I would think the fact he's playing is a good sign. He's a special boy and he certainly has a lovely place to hang out. What a cozy room!

    Eileen

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  6. I will be praying Raleigh's dental goes well and he feels much better after that.

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  7. I am just unendingly grateful he came to you and that you took him in. His life is good again. Thank heaven.

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  8. I’m totally in agreement with Katie Isabella.

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  9. I am sure he will feel so much better and then able to relax more once he has had his dental. Toothache in 1 tooth is miserable, so it must feel terrible to have a mouth full of pain. I know Tuesday has been and gone now but I want to keep reading in sequence. I hope everything went well for the dear boy.

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