Sunday, September 19, 2021

The Stranger in the Strange Land

Hector Fortescue (as I seem to think his full name should be) is slowly adjusting to life in the Cosy Apartment. He is at the stage at which I leave the library door open all the time when I am home and awake. Sometimes, he hides behind a corner bookcase; sometimes, he lies on the short bookcase to look out the window, and sometimes he explores the apartment.

His interaction with the other beasts is still embryonic, though it is interesting to see that he seems to have more of a problem with them than they do with him, which is probably the preferable of the two options. As someone pointed out, my lot are used to new cats coming and going, and even Portia went through her period of meeting new felines; being introduced to others is an old act to her now. Last night, while I watched my movie, I saw Hector wander out of the library. A few minutes later, there was a burst of growling and he hurried back into the room. I went out to the sitting room and saw Portia and Neville lying there. I’m certain they had not moved; Hec had encountered them, growled to prevent anything untoward happening (which looked not to be likely, anyway) and hastened back to his safe-zone.

What’s interesting about the situation is Portia’s reaction. After a couple of days of demanding entrance to the closed library, she doesn’t appear anxious to spend time there now that she can. She has been in, sniffed about and left again. I think, and hope, that it has less to do with the new cat than with Po finding that she rather likes other parts of the apartment. She has been into the bedroom more often in the last few days than usual and, something that particularly pleases me, she has spent time purring on my lap on the sitting room couch, as she has done innumerable times in the library.

 

Neville, too, has been in the library since Hector’s arrival, but since he goes there simply to eat what food may be lying about there, to drink water and to leave a deposit in the litter-box, he is not much affected by Hec’s presence. Even so, seeing another cat nonchalantly come in to the library, do what harmless deed he wants and leave, is, I believe, beneficial for Hector. Tucker almost never visits the library, and Renn was in briefly for movie-night. (Tucker's reaction to seeing Hec for the first time froze him in this position for more than two minutes...)

I have no qualms about Hector’s relationship with other cats. It will evolve with time and patience. And he will be fine with people, too, I have no doubt. His stay with me will comprise, then, in terms of learning, finding out his likes and dislikes, his idiosyncrasies and peculiarities. Such is the benefit of the foster-home system.

Oh, and he and I were both relieved last night: he crapped for the first time since his arrival. There wasn’t a lot, considering it was four and a half days in the making, but he has been consuming mostly soft-food – of that, what isn’t water must compress quite compactly – and the anaesthetic and vaccines he received probably threw off his metabolism for a bit. But I was becoming worried, and would have dosed him with laxative tonight, if he hadn’t gone. His body is relaxing and returning to its routine. Once his mind does the same, I predict that Hector Fortescue will be a happy little fellow.

13 comments:

  1. This is all good news indeed. We hope Hector continues become braver and more comfortable with each day, and we hope peace reigns in the Cosy Apartment. :-)

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  2. well thank goodness what went in finally came out, mol. Hector looks
    like such a sleek fellow and trying to fit in but remain in command
    of any situation he finds himself. Funny about the growling and then
    you find Portia and Neville laying about and Hector a bit on the retreat. He'll find himself quite content with you, I am sure.

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  3. It sounds like Hector is adjusting well to the Cosy Apartment, and he and the other cats seem to be adjusting well to each other. I'm sure that once he realizes that the Perma-cats don't pose a threat, he'll stop growling and hissing at them. He is a beautiful cat.

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  4. We are so glad he is doing so well so soon, bravo Hector!

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  5. I like the update on Hector, learning how well he is doing and getting on. And I think his second name is perfect for him. I wonder if Portia or Neville have a second name as well? Portia Gloriana perhaps.

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  6. How wonderful that things continue to progress in a reasonably peaceable manner at the cozy apartment.

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  7. Wonderful news! I'm sure it won't take long before Hector gets over his hesitancy to be around the others. I laughed at Tucker's reaction, too funny!

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  8. Great news! It sounds like Hector is doing really well. :)

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  9. Some cats are cautious around new ones and some just got charging and want to take over. We like cautious better here, but you never know that to expect.

    Laz tried to take over. But since Marley outweighed him 16 to 9, it wasn't a proble, Ayla was smaller, and that took a year of "discussion" on my part. Things are calm now...

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  10. "Fortescue" is a name you don't hear often enough nowadays. :)

    Hector seems like a darling guy. He'll make someone a lovely perma-cat.

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  11. Really good news about Hector and he will slowly get used to the cats who he sees wander in and out of "his" space and surrounding areas. I always liked that frozen time during introductions. It is especially fun with a kitten where an adult will watch for however wrong as the little one pinballs around. Sometimes it can end with a swat but we have had equal numbers of plop and play.

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  12. Hector seems a sweet boy. Tucker made me laugh the way he froze in position on seeing him.

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  13. Aww, Hector!
    You just need a bit of courage, and I believe you'll work up some gumption before too long.

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