Monday, May 25, 2015

Proximity

In continuing my subject of Cammie, she is not only recovering from her illness, but from other afflictions, as well, such as her understandable lack of trust. She and I are already good friends, and she allows me to pick her up whenever I like. That is, I must admit, too often for her favour. As well, because of recent events, she associates me picking her up with me taking her to the bathroom for some medicine. I want to get her accustomed again to being held with no unpleasant repercussions. Even so, being gripped by a human, even one she trusts, is not something she likes, and she will grumble about it, and hiss at me, but only after I put her down again.


The Siamese princess is trusting the other cats rather more. She walks within a foot or so of Tucker and thinks nothing of it, though the roly poly one sometimes will, for fun, I think, swat at any of his roommates who pass too close. Cammie minds Renn the least. In the photograph below, she and the big boy are eating their meals almost together. Neither has tolerated such proximity in the past while dining.


Cammie is snoozing more and more on the bed. Saturday morning, after I had risen and eaten breakfast, I found her there, and Josie - whom she considers her enemy - just three feet away, also snoozing. Not fleeing immediately upon the approach of another animal is a big step forward for her.



My favourite instance of progress comes at night. Cammie likes to lie on my chest while I am in bed, purring heavily and flexing her paws at my throat. Some evenings, she will be on the bed before I get in it, or jump up on it as soon as I settle in. Last night, she not only remained there after Renn got on the bed as well, but continued to purr. This lasted only about twenty seconds, but that’s a third of a minute longer than she had stayed previously.

I think about where Cammie was before she was rescued, and how she almost spent her life in a less than congenial environment in Regina. I am very thankful she is here with me. There are many people who would have given her the chance to be herself, as I have. What she has accomplished here has little to do with me. It has been her choice to trust, to let others get close to her. I see a lessening of her anxiety with other humans, and I see it with the other cats. Distances are not what they used to be.

10 comments:

  1. What great progress. So many times people (adopters mostly) expect a bomb proof well adjusted cat from day 1 without giving them an opportunity to blossom.

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  2. Cammie's made wonderful progress and obviously continues to do so. It's especially heartening to read her progress re: Josie!

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  3. Cammie has indeed come a long way :)

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  4. I am so glad Cammie is with you where she is learning to trust human and feline again.

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  5. So glad that Cammie is doing so well. It sure sounds like she is a Happy cat now.You all have a great day.

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  6. What a lovely post. She is really blossoming! From Jessica And Eileen

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  7. We enjoyed this post as well. All good moves in the right direction.

    Enjoy your break from work. Summer holidays are the best.

    Julie and Poppy Q

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  8. cammie....all things in time; in yur time; N make sure yur dadz standin at de grill two day sinz him iz on holiday; seerin up fresh catch oh de day for everee one... a few good perch, sum mackerull, sea bass, flounder, trout, hust for starterz !! ♥♥

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  9. Don't sell yourself short, John. It has everything to do with you, the person you are, the home life you've created and the love you've given her. I can't bear to think of the life she would have led in Regina. I try to think of her recent illness as a purge of the past. She is only going to love you more and more. There is a very special spot in my heart for this lovely girl. Now that she knows she has a real home, wonderous things will happen.

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  10. Great progress for Cammie! I think like Kari, you have had more to do with her making this choice than you give yourself credit for, because you've provided the environment and proven that you can be trusted to give her what she needs. I'm thrilled for both of you!

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