Friday, May 21, 2021

No More Oven Mitts

Portia continues to explore the Cosy Apartment. I leave the library door open much of the time when I am home, except when it would be impossible for me to hear a cat-emergency - such as when I am in the shower or asleep - but I don’t foresee too many problems between my new foster-cat and the resident beasts. I still have the thick towel handy when supervising her free time, but don’t wear oven mitts.





A day or two ago, Neville did express an interest in the newcomer that manifested itself in a rather too swift advance on her, so I will watch that: I think it would result in the Nevsky’s painful rebuff more than anything else. Nonetheless, I hope to keep any unpleasantness to a minimum, while allowing the calico-girl to wander about where she will.



Her attitude toward me remains ambivalent. I am able to stroke her head for ten or fifteen minutes at a time, but she will decide suddenly and almost without warning to tell me off, with both her voice and her claws. I don’t know if this is a matter of incomplete trust in me, or a deeper issue. Whatever the answer, she and I will have time to discover the cause, and what will be best for her.




In the meantime, I think Portia will adjust to the perma-cats more easily than she will to me, which is preferable. She and I can take our leisure getting to know one another. Once she and her feline roommates reach a modus vivendi - whatever form that may take - she will have the freedom of their small world, and not see me following her everywhere when she is out of the library. My holidays are approaching, and that will permit me to give her more opportunity to grow used to her new foster-home.




21 comments:

  1. Portia, you are soon enough going to be the Queen of your new den!
    Love reading and seeing all of your 'progress'!

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  2. When you talked about her vocalness, I wondered what the boys thought
    of her singing or yelling or talking cat talk. Maybe Neville is trying
    to get closer to her and have his own conversation about Cosy Apartment
    living. It is fun to see photos of Portia checking out the many exercise equipment you have provided for the cats. Hope to see some
    photos of her soon climbing the cat trees and watching your patio feeders.

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  3. It's nice to see here pretty calm while she is out and exploring!

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  4. Aww, she's such a pretty cat. Glad to hear she's beginning to settle in. I'm sure she'll soon learn you're the hand that feeds her and gives her affection. The resistance to touch that belly must be strong.

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  5. Good on you sweetie Portia. Miss pops is not too tolerant of too much patting or snuggling either.

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  6. It is very good to see Portia settling in and exploring and I am really looking forward with both eyes to see how it goes as she gets more comfortable out with the perma-cats.

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  7. Portia is looking more comfy as she explores your place :)
    So relaxed looking on that chair and exposing her belly too.
    Purrs, Julie

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  8. Calicos are so cute--and, according to lore, good luck.

    Was Portia around other cats in the past, or has she always been an "only feline?"

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    1. She was the only cat in her home, but she was let out in the back yard, where she saw and stared down other cats. She knew they existed before she came here, she's just never had any try to approach her, and has never had to live with any. That's part of her tuition here.

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    2. Speaking of tuition, the other evening Faux thanked me for giving him a home by carrying a live mouse into the living room. Thus answering the question, “What is the one thing worse than having a dead mouse in the living room?”

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    3. Ah, that IS gratitude. It's the best gift he could find. Flynn, over at Two Devon Cats, often would catch a mouse and give it to his brother, Eric, to kill. It's a sign of true affection, I think. What happened to the present in your case?

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    4. I grabbed a broom and was able to use it to steer the poor thing to the sliding glass door and out to the back porch. Faux undoubtably now thinks I’m just no fun at all.

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  9. Glad things are going well with her and your resident cats.

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  10. Just make sure that you don't hit Portia's murder button; every cat has one, you know...
    hehehehe!

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  11. She certainly looks quite relaxed in those last pics! :-)

    We're glad it's going well!

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  12. It seems that Portia is a typical calico - full of "catitude".

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  13. So glad to hear that things are going well with Portia and will continue onward in that trajectory!

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  14. We're so glad Portia is settling in there with the permacats. We hope she gets more used to you, too.

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  15. She looks really comfy and relaxed which means a whole lot in cat speak.

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  16. portia yur last two fotoz bee; bee ewe tee full :) N we could tell dad...itz a gurl thing....sinz cuzin dai$y iz over ther & round de korner, but yur rite ther... N can see what we rited heer .... sew yur cat a tood iz just.... that.... ☺☺☺♥♥♥

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