Monday, October 18, 2021

The Infiltrator

Hector is slowly worming his way into the population of the Cosy Apartment. To watch him, you wouldn’t think there is anything subtle about him. Last night, however, I was at my desk and Hec came into the bedroom. He climbed the stairs to the bed and, as he does, stopped on the top step. I urged him to come forward; I thought he would cross the bed, walk across my desk and continue to the ledge under the window, as he has done before. Instead, he slowly settled himself next the pillow. Both Renn and Tucker were snoozing on the bed. Renn ignored the little Turk for a while, then left for the cat-tree. Tucker woke, stared at Hec a minute, then, with my encouragement, set his head down again and closed his eyes.


From now on, I think it will be just a matter of the perma-cats getting used to Hector. They know his behaviours; they are beginning to understand that his charges are attempts at play, rather than intimidation (which they may have been originally). This realisation doesn’t mean they approve of such actions, but they are growing accustomed to them. I think that will be the pattern in any home to which the new boy may go in the future. He would benefit greatly from a friend a year or two older than himself, a playmate, but also a slightly more mature mentor, to teach him what to do.


Until then, he will have to settle for learning from my lot what not to do.


18 comments:

  1. I think you're correct - All kittens need a mentor to show them how to be a cat. Kittens who have been raised alone without other kittens have a difficult time learning proper cat behavior.

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    1. In our rescue-group, we try to adopt kittens in pairs, for learning and companionship purposes; if they must be adopted singly, we try to find homes with energetic cats who are a year or so older. Right now, we have five kittens who need homes, and one two-year-old who acts like Grampa Mason toward them, so we’re hoping for the obvious arithmetical solution.

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  2. Oh Grampa Mason. I will always love him. I could watch those videos till Kingdom's come. He mothered his kittens more than their momma's did! And seeing him trot by with someone in his mouth on the way to his little enclosure...sweetness overload. They and all of us loved him so much.

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    1. I only learned about Grampa shortly before he died. I adored those videos and was so sad to hear of his passing. What a loss to kittenhood!

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    2. A great loss indeed. But he lived three years following his capture, when he was initially expected to die shortly after. I think this was due not just to the medicine he received, but to the love he was given, and his joy at being with and taking care of his kittens. Mason was an inspiration.

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  3. Just a young whipper snapper trying to let the big guys know he's in the house. Good to know the oldsters are getting complacent about this extra friendliness of Hector.

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  4. catfather...dood.....984 pawz up buddy.....that waz nice :) ♥♥

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  5. Nice to hear he is settling in, and the permacats are getting accustomed to his antics. This will set him up well for his own forever home, wherever that may be. I agree it would be good to find a home with a slightly older cat.

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  6. He's such a bright guy, he'll figure it all out on what not to do!

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  7. Hec could use a mentor cat, but he'll figure things out.

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  8. Our Old Mancat Groucho was a grandpa and a mentor to three of our 6 meezers. He literally would walk in front of them look behind to see if they were nearby and then 'chirp' at them until they realized he want to teach them kitty games and cuddle tiimes, too.
    He outlived two of those he mentored...sigh...

    Hector is a smart one, he seems to learn things quickly. What a joy he will be to some family in the (near) future.

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  9. I don't think Hector could have better
    teachers and be on a better learning
    curve that he's on with the others!

    Hpoefully..it'll ALL come together
    very nicely..Well..perhaps with a few
    Hic~Ups along the way...! :0).

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  10. It's nice to see the cats adjusting to each other. Tucker looks comfortable sleeping by Hector. Where's Neville?

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    1. Neville comes into the bedroom rarely until bed-time, then he will sleep on the top platform of the lower cat-tree, next the window. He does get on the bed from time to time, but doesn’t stay. He seems to like the firmer, even hard, surface of the cat-tree.

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  11. It so helps to have a good mentor for kittens and cats coming into a home. For years we were so thankful for Buddy Budd. Hector is really fitting in and looks to be a smart fellow. Glad the all mostly get along and it is getting better

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  12. A mentor cat is always helpful, but it sounds like Hector is figuring stuff out.

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  13. A mentor is always good, but when we got Eric and Flynn as company for Kit it seemed to be the other way around. She had been the tiniest of the litter and that was why we couldn't find a good home for her. She always had the older cats looking out for her and didn't do things for herself. E&F were disgusted to discover she didn't cover when she had used the litter box and always did it for right from the beginning.

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    1. My foster-cat Kola would cover up Cammie's business, Cammie thinking she was far too important for such things. I always thought that was funny; Kola probably didn't. Your boys were a conscientious pair.

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