Friday, October 15, 2021

The New Boy So Far

Hector is turning out to be a fun little guy. He’s very energetic and playful. Though I think his chasing of Neville is deplored sometimes by the latter, I don’t believe it is always unwelcome. I’ve watched them run and Neville’s is not always the hectic attempt to escape something dangerous. There may be an element of play in their interaction. Certainly when the Nevsky lies on the floor near the mouth of the nylon tunnel, in which little Turk is hiding, it is not a sign that the older fellow is demanding distance from the younger.


Hec’s soaking of the floors is abating a little. I am looking for the right tray or pan on which to place his water-bowl but, in the meantime, have noticed the newcomer’s splashing has diminished somewhat. That doesn’t mean he won’t get into trouble. He will go anywhere in search of the unknown. Actually, he will go anywhere in search of soft-food. If that takes him into the unknown, so be it.



He has had no difficulty becoming an indoor-cat. He has seen me at the door to the concrete ditch and has shown no desire to be outside. I am careful in opening doors around him, of course, but he seems happy to be inside. He is more curious of what lies beyond the door to the corridor outside the apartment but, then, that looks like a door to yet another, unexplored room of his new home, so different rules apply. But he is content to spend quiet times curled in the cylinder-house cat-tree, or lying stretched out on the heated towel in the library.


That doesn’t mean he is sedentary. He will decide to zoom through the rooms without warning, and seems especially to like starting suddenly from surfaces that shoot out from under him: a box lid, or a rug on smooth flooring.


He is an intelligent boy. He knows his new name, and the meanings of “dinner” and “snack”. He has learned quickly how to use the stairs by the bed; he also knows he’s not allowed on the kitchen counters, though this means little in practical terms…



He is most amenable to being picked up, and petted, and is partial to gentle head-rubs. He will grab my hand or fingers to bite them if annoyed with my actions but doesn’t follow through; it’s a protest, not an assault, and he responds immediately to an admonition of “uh-uh” if I feel he is too rough.


Hector is the most immediately-adoptable foster-cat I’ve had, I think, even more so than Xanadu, who was too much of a good thing, if you understand. (The X-man has settled very nicely in his new home and complements his feline siblings perfectly.) Hec is of course welcome to stay in the Cosy Apartment as long as he needs to, but with so many good qualities, it would be a shame not to see this youngster in a home with another playful cat or two, and a family of attentive and loving humans.


18 comments:

  1. Fun to see his head sticking out of the bookcase. Nice he is so
    content so quickly, when he does get a furever home,, you'll have
    good cause to miss him.

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  2. He sure seems like a fun one, good for you Hector!

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  3. The photo of Hector popping his head out of the tunnel is just so adorable. I do hope he'll find a wonderful forever home sooner than later, though he does seem quite happy at the Cosy Apartment! :-)

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  4. Hec is adorable; hope his furrever home is right around the corner!

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  5. It seems that Hector is quite a character. I love the pictures of him in the bookcase and popping up out of the tunnel. It would be nice if he were adopted, but I would miss hearing about how he keeps everyone in the Cosy Apartment on their toes.

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  6. Hector likes to play peekaboo I think!

    So nice to know he's becoming very well adjusted, Your work is to be complimented!

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  7. For his sloshing problem, have you considered one of those plastic boot trays they sell - you put them by the door and slushy boots and shoes go on them when you come inside. They are not very expensive but should be deep enough to do the job.

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    1. I have thought of those but most have a kind of texture, raised lines to help shed dirt and mud from the soles of shoes, that might merely provide bumps over which a pulled bowl could spill its water.

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  8. I would hate to see him go as well. He look so funny with that head popped out of the tunnel and out of the bookcase! Loved those pictures and knowing how he is getting on.

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  9. Hector is a real character. I'm sure someone will be happy to make him a permacat soon, though I'm sure he would be missed at the Cozy Apartment.

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  10. He's so adorable but mischievous! I hope he has found a friend in Neville as long as Hec plays nice.
    Have a great weekend John!

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  11. Hector sure sounds like a good dude, and I'm glad he's feeling so content there. We love where's he's prairie-dogging out of the tube. :)

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  12. Hector sounds like such an adorable boy. I wish we knew how such a charming fellow came to be homeless.

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    1. We think some university girls had him and left him behind when they moved. That can't be confirmed, though.

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  13. dood....yur book case foto iz de best; and while we wish ewe nothin but de best; we will bee sad ta see ewe go, if ewe due find a for everz ~~~ ♥♥♥ tell dad we will send him a fotoz bye e mailz when de gurl getz home ...her weighted down a drinkin dish & itz hard ta eggz plane with out a pick sure ;) ♥♥

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  14. Hector is adorable! I know what you mean by launching from things that will move, but don't expect him to stop any time soon. Flynn loved to do the same and continued to do so until his last few months.

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