UP CLOSE & PERSONAL

I just spent the better part of the last two hours trying to get more half decent shots of Addy. She has got to be the hardest foster we've ever had in terms of snapping pictures - reason being largely because she's twitches or moves at almost every sound.

Let me know what you think of these ones.............in my opinion she really is a gorgeous kitty (who now comes when we call her btw). :) :)

STRIKE A POSE

Addy continues to make progress. Last night the whole family was in the livingroom for about 3 hours and she stayed with us the entire time, choosing to fall asleep sprawled out on one of the diningroom chairs. She's spending more and more time downstairs, comes to both Steve and I now for petting and chin scratching (which she loves), and although she does still bolt and growl at the sounds of loud noises; she isn't seemingly as terrified at every sound.

There haven't been any adoption calls for her as of yet but I knew that her age would play a factor in that. That said, she's got the energy and feistyness of a cat half her age so anyone under the impression that they'd be adopting a senior kitty would be sadly mistaken!

NICE NEWS

We received this lovely note and picture from Buster's new Mom yesterday. We are so happy that we cast out doubts aside and agreed to letting her meet Buster - such a wonderful home for our sweet boy!


Hi:

I can't believe Buster has been here one month already. I am really happy he has become a part of our family. He gets along very well with Blueberry. It's like he's been here for years.

He has found many sleeping spots and loves lounging in the backyard. Thanks for letting me being him home.

BITS OF PROGRESS

Addy has made some progress since my last entry. Her hiding under the bed has become a little less frequent and she's spending a great deal more time at the windows since we've now been able to open them. She is a huge avid bird and squirrel watcher and I'm convinced that she'd be leaving little carcasses at our door if only she could get out to pounce. There's no mistaking that huntress look!

I tried another brush I have for doing her coat - this one is made entirely of rubber. She seems to enjoy it more and as long as I don't wave it in front of her face, she doesn't seem to be overly bothered. She likes the mini massage it gives her and appears more relaxed - which is good since the last thing I would want to be doing would be to having her feel threatened with what is supposed to be such an enjoyable experience.

She's also venturing downstairs abit more. She stays for longer and longer but still prefers the safety and security that she feels the upstairs offers her. There was a weird incident on Saturday however. Hubby had been out and came home around midday. She had been in the livingroom with the boys and I, enjoying the sun pouring through the front window, when all of a sudden she got up, bolted for the stairs, and ended up on the landing, actually growling at the front door. Steve hadn't even gotten out of the car or come near the house, but she stood there growling. I've never seen a cat do that, and we both agree that she's obviously been seriously mistreated by someone to have such a reaction to the sound of a car pulling in.

Progress is slow but it's there and that's all that really counts.

KITTY TALK

I know that Addy has only been with us two weeks this past Saturday, but I'm still struggling at this point to get a good sense of her personality or what's up with her.

Perhaps it's easier if I break it down in the hopes that someone out there can offer suggestions/pointers (believe me, I'll take all the advice I can get):

What I Do Know:
- she likes to sit in the window and watch the birds/squirrels
- she likes dry kibble
- she loves having her face, chin and head petted & rubbed
- she prefers to hide, closets, under beds, in boxes, anywhere and everywhere that is closed away
- she likes to chat
- she enjoys cloth mice


What I Don't Know:
- why she scurry's around the upstairs of the house like a raccoon with her tail between her hind legs
- why she LOVED about 3 days of brushing (purring and rolling around), and is now seemingly terrified of the exact same instrument
- why every noise appears to terrify her and sends her once again into hiding
- why she comes for petting but then just as quickly becomes defensive
- why she can be playful one moment with a toy; but any interaction with the same toy can then have her growling, hissing and swatting
- why she just can't seem to relax; her eyes become wide as saucers at every little sound
- why she prefers to spend the majority of her time by herself


I think that about covers it for now. I keep coming back to the opinion that she's been in a home where she was very loved by one person and yet very abused and tormented by someone else. Here's once again one of the frustrations in fostering.............you want to help them back on the road to security but sometimes that same road can be filled with alot of bumps, and wrong turns and there are moments when you just want to pull your hair out because you can't figure out what your doing wrong.

She likes upstairs and she loves it under our bed; but the reality is that she can't live there and we'll never get her adopted if I can't help her to stop jumping out of her skin everytime there's a noise.

SENIOR MOMENT!!

I suspected I was beginning the onslaught of old age, what with the grey strands, sagging everything, and attention span problems but now I know it's happening!

My last post on Miss Addy indicated we hadn't fostered a female since Flossy but uh, hello, earth to self, actually who could have ever forgotten beautiful little Sable (who went on to become Prem)!!!!

Profuse apologies to Prem's Mom - if infact you visit this blog, and apologies to Prem herself; yes you were a darling and yes I did enjoy your company.

I think it's case of too many cats and the senior years (which are mine).

MY NEW BFF

We haven't had a female foster since Flossy who was with us for a total of 14 months (hard to believe). So I wasn't sure what to expect with Miss Addy and how her and I would get along (you know sometimes two women in the house can be one too many!).

It's unfolded without my even really realizing it, but it would appear that Addy has taken a liking to me imparticular. She's still quite nervous and unsure of her surroundings, isn't thrilled with the "co-ed" arrangement that being with Silly & Rocky offers, and I think it would be fair to say, is still pretty shy when it comes to exploring, but all that said; she also appears to prefer the company of other ladies to anyone of the male persuasion. I suspect her previous owner may have been an elderly woman and that Addy pretty much ran the house, as she does have quite the independant mind and appears to be fairly set on what she wants AND used to getting it.

She LOVES to be paid attention to and is slowly but surely discovering the outside which includes birds and squirrels which just fascinate her. Our home backs onto a park that has an elementary school at the one end and sometimes at recess the kids make their way down to our end of the park to play - I actually caught Miss Addy growling at them earlier so note to self; no small kids in future forever home, check.