Read about the backstory and “Day 0” here

Tuesday around 2PM, I got a call from the SPCA. They were good to be picked up! Because of their spicy nature, they were given shots to clear up any infection (faster than pill treatment) and didn’t show any symptoms, so they were cleared to leave.

I raced over to pick them up. The poor staff struggled a bit to get them in the carriers. Each cat took two people to get them in (really hoping they become less anxious about this in the future or vet visits are going to be tough). I brought them home and directly into my master bathroom. Thankfully, due to weird home design, my master bathroom is huge. As a bathroom, it’s sort of dumb and wasted space, but as a cat re-homing room, it’s great! It’s also where I first put Gwen when I brought her home.

I set them up with a cat box (one more ordered and on the way), two water dishes, two food dishes, a small cat tree, a cat bed, and some blankets. I set down the two cat carriers, unzipped them, and left the room to give them some time to calm down and adjust. I came back to see Henry still sitting in his carrier.

Wait, you say, who is Henry? Henry is Swerve. I don’t usually rename pets, but Swerve just wasn’t going to work for us. With Gwen and Cali (short for Caliente), Swerve just didn’t fit in. Plus, sorry SPCA, but what kind of name is Swerve?! So this is Henry.

Cali was hiding behind a big storage ottoman (I told you it’s a weird bathroom). No worries, I’d give them space. I put out food and water and set up the cat box. I sat and talked to them a bit, then once again left them to settle in.

I came back in and Henry was out! And stayed out, he didn’t run away. He had also unrolled the toilet paper, and knocked some stuff off of shelves. Settling in nicely. Ha! But where was Cali? She wasn’t behind the ottoman.

She was in the hamper. And now I’ve literally shared my dirty laundry on the internet.

I have a Blink camera I use to check on Gwen when I’m gone, so I moved it into the bathroom to see if Cali ever comes out. I could see that someone had eaten, but I wanted to be sure it wasn’t just Henry.

Around 9PM, she popped her head out of the hamper while Henry was exploring, and looked right at the camera! He walks around and chirps to her. It’s SO cute. I imagine he’s trying to tell her it’s ok to come out.

I went in and out a few times. Talked to them, or just sat quietly. I’m trying to get them used to me, and to understand that I won’t hurt them. Most times, I’ll go in and I can hear a jump or movement, clearly they’re going back to their “safe spots”. Cali in the hamper, and Henry on the floor next to the hamper. He slow blinks at me, and she doesn’t hiss when I look in the hamper at her, so I’m taking those as good signs.

Around 1 AM, she came out. They were both walking around, and I saw her eating. The camera didn’t catch all of their movements. Someone used the litter box, but I don’t know who.

So far, so good. They say 3 days, 3 weeks, and 3 months are the big milestones for cats in a new home. I think day 1 has gone really well.

Gwen yowls like I’ve removed one of her limbs whenever I go upstairs and shut the door. Of course, that’s how she reacts anytime I’m in a room with the door shut and she’s not with me.