March 11

Technically the evening of the 10th, but after my last update…

Henry being Henry. He’s going to be trouble. Ha! I tossed some treats in front of Cali, and she actually poked her head out to eat them while I was there!

Overnight, she came out and sat on the ottoman for a while with Henry observing from the top of the cat tree.

I came in and was excited to see that Cali didn’t leave the ottoman to go hide in the cat tree! She stayed! I tried to give her a Churu while she was on the ottoman, but she wasn’t going for it, and I didn’t want to spook her. So I sat back and she went to eat from the bowl, while I was in the room!!

Later she was on the ottoman, and I gave Henry treats. I put a treat on my hand (wouldn’t balance on the toothbrush) and held it out to her. She thought about it for a second, but then swatted (not actually making contact, just warning me to get away). I returned to giving her Churu, which she was happy to keep eating.

March 12

Henry used the litter box while I was in the room. Not sure if that’s a good sign or was just coincidence of timing. Either way, he’s comfortable with my presence. Cali ate another Churu from the ottoman. It’s little scarier than when she’s in the botto of the cat tree. She has the high ground on the ottoman. There’s a non-zero chance she launches herself onto my face.

Both of them eating again, in front of me! Cali on the ottoman, with Henry wondering how close he should get. Henry’s unique way of using the cat scratching post, which is to climb it.

March 13

Overnight, Cali got into one of the cat beds on the floor by the door! That’s exciting, another spot that she’s explored out to and felt comfortable enough to sit.

Henry ate chicken out of my hand! He’s definitely getting more comfortable with me.

Cali with some more ottoman time. Henry playing in the sun like a real cat.

March 14

The gate is up! Gwen and Henry interacted (no pics as I try to maintain peace, play, and hand out treats). He got treats. She got pets. Only a couple of hisses were exchanged. I think Gwen could see Cali and Cali could definitely see Gwen. While they don’t interact, I at least want them to know the other exists. Henry keeps going to the door even after Gwen is gone.

Henry is becoming more and more brave. He comes over to the food bowls sometimes before or as I am putting out food. He doesn’t seem bothered that I’m that close. He will sniff my hand or my foot when I’m sat on the floor giving Cali her Churu.

When Gwen and Henry interact at the gate, I use a toy on a wand. Previously Henry would bat at it, but not jump. And pounce on it when dragged on the floor. After gate time, I just played with Henry with the toy. I swear he saw how Gwen played and started playing that way. He was doing a lot more jumping and rolling onto his back! Cali was at least following the toy with her eyes even if she didn’t play. That’s new, too. She previously ignored us and the toy.

Upper left, he’s gone full blown silly cat, chasing around his beloved green spring, and ending up under one of the beds. Upper right, a boy and his spring. Bottom left, Henry rolling around with the wand toy. Bottom right, Cali keeping an eye on things.

March 15

Much of the morning Cali was on ottoman. Happy to see her out of the cat tree more and more.

Gwen and Henry batted at the toy through the gate, together at the same time, with no hissing! I’m very happy about that. I do have to make sure I’m there to distract any hard stares, but otherwise it’s going well.

Gwen and Henry playing at door some more while Cali was on the ottoman. She didn’t seem concerned or scared.

Later after giving treats to Cali and Henry, I put my hand out to Henry. He thought it was a toy and tried to grab it, gently, but did not understand what hands are for.

Then I laid down on the floor, inching closer.

OH MY HEART. First Cali, just chilling and looking at me. Even when she’s on the ottoman, after her Churu, she generally lays down and gives “I’m ignoring you” vibes. Look HOW ADORABLE SHE IS. Then Henry, laying in a bed, right next to me, unperturbed. TOE BEANS!

Moments later, Cali was done with me and Henry and photoshoots.

I actually heard her making little sleep noises! So freaking cute.

March 16

I saw a tip about putting your scent on something (like a sock) and putting that on a stick to warm them up to being pet/touched by humans. I didn’t have a stick handy, or a sock, so I pulled my hoodie sleeve down past my hand. I inched it toward Henry and touched his paw. He half-heartedly swatted at the sleeve, but not really. So I “pet” him with my sleeve (I just barely brushed his paw with the hoodie sleeve). He let it happen without swatting! I did it again and was able to get in a couple more paw pets.

We had two good gate interactions with Gwen and Henry. Short on time, but no hisses. Later had another interaction, this one was longer and at the end I was just petting Gwen and sitting (no distracting toy) and Gwen hissed at Henry.

Somehow three springs have disappeared, so I brought out the last one. Henry was in heaven, chasing it all around the room. Cali looked over at me like “really?”. I said “I’m sorry, but he gets bored and tears up the toilet paper”. And then she slow blinked at me (cat way of saying, I like you). Ha!

Henry does have his chill moments.

March 17

Three weeks! We made it to the second milestone. “They get into a routine. They hopefully start to let their guard down. They can start to have some behavior issues.” True, true, and true! I definitely see that Henry is getting bored with just the bathroom. A couple of times he seems to have messed with Cali, and I think it’s just boredom. I hope we can progress soon to all three cats interacting, so I can at least let Cali and Henry have the whole second floor, rather than just the bathroom. It’s more of a risk of keeping them contained (door is at the top of the stairs and I don’t want to die trying to keep them separate), so I want them integrated before I let them free.

It’s all very two steps forward, one step back. And every step back makes me sad and worried. Writing these blog posts actually helps as I can see all the progress they’ve made. We will get there, I just have to keep being patient (which I’m not at all good at) and keep working forward.

Three months is the next milestone from the 3-3-3 rule. For me, the next big milestone (and I’m writing these all out, mostly for my own “talking out loud”) will be letting the cats be face to face, supervised. After that it will be letting Cali and Henry have the second floor. I want Cali to not just stay secluded where I can’t even entice her out with Churu before I let them have the whole house. Face to face and unsupervised will be next. First and second floor will be the next milestone after that. Then lastly, the basement. With all it’s nooks and crannies, hiding spots, and potential dangers, I need to feel completely comfortable with how they’ve all adjusted (and do a lot more cleaning/organizing) before they are allowed full run of the house.