I guess these posts will end once the kitties are all integrated? Which at the moment feels forever away, but we will get there.

March 24

Gave Cali and Henry some freedom in the bedroom. No pictures of Cali as she spends most of her bedroom time under my bed.

March 25

Henry enjoying bedroom window time.

After having freedom in the bedroom for QUITE a while, I finally spotted that they were both back in the bathroom and ran up to shut the door. As I’ve said before, I need to get them in there so I can let Gwen have time in my bedroom for area/scent swapping, and for when I re-start introductions. Also, it’s just much easier to interact with Cali and give her treats when she’s not under my bed.

Cali came out to eat from the bowl while I was in the bathroom with them! She definitely keeps an eye on me as you can see in the photo, but it’s better than always in her cave. She’s getting braver/more comfortable!

March 26

I brought in some chicken. I tossed a couple of pieces in front of Cali’s cat tree. Once I turned my back to wash my hands, she came out for it. So I went to toss another piece in front of her and she had the nerve to hiss at me, and then PROMPTLY ate the piece of chicken. So rude. I’m kidding of course, she’s just telling me I got too close.

The new plan for step 1 introductions is to: shut bedroom door with Gwen downstairs, put a towel in the gate (so they can’t see each other), open the bathroom door and put down a treat puzzle by the gate, close the gate, open the bedroom door, and let Gwen in, and give Gwen a treat puzzle by the gate.

Yes my “treat puzzle” is just a muffin tin. The intro went well, with both cats (Henry and Gwen, Cali doesn’t participate) enjoying their treat puzzles and occasionally looking up when the other makes a noise, but then right back to treats. I did it again in the evening and it went the same.

Henry playing with a toy. Cali sleeping in her tree. Henry by the door.

At dinner time, I fed Henry as usual and gave Cali her Churu as usual. I didn’t have to reach in right up to her face to get her to come out! And she ate in front of me again! I think this is only the second time she’s eaten from the bowl in front of me. And then even more exciting, after she was done, she came near me and sniffed a toy and my book. Then she used the cat box while I was in the room! Henry was very vocal the whole time, I think he might have been freaking out as much as I was.

March 27

At breakfast, I gave Cali her Churu and once again, she didn’t need to have me shove it right in her face before she’d try it. If this continues, it means I can let her out more, since I should be able to coax her out from hiding places like under my bed.

I did the towel/treat interaction again. Henry was less interested in the treats than what was on the other side of the towel. Gwen somehow got spooked at one point, but otherwise the interaction was fine.

I did towel/treat interaction again in the afternoon and Gwen was NOT interested in the chicken I had for her. At first she wasn’t even interested in getting off the bed and coming over. She came over finally and I gave her some pets as her reward, since she wasn’t interested in the chicken. Henry enjoyed the chicken, so win-win.

Henry looking adorable and relaxed.

Cali was very active today coming out of her spot several times.

She pooped in the litter box and walked around with me in the room! And used the cat scratcher! And OMG she played with a toy! I almost cried. Then she went on the other side of the room and cleaned herself. All in my presence. I didn’t get a ton of photos because I was afraid to spook her.

March 28

Not much for updates. I was out all day so my time with the kitties was mostly just the usual feeding, Churu, cat box clean up.

March 29

We had a good gate intro time. Both (Gwen and Henry) had snacks. Both would occasionally look up at the towel, but then they went back to their treats. After both of them sniffed and did a little paw through the bottom crack. No hissing!

At the second treat gate time Cali joined!!

My first photo with all three cats! Gwen on this side of the gate. Henry’s rear end and Cali on the other side of the gate. Bonuses, you can see Henry’s green spring in the background, and Gwen’s tongue is out.

After the gate time was over, Cali and Henry had a little tiff as there weren’t enough snacks for both (I didn’t expect her to join in). So I came back in after and put them out and she came out for them!

March 30

I laid down on the floor and Henry circled me, sniffing me a lot. Then he played with a toy right next to me, even hitting me with his tail. Definitely the most contact we’ve had. I’m 100% going with the “wait for them to initiate contact” theory. And again, I feel like once they’re all three integrated and Cali and Henry see how Gwen interacts with me, they’ll begin to initiate.

March 31

Five weeks! Some excellent progress this week with multiple Cali outings.

I also wanted to say that this is not normal! Anyone who would consider adopting a cat, it isn’t usually this hard. Even Gwen, who was supposedly a spirit cat, immediately warmed up to me and quickly integrated with Alice. Better socialized cats won’t take this much work. I hope that these posts don’t turn anyone off from adopting cats. Again, I’m mostly posting for my own posterity/memory, and in case it helps anyone that does adopt a less socialized cat. But it’s not the norm, I promise!