April 7

Went up for the third gate interaction of the day and Cali happened to already be out. She went in her condo, but then peered out at us. Then she came right over to the gate. She sniffed Gwen. There was no hissing for anyone. Cali was very interested in Gwen and the gate. Henry came over and was chatty and she hissed at him! Then she yawned and stretched and went back to her cat cave.

In the evening Cali came out again. She stretched, walked around, ate, used the litter box, and got up on the ottoman.

Henry was being very vocal. I chirped at him and he seemed confused and came over to me and sniffed me.

April 8

I let them into the bedroom as they seemed a bit cooped up. Just before lunch they were both back in the bathroom so we did a gate interaction and Cali joined in again! Gwen was mostly uninterested except for the treat. Cali was interested in treats and Gwen. Henry was interested in everything, but Cali shooed him off again.

Cali went back to the cat tree during a gate interaction. Henry played on his own and used litter box. While Gwen sat at the gate. Those are all good signs to me.

Later I went into the bathroom and thought I’d just leave the bedroom and bathroom doors open (with the gate closed). If Gwen comes up to the gate, she comes up. She did. Henry was unbothered, but Cali went right over! Even while I was in the room. Gwen had wandered away, so I called her back. Henry then became interested. And Cali actually tried to nuzzle Henry! (He was confused and pulled back).

Oh boy! Our first time with all three in one room! Gwen wandered around sniffing everything. Cali mostly observed until she saw chicken, then she came out. Henry was mostly interested in the chicken. We overstayed our welcome a tiny bit and Gwen got a little hissy so we ended it. But overall I think a successful first session!

Side note on food, no one seems to like the pate anymore, just the “grilled” wet food. And Cali seems to prefer dry food. I read that boy cats shouldn’t have dry food, so I may have to invest in those chip feeders.

Cali came out and ate and explored a bit. Went back to her condo. I refilled the dry food and she came right out for it. I guess it makes a nice contrast to the Churu.

I also made a “treat puzzle” out of the paper they put in packages for shipping and threw some treats inside. It was a hit with Henry and Cali.

April 9

I had the gate up, but with no mesh for an interaction. I had everyone take turns getting some Churu. Until I pulled out the teal one, which is Cali’s favorite, and she chased Henry off. Everyone wandered off after the Churu and spent a few minutes just watching each other.

I was going to be gone overnight for the first time since getting Cali and Henry, so I set up food and everything for the night and let Cali and Henry out into the bedroom with Gwen downstairs.

April 10

We had a group visit in the bedroom. It went well until Gwen decided it was still her turn for Churu and she hissed at Henry, who then hissed back. So we ended that session. I gave everyone one last bite of Churu including Cali who didn’t participate because she was under the bed.

We had another all three interaction in the evening. It went well with maybe one hiss, but mostly they all three sort of did their own thing.

My view of Cali under the bed when I try to lure her out for Churu. Henry in the cat tree. All three! Henry in a different cat tree.

April 11

I let Gwen into the bathroom again. She jumped up on one of the cat trees. I also opened the gate. Cali went right out to her spot under the bed. Henry kept going back and forth between Gwen in the bathroom and Cali under the bed.

We had some hissing and swatting, so we went back to a gate interaction.

Also note to self, maybe don’t expect good interactions when it’s windy. I think they were all much more easily spooked.

Before bed we had a good interaction. Everyone shared a churu, taking turns. Henry even laid down for it. Gwen was more chill. He went in the condo and she got up top though to try and mess with him. Then Cali went in the tub and Gwen got too close. So some skippy-baps were exchanged. It’s hard to know what’s ok interaction and what’s not. Like what’s warning/playing and what is actual fighting. I’m watching carefully for ear positions, tail, fluffed fur, etc. So far it all seems like they’re just communicating, not actually fighting.

I’ve started prepping the first floor so hopefully they can start to have that space as well. If needed I can always isolate Gwen if I can’t wrangle Cali and Henry.

Henry being a cat. I tossed my sweatshirt on the floor for a second and he immediately sat on it. All three from the Blink camera. And hard to see, but Cali and Henry being cute in their spots.

April 12

Overnight it looks like Cali was very active and even played with a couple of toys! The night before I brought in the wand toy and used it near her. She didn’t go for it, but did watch intently.

We had a nice calm interaction. Then Henry went into the bedroom and Gwen immediately followed. Had a nice sniff, but then he went under the bed. I sensed that she was going to go after him, so we started to leave only to see Cali had come out and was standing near the door. Cali and Henry greeted each other and we left.

Basically Gwen stalks Henry, and Henry stalks Gwen. It seems ok, as whenever the stalked gets too annoyed, they hiss and the stalker backs off.

We had a very long hangout (an hour!). I think some of what I was afraid as fighting was playing. I think Gwen and Henry are figuring each other out. And playing but I keep stopping them. Some of this hangout was spent playing, but a lot of it in separate places. Cali was in her spot under the bed the whole time.

We had another shorter visit since I saw on the camera that Cali was up. A quick churu for everyone and then I changed the litter in the boxes.

More than once when they were free in the bedroom, Cali has come in when I’ve put out dinner. Sometimes just for churu but today for churu and then she stayed to eat. That feels like great progress that she knows the routine and is willing to come out for food, not just hide and eat it when I’m gone.

Cali in her tree tolerating me. All three with Cali front and center for Churu. Gwen reacting to Henry jumping in and out of my hamper. Bonus Gwen photo, relaxing after all the interactions.

April 13

Cali and Henry were free in the bedroom overnight. I woke up to Henry playing with my foot. Then he came up and sniffed my face, like his nose was touching my face. Very cute. Slightly creepy.

I went in to the bathroom for morning routine and Cali was already in there in the doorway. I needed to go in to feed them and she wasn’t backing up. So I slowly went in. She did leave but just went in the hallway, not back under the bed. I continued the routine until I saw she was back at the door, so I sat down to do churu and she came over! I didn’t have to get right in her face with it. Great progress.

I made Cali and Henry a vet appointment. I’m concerned about getting them wrangled into cat carriers, so I brought them out to get comfortable with them. Henry and Gwen IMMEDIATELY got inside.

Our interactions for all three went well, so I left the bedroom door open. Henry went down to the first floor and explored and pretty quickly came back up. Then he went back down again.

Cali came down while I was in the office! And went back upstairs when she saw me.

While Henry and Gwen were having dinner in the bathroom, Cali took her chance to escape downstairs. She was under the couch for a while, then went back upstairs for food. I took the chance and gave them all a churu.

I had let them all out around 4 PM. There were a few hisses, a few chases, but mostly good. I decided I’d let them be out overnight. However, around 11:30 Gwen and Henry decided to chase each other up and down the stairs, so I locked Gwen back out.

April 14

I let Gwen back in (or rather, opened all the doors) right after breakfast in the bathroom. Cali came in for her Churu. We took turns, and then everyone dispersed. Gwen has eaten their food and used their litter box. This morning, Henry has been exploring the first floor.

I just heard a tussle. Not sure who it was, but I’ve separated them again. I think we’re close and I may be overly cautious. But a TON of progress was made this week and I think we’re close to being fully integrated full time.