I didn’t think I’d do more updates, but here we are. A lot happened in the last two weeks, that are worthy of an update. 🙂

April 23

Vet visit!

Impossible to tell, but there are cats in those carriers

Shockingly getting them into carriers went really well. Henry just wandered into one of the carriers and sat down. So I put in some treats and zipped him up. Cali was in the bottom of her condo, which she didn’t know has a removable back door. So my boyfriend held the carrier at the front and I opened the back and just nudged her through with a towel. We ended up five minutes early to the appointment, that I was terrified we’d miss altogether because I wouldn’t be able to get them in their carriers. Instead we had a slightly traumatic visit, where they didn’t even get examined. We came home and everything was thankfully pretty normal. They both accepted a churu from me and dinner interaction was the usual, so they seem to have forgiven me for the traumatic experience. On the upside, they got to see that getting in a carrier and a car still means they’re coming back here to their safe space. We will retry a vet visit in a few months, after better socialization and with cat Prozac.

I cleaned up and moved some stuff around upstairs since I no longer need to sequester the cats (in the bathroom or my bedroom). Cali actually ventured downstairs until she got scared and Gwen chased her back up the stairs. I’m starting to think the shelter had it wrong. Henry is the spicy one. Cali is just scared.

April 25

Last night went really well. I think we are continuing to settle into our routine. Gwen likes to sleep in the cat hammock. Henry in one of the double decker condos. Cali mostly under the bed, though I think she spent some time on the top step of the stairs.

I’ve moved the food bowls out of the bathroom and into the hallway close to the stairs, with the hope of getting them to eventually move to the kitchen with Gwen’s original bowls. Everyone still comes into the bathroom first though, I have three adorable observers while I brush my teeth.

That’s Gwen looking left, Cali looking at me, and Henry…looking at the wall. Then Cali loafed in the door, Henry looking at her, and Gwen…ignoring everyone and eating.

We had an interesting thing happen this morning. Usually, Gwen comes into the bathroom first. Then Henry follows. Eventually (and not always) Cali comes in just by the doorway. This morning, while everyone was waiting for me to get to the food part, Gwen flopped down for belly rubs. I gave her belly rubs and pets. She stood up and Cali immediately went over to Gwen and sniffed noses, then nuzzled her. Not sure if to comfort her, check on her, or just wonder why she was crazy enough to flop over for me. But it was cute.

April 26

Cali came partway down the stairs and was rolling around on the step. Henry tried to chase her and she hissed at him and stayed (rather than running back upstairs under the bed). Then she ran up a few minutes later. I’m so glad to see she’s getting braver and more comfortable. Later she played with him on the stairs. Not just being chased by him, but “fought” back. Yay!

She was hanging out on the stairs for quite a while. Watching Henry play. Eyeing me every now and again. It was at least 20 minutes (which is a record for her). I went about my normal life not even realizing she was still there. Then Henry tried to walk past and she chased him upstairs and she went back to her spot under the bed. She came back again, a few stairs lower this time. Then came all the way down and went past me and into the downstairs hallway for a bit!

She comes down the stairs partway and just stays there. Many times she comes down and sits a bit further back. I think she thinks I can’t see her. It’s adorable and hilarious.

April 29

Cali has been skipped our morning churu time for a couple of days, not coming out from under the bed. Today she was back! (I’m not worried as she’s been coming out a lot at other times during the day and night). She came pretty much right over to me. She had her churu and seemed less concerned about me. She finished the churu with the help of Gwen and Henry who now know what’s up and stop their breakfast to come get some churu. Cali went back under the bed, but before I stood up to leave she came back over. I was petting Gwen, and Cali looked at me. I held my hand out for her to sniff (something I do a lot with Henry). She didn’t sniff, but she didn’t hiss or run away either. She looked more like she wasn’t sure what she was supposed to do. Again, calling that progress.

She’s been coming out more and more in the evening. All the way downstairs!

The last couple of mornings around 5:30 AM, Gwen and Henry have gotten into bed with me. Gwen is my clingy baby, so she climbs right on top of me. Henry will jump up on the bed and slink around trying to figure it out. He has come up and sniffed my face. He has also batted at my foot (without claws thankfully). Gwen is there just to get love and snuggle. I’m pretty sure Henry is there to make sure the being that feeds him is still alive. But he usually settles down and waits for me to wake up. Technically all three cats are there, as Cali is UNDER the bed.

Cali used the downstairs cat box! This is a great milestone toward getting all the cat stuff out of my bedroom!

Funny side note, Gwen loves the theragun (one of those percussive massagers). If I turn it on, she will come running and put her head against it. Henry also comes running. But he hates it. He stares at it. If I hold it out to him, he swats at it. For whatever reason, it is his mortal enemy. If I ever need to get the cats to come to me quickly, the theragun will do it.

Another side note. At her last appointment Gwen was told she needed to lose weight. On the downside of our current situation, she’s been eating a lot more between three cats worth of food out and extra treats. On the upside, she’s been running up and down the stairs so much (SO MUCH) more now that Henry is here. Hoping the new exercise at least cancels out the extra food.

April 30

Cali spent most of the night either on the stairs or in one of the cat caves, which is very exciting. Under the bed does seem like her “safe space”, if she gets startled, she go under there, but quickly will come back out.

The way the cats play seems a lot more “fair” now, too. Each one takes turns being the aggressor. Meaning, Henry will chase Gwen, but then Gwen will chase Henry. And Henry will bug Cali, but then Cali will bug Henry. Cali and Gwen seem pretty chill with each other. I’m happy as long as it isn’t always one way, with one cat bullying another cat.

May 4

I think Cali has been out from under the bed for at least the last 12 hours! It feels like she’s been coming over to me more and doesn’t move until I’m close to her (like if she’s sitting and I need to walk past her to get somewhere else).

I’d like her come down stairs more before I move the food bowls downstairs, but I think we are getting close.

They’re all doing well with lots of visitors. My son came home and then went back to school, but is now back for the summer. His girlfriend has visited, too. My daughter was home for a bit and then went back to school. And my boyfriend comes over regularly. Gwen of course is used to it. Henry is curious but cautious, unless you have treats, then he throws caution to the wind and will eat treats from your hand. Cali is Cali, but at least doesn’t regress when visitors are here.

I’m continuing to work on getting Henry okay with me touching him. And then eventually Cali. I’m continuing to encourage Cali to come downstairs (mostly just by doing nothing and letting her explore when she wants). As I’ve said before, I’d like all food bowls on the first floor in the kitchen. Then once I’ve made the basement cat-safe (Henry-safe and Cali-hiding-proof), the litter boxes will all go down there.

We are up to 24 hours straight where Cali didn’t go under the bed! She hung out in the cat cave in my bedroom, or the ottoman in the bathroom, or on the stairs!

I was even able to walk past her on the stairs and she didn’t run away.

May 5

36 hours! We are at 36 hours and she hasn’t gone under the bed! I’m so happy for this milestone.

Some random photos from the last two weeks. Henry in a box. Gwen observing Henry playing. Gwen and Henry relaxing while they wait for food. Henry sitting in Gwen’s spot.

At some point in the last two weeks, I sent an update to the NHSPCA to let them know how the cats are doing. And they posted it to their Facebook page. My babies are “famous”!