Today, Madoc and I will start our journey with memories, both good and sad. It's a new day.

[Siwsan]

I finally got some sleep. I took one of my anxiety pills, turned on a true crime show, curled up under a down comforter and drifted off to sleep with Madoc calmly curled up on my arm. Quite a change from the night before when he was attempting to shred the bedding, and me. I'd wake up, every once in a while to see he had moved but was still very serene. Well, until about 4:45. But that's ok. After some mischief, he settled back down and gave me a good grooming.

The house still feels so empty. I'm going to spend the day with my little marauding kitten, hopefully introducing him to the concept of 'boundaries. He's already learned the power of the bright green spray bottle. As soon as I bring it out, he stops doing what ever mischief he's engaged in. Misbehave and get misted. Behave and get many scritches and maybe even a little treat.

We will be OK. And, oh good! He fell asleep, again. Maybe I'll try to do the same. If the ferals get fed a little late, they'll survive.

[littlemissmartypants]

1. ❤ nt

[femmedem]

2. It's so good to read this, Siwsan.

I'm glad you got some sleep and that you and Madoc are already finding a way forward.

Also, what is this thing you call boundaries? (Madoc must be better behaved than our cats, who have trained us to scritch them when they jump up on the dining room table.)

[SheltieLover]

3. Glad to know you are well groomed

I'm so glad to hear you & Madoc are moving forward after so much shock & pain.

Boundaries? my kitty wonders what you mean.

[Siwsan]

4. I had Sophie trained to stay off of the kitchen counter and the tables. Well, until recently

When the kittens arrived, in her opinion, all of those rules fell by the way side. And I couldn't argue with her. So, I put a bed on the dining room table but still did my best to keep her off of the kitchen counters.

Then, as suddenly as she started 'breaking those rules', she reverted to lawful behavior.

[niyad]

5. So glad to see that you were able to get some sleep, and that Madoc has been

mostly calm. My guyalso was to know what is this strange word, "boundries". Ah, yes, the mighty spray bottle!

One day, one hour at a time. Sending hugs to you both from my furry and me.

Lso, do not be surprised if Sophii and Morgan come to visit you.

[Siwsan]

6. I keep thinking I'm seeing them, out of the corner of my eye

And yesterday I got a quick glimpse of a big darker shape, like Boudicca, scamper past.

I have no doubt there will still be tears a plenty falling, today, but that should help with the healing. As soon as I think I can handle it, I'm going to share some photos of my angels.

[niyad]

7. No doubt there will be many tears, but you are correct. Thy help with the healing.

Be very gentle and kind with yourself. The little scamp will certainly help with that.

[Ziggysmom]

9. As I read your posts all summer about the kitties, it brought back so many happy memories

of a feral I bottle fed and raised in the late 80s. He was my Ziggy, the Ziggy in my screen name.
He was my muse and constant companion till cancer took him from me 6 years ago.

My dad, who was a cat person, always told me that loving a cat will bless you with many of the happiest days of your life - and one of the worst. I hope you and Madoc will have many of your happiest days together as you both heal, love and comfort each other.

[Ocelot II]

10. You are seeing them. I still see my Milo and Jeoffry,

who passed away just a month apart last summer, walking through the dining room, just out of the corner of my eye. And at night I often hear a floor board outside the bedroom creak, as it always did (and does) when a cat walks on it, and I think it's Pixie until I realize she's asleep next to me. I'm convinced they're still around, and I also think they sent me Mr. Cat to look after.

Cats we love never really leave us.

[wnylib]

12. The "mighty" spray bottle.

My gal stares it down, defying me to actually use it. She usually relents if I give a warning spray near her, but sometimes it requires a direct squirt.

This is an improvement. She used to knock spray bottles to the floor whenever she could and broke a few. Now she realizes that I will just get another one.

I reserve the spray bottle for her most stubborn refusals to get down from "forbidden" (in my mind, not hers) places or stop something. Strangely, she responds best most of the time to a request like, "Ember, please stop that" or to finger pointing downward and, "Ember, please get down."

I don't think that the word "please" is comprehensible to cats, so I suspect that she's responding to the tone, not the word. It's like she thinks, "OK, .if you treat me with respect, I will cooperate. Just don't think you can get away with giving me orders."

[CaptainTruth]

8. You're taking good care of Madoc & he's taking good care of you.

He's such a sweetie, & I'm glad you're feeling better!

[I_UndergroundPanther]

11. I am so glad you kept Madoc

He is a very special little cat and his heart is breathtakingly beautiful,and I can tell from his pictures that he loves you.

I am so sad about everything,but like you said its a new day.

[wnylib]

13. I wonder if the shredding behavior

was related to his discomfort over realizing that something had changed. His companions were gone and you were sad. Changes and uncertainty can disrupt the equilibrium of cats.

[Siwsan]

14. I thought the same thing. That, and he was cooped up for most of the day, all alone

I think he was just overwhelmed by the circumstances and I'm sure the vibes I was giving off were pretty horrible.

Now, although he sticks close to me most of the time, he's also started to explore the house. I've cleaned and set up the enclosed front porch with his kitty perch. Sophie used to sit out there, for hours, watching the birds at the feeders and napping in the sunshine.