Update on my foster baby...

[Lisa0825]

I did get the Feliway plug-in on Thursday night and set that up. In the last update, I mentioned how well he was doing, and how we snuggled for a good 15 min or so, and he purred all over me. Well, I let him have the run of the house at that point, which now I feel was too soon. After our little snuggle session, he has avoided me at all costs. In fact, I completely freaked at one point, because when I finally found him, he had managed to getthe kitchen cabinet open, and there was a hole in the back that I did not know about, and he got into it! I went to the shelter and got a Havaheart trap in case I needed to try to capture him. Apparently he has kitty psychic abilities, and was thinking "aw crap, she's gonna cage me in!" because when I got home with it, he went scrurrying out and hid in the living room. I covered the hole and secured the cabinet doors, and thought I'd go ahead and let him wander the rest of the house, rather than put him through any more trauma.

Well, that evening, I saw him run past the hallway while the other kitties, Katherine and Jennings, were playing in the front room. They ended up playing so well together right where I could see them without startling them! It was too cute! :loveya: I snapped some pics, but it's from a zoom and low light, so they aren't very good. Chance is the tabby with the white chest and socks. The other tabby is Katherine, and Jennings is white with the mask. He seems perfectly content in the house with the kitties. It's only when he encounters me that he gets scared and runs away.

He also comes and sits right by the entrance to the hallway and just watches me, and I talk to him from there. If I try to get up, he leaves. But last night, he even followed Katherine right into my room and sat by the door for a few minutes, so I guess that is progress! :-)

The yellowish pic is him at the entrance to the hall, just watching me sitting on my bed,

http://photobucket.com/albums/a68/Lisa0825/Chance%202-10/

[ET Awful]

1. Awwwww, what a lovely trio.

Chance is a cutie :P

[Beaverhausen]

2. He's doing fine. I adopted a kitty that took weeks to get used to me

My dear Carmine had been living at the vets for a few months. I adopted him and he lived under my bed for weeks and slowly but surely came farther and farther out in the open. It took 6 months for him to finally come and sit on my lap. I felt such a sense of accomplishment that day!

Glad Chance is playing with the other kitties! What cuties they are.

[BrklynLiberal]

3. He is adorable..and sure seems right at home with you and your

other furbabies.

[IndyOp]

4. He is making progress - if you expect it will take weeks then you will

be pleased if it takes less. I think you are doing everything right - it is great to hear that he is enjoying your other kitties and feeling much more comfy in a home environment. He is going to be so, so much more quick to adapt to and bond with his eventual adoptive family because of the time he has spent with you -> :-)

I would encourage you be super, super patient. The Golden I adopted from a rescue had been traumatized by a loving foster mom who kept trying to interact with him -- he still cringes and avoids anyone who comes at him too fast and friendly. If people will stand back a bit he will come to them. He is a love bug, he just needs to make the first move.

[Lisa0825]

5. Thanks for the encouragement:-)

I saw him peeking out from under the recliner last night, and decided to try to pet him, but he ran away. So, I went back to my bedroom and watched TV, but every now and then, I called out to him, with the same phrases I use when I am speaking directly to him. within a few minutes, he took up his regular spot at the end of the hallway and sat and listened while I talked to him:-) He does the slow blink at me, which I have read is a sign of contentment. I just wish the bugger would snuggle me! I hope he will come around. I'll try to be patient and not push him. At least he seems happy, which is the ultimate goal anyway. If he doesn't get adoption-ready, he'll still have a home, either with me or at the Kitty Palace at Whiskerville.

Notice my new avatar? :loveya: