Snolly and Panjy

With the last article about Snollygoster and Panjandrum, they were kenneled and scared. On the same day, both Snolly and Panjy decided they had had enough of confinement and busted out of their kennels. I decided to leave them out.

They both ran whenever I walked in the room. After a few days, Snolly would come out to eat while I was in the room but once finished, he would run to his hiding spot. Panjy originally came out to eat but then once she realized food was always out, she opted to eat when I left. I never saw her after the first few days.

Snollygoster

Eventually, Snolly started shortening his circle that he drew around me. That scary bubble started shrinking. Every time he walked by me, he got closer and closer. I made sure to grab him when I could so that I could pet him and kiss him to remind him that he did like me. He really likes to be petted.

After several weeks, Snolly showed great improvement. His sister Panjy got worse. I was never allowed to touch her. I never saw her. On the day everyone went in for spay/neuter surgery, I saved capturing Panjy for last. It took me well over 20 minutes of chasing her around the room. Her favorite place to hide was under the couch. After about 10 minutes of chasing her from side to side under the couch, I finally took the futon mattress off the frame and laid that on the floor. Now she had no place to hide. After darting from me once, she realized it was game over and just slunk down and let me grab her. After her surgery, Panjy was kenneled upstairs.

It seemed like overnight that Snolly made a huge step in socialization. He started greeting me at the door with the other kittens. Why? Because I bring food when I enter the room. It is important to note that Snolly LOVES his food. The boy has gained two and a half pounds in 6 weeks. He's a pudge. After about a week of greeting me at the door, Snolly would then hang back while the other kittens shoved their way to the food. Why was Snolly avoiding food? Because Snolly learned that while the other kittens ate, my lap was completely open. He could have me (and my lap) all to himself for a few minutes. Pet, pet, pet, pet, pet. Purr, purr, purr, purr, purr. And as soon as the other kittens finished eating and started climbing on my lap (and stepping all over him), he'd run to the plate and devour what was remaining.

Panjandrum

Upstairs in her kennel, Panjy was very slowly coming around. I would take her out twice a day to eat. She'd get to eat while sitting on my lap. She learned she loved to be petted. She absolutely adores having her head scratched and ears rubbed. And after about week, she really started nuzzling into the kisses I planted onto her head. Unfortunately, any time I let her off my lap, she'd head for the nearest bookshelf or dresser and crawl underneath, out of reach. Being in a house still terrified her. People, she was starting the learn, brought her food and kissed her head. She liked that. She likes people. But houses are scary. But at least she wasn't climbing the walls.

She got more and more non-kennel time... but that was always spent under something. She would let me pick her up from under whatever (which was a far improvement over having to chase her). As little as that is, it was still an improvement. Every night, I'd find her hiding spot and put her back in her kennel. Just a few days ago, I came into Panjy's room to find her sitting on TOP of the bookshelf. She didn't cower or flinch when I approached her. She was quite proud of herself. I decided that Panjy had earned the right to stay out overnight in her room. No kennel. The next morning, she was walking around without fear. She earned the right to stay out in her room during the day. She is indeed improving. The next step is for her to approach me to be petted.

And the award for most improvement goes to Snollygoster. The other day, Tiramisu and Anisette had an interview. After about a half hour, Snollygoster came out of hiding and WALKED AROUND THE ROOM. With a complete stranger present! Of course, when she approached him, he ran into a corner and shook with fear but up until then he was fine. Someone else got to see him. He's becoming more comfortable with people.

My two challenges are slowly coming around. They're such sweet kittens. One day, they'll be fabulous lap cats who aren't afraid of anything. I'm hoping that one day will be very, very soon.

Updated Words

It's been awhile since I last posted about the kittens. You may have noticed that the room is a lot emptier. And soon it will be very empty.

Katherine Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor were adopted together by a woman who likes shy kitties. Katherine was really warming up to me around the time of her adoption and more and more would let me approach her and pet her. Elizabeth had turned love bug/lap cat months prior. Now in their adoptive home, the girls are doing well. Their adoptive momma is quite smitten with having a loving kitten like Elizabeth. And Katherine is doing well in her new home.

Mugwumps had several interviews with other people prior to finding her people. She had always been polite with the other people and would greet them for about a minute before retreating across the room and refusing to have anything to do with the people who came to meet her. That all changed for the right people. Mugwumps jumped up on their shoulders and gave them kisses. She picked her people and they fell in love with her right away. Mugwumps went home to another cat and they're getting along well.

Taradiddle stole an adoption from Ingrid. Ingrid thought she had it in the bag and after about 10 minutes of being fairly social, stopped interacting with the people. Tara swooped in and stole the adoption out from under Ingrid.

But Ingrid's people soon came. Although Ingrid was quite shy with them, she still won them over. Ingrid needed a buddy so the mom and son chose a kitten from another litter. Since Ingrid could be quite difficult with other cats, that kitten (Espresso) came to stay with us for a bit to make sure that Ingrid could get along with that kitten. Lo' and behold, it was Espresso who had issues coming into the foster room! He was a pistol for several days, whacking anyone who dared to get close to him. All the kittens took it in stride, even though they desperately wanted to play with the new guy. Ingrid developed a crush on Espresso. He finally settled down and the two of them went home together.

Firkin was also paired with another kitten in foster care. He is doing well.

Herman was paired with an adult cat in foster care. Herman is doing well; the adult cat is adjusting to sweet Herman.

Tiramisu and Anisette were adopted together. Their new momma is excited to have friendly, sweet cats as her last several had been standoffish and skittish.

The last two to be adopted are Gazump and Jackanapes. I'm absolutely shocked about that. They are gorgeous AND friendly. My shy ones were adopted before my friendly ones. So odd. The boys have an interview on Saturday. Fingers crossed!