It's been a while since Cinnamon went to the Bridge, and almost a year
since Kerry went. I thought it was time, and started checking out cats.
It's a bit of a challenge, because although our COVID restrictions are
easing steadily, the local shelters are either closed entirely, or open
by appointment only - and that appointment gets you to visit with one
cat which you have chosen online. But they're both trying other methods
to find cats homes, such as making a small number available in pet food
stores or a cat cafe (which has found homes for something like 280 cats
during the pandemic). I examined the options, fighting against the
tendency to say "I'll take them all!" I now have Anna, former name
Clarke, a smallish female brown tabby a bit over a year old. She seemed
very timid in the store - there was a much more outgoing and gorgeous
longhaired orange tabby there too, and when I returned the next day,
having made my decision, two black and white kittens. Kittens are, as
usual, very much in demand. But I wanted the cute little brown tabby,
and was sure she'd get over her shyness. The young woman working there
was obviously startled and delighted when I said which one I wanted -
"Clarke", as the shelter called her, had been up for adoption in the
store for two weeks, and for all that time, everyone had picked other
cats to take home. But she assured me that Clarke was a really sweet
cat, and gently coaxed her into the carrier I had brought.

And she has gotten over her shyness. It took nearly a week, but she
slowly felt more and more confident and spent more and more time NOT
sleeping inside the litter box or under a bureau or actually inside the
back of the loveseat. Now she naps on my lap for long periods of time
when I'm reading or watching Netflix, demands MORE FOOD NOW as soon as I
start moving around in the morning in her quiet little meow. Because
it's warm my (screened) windows are open all the time, and she sits on
the window ledge or the table in front of one window looking out.
Occasionally a bird lands on the roof outside, and she comes to
attention, but so far hasn't tried going through the screens. She has
tried to climb the Roman blind in my bedroom in the middle of the night,
but I don't think she'll do that again. No harm done to her, and the
blind could easily be reattached to its support by velcro. It's not the
first time a cat tried that climb, and they don't usually do it more
than once.

--
Cheryl

On 8/7/2021 4:12 PM, Cheryl wrote:
> It's been a while since Cinnamon went to the Bridge, and almost a year
> since Kerry went. I thought it was time, and started checking out cats.
> It's a bit of a challenge, because although our COVID restrictions are
> easing steadily, the local shelters are either closed entirely, or open
> by appointment only - and that appointment gets you to visit with one
> cat which you have chosen online. But they're both trying other methods
> to find cats homes, such as making a small number available in pet food
> stores or a cat cafe (which has found homes for something like 280 cats
> during the pandemic). I examined the options, fighting against the
> tendency to say "I'll take them all!" I now have Anna, former name
> Clarke, a smallish female brown tabby a bit over a year old. She seemed
> very timid in the store - there was a much more outgoing and gorgeous
> longhaired orange tabby there too, and when I returned the next day,
> having made my decision, two black and white kittens. Kittens are, as
> usual, very much in demand. But I wanted the cute little brown tabby,
> and was sure she'd get over her shyness. The young woman working there
> was obviously startled and delighted when I said which one I wanted -
> "Clarke", as the shelter called her, had been up for adoption in the
> store for two weeks, and for all that time, everyone had picked other
> cats to take home. But she assured me that Clarke was a really sweet
> cat, and gently coaxed her into the carrier I had brought.
>
> And she has gotten over her shyness. It took nearly a week, but she
> slowly felt more and more confident and spent more and more time NOT
> sleeping inside the litter box or under a bureau or actually inside the
> back of the loveseat. Now she naps on my lap for long periods of time
> when I'm reading or watching Netflix, demands MORE FOOD NOW as soon as I
> start moving around in the morning in her quiet little meow. Because
> it's warm my (screened) windows are open all the time, and she sits on
> the window ledge or the table in front of one window looking out.
> Occasionally a bird lands on the roof outside, and she comes to
> attention, but so far hasn't tried going through the screens. She has
> tried to climb the Roman blind in my bedroom in the middle of the night,
> but I don't think she'll do that again. No harm done to her, and the
> blind could easily be reattached to its support by velcro. It's not the
> first time a cat tried that climb, and they don't usually do it more
> than once.
>
I'm so happy for you! and Anna! (Why on earth would they have called
her Clarke?) I'm glad she is no longer shy. Buffy (RB) was described
as timid by a friend of her deceased former owner but within a day of
coming home with me, when she realized there weren't other cats for her
to compete with for food, attention, etc. she came out of her shell.

I'm happy for both of you. She sounds charming! Do keep us (those of
us who still check in on this group occasionally) updated. Got any
pics? You know you can use any number of free photo services to post
links if you have a way to upload photos :)

Jill

On 2021-08-07 6:27 p.m., jmcquown wrote:
> On 8/7/2021 4:12 PM, Cheryl wrote:
>> It's been a while since Cinnamon went to the Bridge, and almost a year
>> since Kerry went. I thought it was time, and started checking out
>> cats. It's a bit of a challenge, because although our COVID
>> restrictions are easing steadily, the local shelters are either closed
>> entirely, or open by appointment only - and that appointment gets you
>> to visit with one cat which you have chosen online. But they're both
>> trying other methods to find cats homes, such as making a small number
>> available in pet food stores or a cat cafe (which has found homes for
>> something like 280 cats during the pandemic). I examined the options,
>> fighting against the tendency to say "I'll take them all!" I now have
>> Anna, former name Clarke, a smallish female brown tabby a bit over a
>> year old. She seemed very timid in the store - there was a much more
>> outgoing and gorgeous longhaired orange tabby there too, and when I
>> returned the next day, having made my decision, two black and white
>> kittens. Kittens are, as usual, very much in demand. But I wanted the
>> cute little brown tabby, and was sure she'd get over her shyness. The
>> young woman working there was obviously startled and delighted when I
>> said which one I wanted - "Clarke", as the shelter called her, had
>> been up for adoption in the store for two weeks, and for all that
>> time, everyone had picked other cats to take home. But she assured me
>> that Clarke was a really sweet cat, and gently coaxed her into the
>> carrier I had brought.
>>
>> And she has gotten over her shyness. It took nearly a week, but she
>> slowly felt more and more confident and spent more and more time NOT
>> sleeping inside the litter box or under a bureau or actually inside
>> the back of the loveseat. Now she naps on my lap for long periods of
>> time when I'm reading or watching Netflix, demands MORE FOOD NOW as
>> soon as I start moving around in the morning in her quiet little meow.
>> Because it's warm my (screened) windows are open all the time, and she
>> sits on the window ledge or the table in front of one window looking
>> out. Occasionally a bird lands on the roof outside, and she comes to
>> attention, but so far hasn't tried going through the screens. She has
>> tried to climb the Roman blind in my bedroom in the middle of the
>> night, but I don't think she'll do that again. No harm done to her,
>> and the blind could easily be reattached to its support by velcro.
>> It's not the first time a cat tried that climb, and they don't usually
>> do it more than once.
>>
> I'm so happy for you! and Anna!  (Why on earth would they have called
> her Clarke?)  I'm glad she is no longer shy.  Buffy (RB) was described
> as timid by a friend of her deceased former owner but within a day of
> coming home with me, when she realized there weren't other cats for her
> to compete with for food, attention, etc. she came out of her shell.
>
> I'm happy for both of you.  She sounds charming!  Do keep us (those of
> us who still check in on this group occasionally) updated.  Got any
> pics?  You know you can use any number of free photo services to post
> links if you have a way to upload photos :)
>
> Jill
>

A fairly early photo - she's been lured to my lap and is swallowing a
cat treat.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/2MKhf1MM3qJDctGQ9

Even earlier - she wanted to stay in the litter box, so I took out the
litter tray and added some cloths.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/2Yxefif2dAqyBJH17

Please ignore the evidence of bad housekeeping!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/V9CGPQa3ChbqvfHZA

--
Cheryl

On 8/7/2021 6:03 PM, Cheryl wrote:
> On 2021-08-07 6:27 p.m., jmcquown wrote:
>> On 8/7/2021 4:12 PM, Cheryl wrote:
>>> It's been a while since Cinnamon went to the Bridge, and almost a
>>> year since Kerry went. I thought it was time, and started checking
>>> out cats. It's a bit of a challenge, because although our COVID
>>> restrictions are easing steadily, the local shelters are either
>>> closed entirely, or open by appointment only - and that appointment
>>> gets you to visit with one cat which you have chosen online. But
>>> they're both trying other methods to find cats homes, such as making
>>> a small number available in pet food stores or a cat cafe (which has
>>> found homes for something like 280 cats during the pandemic). I
>>> examined the options, fighting against the tendency to say "I'll take
>>> them all!" I now have Anna, former name Clarke, a smallish female
>>> brown tabby a bit over a year old. She seemed very timid in the store
>>> - there was a much more outgoing and gorgeous longhaired orange tabby
>>> there too, and when I returned the next day, having made my decision,
>>> two black and white kittens. Kittens are, as usual, very much in
>>> demand. But I wanted the cute little brown tabby, and was sure she'd
>>> get over her shyness. The young woman working there was obviously
>>> startled and delighted when I said which one I wanted - "Clarke", as
>>> the shelter called her, had been up for adoption in the store for two
>>> weeks, and for all that time, everyone had picked other cats to take
>>> home. But she assured me that Clarke was a really sweet cat, and
>>> gently coaxed her into the carrier I had brought.
>>>
>>> And she has gotten over her shyness. It took nearly a week, but she
>>> slowly felt more and more confident and spent more and more time NOT
>>> sleeping inside the litter box or under a bureau or actually inside
>>> the back of the loveseat. Now she naps on my lap for long periods of
>>> time when I'm reading or watching Netflix, demands MORE FOOD NOW as
>>> soon as I start moving around in the morning in her quiet little
>>> meow. Because it's warm my (screened) windows are open all the time,
>>> and she sits on the window ledge or the table in front of one window
>>> looking out. Occasionally a bird lands on the roof outside, and she
>>> comes to attention, but so far hasn't tried going through the
>>> screens. She has tried to climb the Roman blind in my bedroom in the
>>> middle of the night, but I don't think she'll do that again. No harm
>>> done to her, and the blind could easily be reattached to its support
>>> by velcro. It's not the first time a cat tried that climb, and they
>>> don't usually do it more than once.
>>>
>> I'm so happy for you! and Anna!  (Why on earth would they have called
>> her Clarke?)  I'm glad she is no longer shy.  Buffy (RB) was described
>> as timid by a friend of her deceased former owner but within a day of
>> coming home with me, when she realized there weren't other cats for
>> her to compete with for food, attention, etc. she came out of her shell.
>>
>> I'm happy for both of you.  She sounds charming!  Do keep us (those of
>> us who still check in on this group occasionally) updated.  Got any
>> pics?  You know you can use any number of free photo services to post
>> links if you have a way to upload photos :)
>>
>> Jill
>>
>
> A fairly early photo - she's been lured to my lap and is swallowing a
> cat treat.
>
>
> https://photos.app.goo.gl/2MKhf1MM3qJDctGQ9
>
She's pretty!

> Even earlier - she wanted to stay in the litter box, so I took out the
> litter tray and added some cloths.
>
> https://photos.app.goo.gl/2Yxefif2dAqyBJH17
>
Hmmm, maybe she doesn't think the enclosed box is for litter? Thinks it
is a bed? I don't think either of my previous cats would have liked
something like that but then again, they're all different.

> Please ignore the evidence of bad housekeeping!
>
Housekeeping? LOL

> https://photos.app.goo.gl/V9CGPQa3ChbqvfHZA
>
She looks like a real sweetie. Thanks for the pics! :)

Jill

In article <in87piFl3ubU1@mid.individual.net>,
Cheryl <cperkins@mun.ca> wrote:
> It's been a while since Cinnamon went to the Bridge, and almost a year
> since Kerry went. I thought it was time, and started checking out cats.
> It's a bit of a challenge, because although our COVID restrictions are
> easing steadily, the local shelters are either closed entirely, or open
> by appointment only - and that appointment gets you to visit with one
> cat which you have chosen online. But they're both trying other methods
> to find cats homes, such as making a small number available in pet food
> stores or a cat cafe (which has found homes for something like 280 cats
> during the pandemic). I examined the options, fighting against the
> tendency to say "I'll take them all!" I now have Anna, former name
> Clarke, a smallish female brown tabby a bit over a year old. She seemed
> very timid in the store - there was a much more outgoing and gorgeous
> longhaired orange tabby there too, and when I returned the next day,
> having made my decision, two black and white kittens. Kittens are, as
> usual, very much in demand. But I wanted the cute little brown tabby,
> and was sure she'd get over her shyness. The young woman working there
> was obviously startled and delighted when I said which one I wanted -
> "Clarke", as the shelter called her, had been up for adoption in the
> store for two weeks, and for all that time, everyone had picked other
> cats to take home. But she assured me that Clarke was a really sweet
> cat, and gently coaxed her into the carrier I had brought.

> And she has gotten over her shyness. It took nearly a week, but she
> slowly felt more and more confident and spent more and more time NOT
> sleeping inside the litter box or under a bureau or actually inside the
> back of the loveseat. Now she naps on my lap for long periods of time
> when I'm reading or watching Netflix, demands MORE FOOD NOW as soon as I
> start moving around in the morning in her quiet little meow. Because
> it's warm my (screened) windows are open all the time, and she sits on
> the window ledge or the table in front of one window looking out.
> Occasionally a bird lands on the roof outside, and she comes to
> attention, but so far hasn't tried going through the screens. She has
> tried to climb the Roman blind in my bedroom in the middle of the night,
> but I don't think she'll do that again. No harm done to her, and the
> blind could easily be reattached to its support by velcro. It's not the
> first time a cat tried that climb, and they don't usually do it more
> than once.

That's really lovely news! She sounds wonderful and has come out of her
shell. I'm so pleased for you.

Judith

--
Judith Latham
Stourbridge, West Midlands. UK.

On 2021-08-16 4:37 p.m., Judith Latham wrote:

> That's really lovely news! She sounds wonderful and has come out of her
> shell. I'm so pleased for you.

Thanks! She's now totally at home, and comfortable demanding more food
as soon as I show signs of life in the morning!

--
Cheryl

In article <io1hhcFq95fU1@mid.individual.net>,
Cheryl <cperkins@mun.ca> wrote:
> On 2021-08-16 4:37 p.m., Judith Latham wrote:

> > That's really lovely news! She sounds wonderful and has come out of her
> > shell. I'm so pleased for you.

> Thanks! She's now totally at home, and comfortable demanding more food
> as soon as I show signs of life in the morning!

She soon sussed you out. :)

Judith

--
Judith Latham
Stourbridge, West Midlands. UK.