I think I’ve mentioned Natasha has finally relaxed into the family.  I was pretty convinced of it nearly a year ago.  This is a common sight: Natasha sprawled on her side, very relaxed:

In the past couple of weeks, she’s even taken to snuggling with hubby.  That leaves only Ajax she hasn’t warmed up to yet, but she’s more receptive to his queries than she’s ever been, so I think it’s just a matter of time.

I mention this, because Natasha is a rescue cat.  She was in foster care (with a wonderful foster mommy) for two years before she came to me in 2005 at approximately four years of age.  She had some issues from before she went into foster care.  If you’ve adopted a cat (or a dog) with an unknown past, be prepared for them to take some time to relax — and accept that they might never do so.  Be patient and loving.  Don’t put them in situations where they feel trapped.  Each case will be different, but some friends of ours adopted a dog with similar issues over a year ago.  We can see her progress as well, but she, too, has a long way to go before she’ll trust other humans.

Natasha is a wonderful kitty, and I’ve been thrilled to have her in my life.  Hubby and I both just want her to be happy, but we’ve also put her in a bit of a stressful situation by having both dogs and cats.  Natasha was good with dogs — mostly, she ignored them.  She has had issues with other cats, but seemed to like the kittens, which was why we kept two of them.  She was also not to be around children (if held too long, she would bite — at first — mostly, she doesn’t now, but we’ve learned to read her; kids can’t typically do that).  Children aren’t a problem for us, so she’s worked pretty well. But even though it’s taken her six years to really relax in her homes, hubby and I are thrilled for her.  Finally, it seems at eleven years old, she’s comfortable and happy, and we’re happy for her.

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