All’s quiet on the side porch with Sneaky inside and Junior not here to entertain us with his antics anymore. When I pull the game camera chip, where I would have over a thousand photos before, I have only a couple hundred now. The porch is much quieter with just Boomer and Walter (and the opossum) eating from the feeder. A long haired black with white underbelly kitty showed up briefly. We have some infrequent visitors from time to time. Most of them seem to stop in for a drink, which is perfectly acceptable.

I was able to reduce the setting on the feeder to release half a cup with each drop instead of the cup or more I was using before. I don’t want food in the feeder overnight, because I don’t want to feed the opossum and the raccoon. I’m okay with them getting water.

Sneaky is in the house and mostly miserable. She escaped to outdoors a couple of days ago, and the difference in her was clear. She loved being outdoors. She is depressed indoors. Part of that is getting acquainted with and dealing with the other cats. She’s accustomed to being the Queen of All She Surveys, and inside, so far, she isn’t. I’d be depressed, too. I think she’s made her peace with Daphne. Ajax and her are working things out now, and we’re keeping Lady at bay, but she’s watching. That introduction will come in time. Once those three work things out, I believe Sneaky will be able to move around with more ease.

When we’re in San Antonio, Lady loves spending time in the back yard. I can tell I’m going to need to let Sneaky out a couple of times a week here to satisfy her need for fresh air. Her joy at being outside is palpable. She runs around refreshing her scent on everything.

I’ve released Sapphire to the parlor and kitchen for the last couple of days. Yesterday, she escaped the cage before I could catch her for her mandatory cuddling session, and the day before, Mr. L didn’t know to catch her before letting her out, so after two days with no cuddling, she was testy about such things. I caught her this morning, and she’s snuggled into my shirt while I type this, playing ostrich (I’m not here. I’m not here. I’m not here.) Her reward for snuggling will be free time during the day in the parlor and kitchen. Thankfully, she’s been using that time to play and be out in the open. I’m grateful she’s not spending her time hiding.

Rossie prefers to be out, and after I’m convinced she and Lady (and, to a lesser extent, Ajax) have things worked out, I’d love to give Rossie the run of the house. My concern is she will retreat to under the dresser upstairs, and we’ll never see her again. For now, she comes out, moves around the parlor, and spends time in the rocking chair where we are free to talk to her and pet her. Lady has attempted to breach that citadel and has been rebuffed numerous times, so Rossie’s confidence is good. We want to keep that. At this point, I think putting Rossie in the cage at night prevents Lady from attacking her, and Rossie feels safer, which allows her to be more relaxed during the day. This, we want. We want a confident Rossie. The process is slow, but we’re seeing that development.

Kitties are healthy. We’re happy about that.

Added later. Maybe Sneaky is getting more relaxed: