For the Plus 1, Jase is off to summer camp for a week and a half. The inside cats are relieved, the outside cats will be missing their curious creature they monitor movements for.
Ajax: Ajax is somewhat curious about Jase, but he doesn’t appreciate Jase jumping on him (nor do I).
Lady: Lady is getting a lot of exercise jumping over baby gates. Despite this, she’s the other of only two inside cats interested in interacting with Jase. Usually she’s swiping at him as he’s barking at her. He thinks it’s great fun. We’re trying to teach him to be nicer to her, but we’re not sure how.
Tarzan: Tarzan wants nothing to do with Jase and is perfectly willing to tell Jase that.
Sneaky: Sneaky sometimes watches Jase from the dining room window and talks to him. Mostly, she minds her own business. She thoroughly enjoys being held and petted in the recliner.
Delta: Delta is doing well. She prefers her attention late in the evening or early in the morning.
Ruby: Ruby’s attitude remains unchanged. If she’s on the bed, she might let you pet her. Or she might slip over the side of the bed and disappear underneath. Any other place in the house is off-limits for interaction.
Rossie: Since Jase’s arrival, Rossie has become more elusive; however, I see her out and about at odd times, so she’s doing well.
Zelda: Zelda is still a puzzle, but she’s in a one step forward, one and a half steps back mode for socialization. She’ll rub my ankles and actually allow me to stroke my hand down her back to her tail, then the next day she looks at me as if I’m going to eat her. Even so, I’m amazed at the progress. I thought I might be able to apply a dose of Revolution to her neck this month. Nope.
Walter: Walter cannot get enough of Jase. When Jase comes out for a walk in the evening, Walter is right there watching. He has allowed Jase to sniff him a time or two, but Jase just can’t seem to control his excitement at meeting Walter, and, well, Walter wisely steps out of the way when a nearly 40 pound puppy gets excited.
Daphne: Daphne wants nothing to do with Jase. She likes to be petted in the morning, either in the window sill at the top of the stairs, or she will come into the bedroom and allow me to pet her, or she will wait near the stairs to be petted when I descend for the day.
Sapphire: Sapphire is her usual skittish self. She’s nearby but isn’t interested in being petted or handled. There was a period of a few months where she allowed it, but we’re back to, “Maybe I’ll deign to sniff your fingers, but you had better be as far away as possible when I do.”
Scooter: Scooter appears to be doing well, but he has been very reluctant to be anywhere near us since the trapping incident. He’s still nervous about eating canned food (the bait I used in the trap), and while he’s relaxing on the side porch in the morning, when I come around the corner of the house to bring them their cans, he’s disappearing under the house to wait on the ductwork, where he may or may not come out to eat his can while I’m within sight.
Gray Socks Ghost: Gray Socks Ghost is very skinny. I’m trying to slip him extra food to see if he’ll gain some weight. He’s allowing me to pet him both before and during feeding. This is reminiscent of when Walter was beginning to be socialized, so I have hopes he will come around.
Daisy: Daisy is clearly Sapphire’s sister and Zelda’s daughter. She, like Sapphire, is around but will not permit handling (if I can ever catch her, she doesn’t seem to mind being held and petted for a little bit, though). She won’t even sniff fingers, though.
Each one of these critters has their own personality and quirks. Each one is a blessing, even though I’m saddened that so few are interested in human interaction.
