It's been six months now and this wild little kitty has wormed her way deep into my heart. The first few months were tough. More than once, out of frustration, I briefly thought about taking her back to the shelter but I saw something more in her so I hung in there and I'm so happy I did. She's about 1 1/2 years old now. She's being treated with antibiotics for Bartonella and I've added probiotics to her food to keep her gut healthy- which she eats! She's pretty picky about additives to her food; mainly if it's medicine. Hopefully, she'll beat that bacteria and it will be flushed from her system.
She has the loudest purr. She follows me everywhere. She sleeps with me and the dog now, She meows and brings little stuffed toys as gifts into the bedroom when I'm sleeping. instead of yowling as if she were lonely much of the night. She curls up next to me on the couch. One time recently, I fell asleep on the couch and when I woke up she was curled into a tiny ball next to my head and neck. She talks to me all the time (of course I talk out loud to her). She has several different meows, purrs, and chirps. Now, when I take a shower I put a small towel on the counter and when I get out, there she is laying on the towel- just like Twig did and a couple other kitties in my near past. She does an upside down somersault to greet me. She raises her back and bonks her head to greet me. She's adorable.
Do I like the love bites? Not really. Does she still get too crazy and get into things? Yes! There are spray bottles in nearly every room to remind her what's acceptable and what isn't. She still doesn't like to be held for too long so I don't force her. She still runs as fast as possible and jumps on things I'd rather she didn't. I've adjusted the safety of the house for her. She chews on everything. I monitor her use of silvervine twigs to make sure she doesn't hurt her gums again. Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), also known as tapping, helps keep her calm. As do Flower Essences and tinctures specially made for calming animals.
It's important to breathe and give the newly adopted animal room to breathe and let them get comfortable with you and they're new space. Some of these animals have been abandoned, abused, afraid, unsocialized. Unconditional love goes both ways. Patience really is a virtue. She's taught me a lot. She bonks heads with me and my heart opens wide. She's an inherent part of the Hawke family now. Even if she still doesn't respond to her name. We'll get there.
The big question now- What happens when the Christmas tree and decorations go up?! 😲
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