Maggie - intrepid explorer - who knew?

[agoodwinsmith]

I have created a really adorable monster.

Maggie started life as an unwanted kitten that was abandoned at a very rural farm in the hills. She must have been mistreated previously because she was very hard to catch, even though she was living under the farmer's porch. (And getting fed by them so they could catch her.)

There is a local animal rescue (Shuswap Paws Rescue Society), and once Maggie was caught, she was fostered out to the sweetest young woman, who named Maggie, and really helped Maggie become calmer. Then I adopted Maggie and learned what she likes and doesn't like.

Dislikes. No holding, cuddling, lap sitting, or other confining affections. No two-handed petting (because you could sneakily grab her). No leaning over her. No loud voices or wild arm gestures which appear to be directed at her (broad definition of "at").

Likes: Petting. All the petting. Especially the head, but even the belly is okay if she flops down and wriggles around (which she does a lot once she feels safe) (I'm seated on the bed, so there is no looming over her). To yell at you (I'm pretty sure there is some very vocal siamese in her background) when it is time for dinner, or petting, or something she can't quite articulate. Sleeping in the heating-pad-enhanced box between the window and the computer. Getting her ears washed by Suzi.

Unlike Suzi, Maggie initially expressed no interest in going outside. Warm, dry, fed, pets as wanted - what more could a cat want?

Well, you know from my reports that Suzi has been a maniac for getting out right from the get go. Once Suzi had escaped, and was outside investigating the foundations of the trailer, Maggie's need to go out was piqued. I don't say "interest" because her first motivation wasn't for the outside itself, but rather to go and protect Suzi - and bring her back inside.

So, whenever Suzi escaped, I would let Maggie out, too, so she could keep tabs on Suzi. Since we are in the no-bug season, I left the door ajar so that Maggie could run in and out if she wished. Suzi rarely wants inside once she is out, but Maggie loves to run in and out, having a snack, checking on me, checking on Suzi.

So. You know I had been letting them out twice a day, then reduced it to once a day in the evening. This has been going so well for Maggie that she has begun to follow me around all day, yelling about how the door isn't open, and what kind of a crummy joint is this, anyway; and so on.

If only they would leave the birds alone[1], I would let Maggie stroll in and out 24/7. I would even install a catflap (because bugs). Oh well. I am enjoying our conversations.

[1] - "if only the cats wouldn't cat"

Comments

[ranunculus]

I had a wonderful cat who was very skittish when I adopted her at about 10 months old. When I met Donald he began trying to get her to sit on his lap. She wanted nothing to do with anyone's lap. Donald is nothing if not persistent so he carefully and quietly lifted her into his lap - for six years with the same result. She would stand up, and stalk off. Finally, on a cold day she noticed that the lap was nice and warm. In the midst of standing up and walking off she paused to consider, walked in a circle and plopped into his lap. From then on she was often found there.

[agoodwinsmith]

Aside from my other reasons, I am sorry that Lorne is gone because he and Maggie would have enjoyed each other's company so much. He was a very calm person who would just do the occasional head pet of a cat on his lap, maybe some combing. Maggie will lay down on my legs if they are covered with a blanket, and Lorne used to put a pillow over his lap (this was after his double hernia operation and we knew Chucko would make a beeline for his lap the minute he got home). I can see them watching soccer together. :)