Pet Stories Blog

Linda FortuneAuthor of Regal: An Intimate View of One Magnificent Feline

My subsequent visits with Tux and Millie.

After conferring with Jasmine, I immediately went over to be with Tux and Millie. As I walked through the front door, Millie was in her usual spot—sleeping on the couch—while Tux was crouched underneath. This was about my third visit to the house since taking on the task of establishing a relationship with Tux and I was aware that this was the first time that she was crouched underneath and not on laying on her red blanket on the couch. When I caught the glance of her eyes, her message was clear. “Oh, so you’re the one.” It seemed to me that she knew I was coming and was not altogether happy about my visit. I really could not blame her. A lot had happened in the past weeks and it was a lot to digest.

My visiting routine basically went like this. If both cats were on the couch, Millie was always in the middle and invited loves and touches. Tux, on the other hand, always had very wide-open eyes, watched my every move, and would not let me get close. If my hand got in proximity, she would jump down off the couch, and walk into the dining room. She would then make a mad dash upstairs. I would find her under Margie’s bed hiding just out of arm’s reach.

Lying on the floor, I would talk with Tux with a soothing voice. Slowly, I would stretch my hand out in her direction endeavoring to let her get a sniff of my scent. Sometimes I could touch her cheek or fur in some place before getting a swift swat of her claws which always drew blood. Her claws were very sharp. I do have to say that I was not taking this all personally. Tux had even been difficult for Margie to handle. Some things were a definite no-no—getting Tux into a cat carrier, going to the vet’s office, or getting her toenails clipped. So, her toenails were sharp and she used them now as she felt threatened.

However, slow but sure, day-by-day, she was becoming more familiar with me. Then, on one particular morning, something happened that unconsciously started a shift and, I think, in both of us although I was not conscious of it at the time.

Next entry: Merry Christmas and New Year Wishes along with a perfect gift selection for the cat or animal lover in your life.

With blessings, Linda