At last - I have cats!

[Allergictoironing]

Well not quite yet, but as soon as the logistics of getting a few days off work so I can settle them in has been sorted, fitted around days when either my DSiS or SiL can come with me to collect them.

Now madly ordering Stuff on line for them like a large cat tree, litter trays, beds, feed bowls, brush/grooming mitt, carry basket(s), litter, food, window screens (they will be indoors only cats).

So what have I forgotten? I've been wanting this for years, and planning seriously for months, and now it's a reality my mind has gone blank!

as

PS - 'cuppie tea' doesn't mean that I'm actually going to make one. You just need something consistent to say which indicates that you're going to move or leave the room etc. I have several words/phrases which I use and they're fine if used rigidly in context.

I couldn't resist a Wee look. They are beautiful. Congratulations

I do talk to them if I'm going to move about or leave the room, but I hadn't thought of using consistent words just relying on my voice being a reminder that I was about & it's the giver of Dreamies that's moving around (I've made sure that at least Lassa has watched me putting the little crunchy cat-crack nuggets down).

Use of the same phrase seems to work. My own old lad is very bright and very experienced - and has a large vocabulary - but on the down side, he can become close and anxious at times so a consistent phrase seems to be something that he finds reassuring. You just have to be utterly consistent in its use so that they understand it fine.

It all sounds to be going very well with your two so far.

I definitely think I'm ahead of schedule with them, though they didn't come out much last night - just lay on the very bottom of the cat tree and looked suspiciously at me every time I went through the door.

They've eaten & used the litter tray during the daytime today for the first time, today being my first day back at work so out all day since they came home.

They sound as if they're doing really well. They'll come to learn your routine over the next short while.

Aww. Welcome to slavery!

How's it going?

Not bad and thank you for asking Cozie. Tablecat has developed a bit of a Dreamies addiction, so will eat them within about a foot of where I am sitting. Not really bribing her . She takes longer every time to vanish when I go into the room, and was actually still lying on the sofa this morning as I walked past her to the litter tray to clean it out, though she did move off while my back was turned.

They started playing with a couple of felt fish I'd left lying about, never in front of me of course but they are in different places in the mornings and one has vanished entirely (probably with Sofacat under the sofa), so I left a couple of rope mice with catnip out for them last night. Both are still visible, but in very different places to where I left them.

Both eating well as far as I can tell - well if it's just one eating all that food, they won't fit behind anything soon! I put a tray of growing grass down the other day & that's definitely been a bit chewed. Oh and Sofacat actually used the litter tray with me in the room yesterday - major breakthrough IMHO!

So slow but steady progress, and still well ahead of my original estimates of where they'd be after a week .

All sounds fine.

(And when you think of their history? It's a good bit more than fine. )

oops meant to say TABLECAT used the litter tray with me in the room, not Sofacat (he's still far too nervous of everything). She did it again just now, then ate Dreamies about 2 inches away from my hand which she then sniffed at! Another breakthrough methinks .