Every single morning, we do the same thing. Every single morning, I smile . . thinking how many hours I sat outside on the steps, beggin Cat to come just a little closer, begging Cat to stop hissing at me, begging Cat not to run for the woods if I made one move too quickly. It’s hard to believe that was over 2-1/2 years ago and now, she can’t get enough attention. She’s still very nervous. If I cough or sneeze . . she’s gone, like a streak of lightning. She must go somewhere, to her safe space, and calm down because I won’t see her for hours if I scare here. She follows me around outside and if I move the water hose to quickly, or if I do anything she isn’t expecting, she runs. If a stranger is here, and by stranger, I mean anyone other than Vinceo or me, and sometimes Vince qualifies as a stranger in Cat’s opinion, she’s gone. No one ever sees her but us.
Every morning, she’s waiting on the porch for me. She meows and meows and gets louder and louder if she thinks I’m taking too long. On the rare mornings that I shower and get dressed (in street clothes) before going outside, she goes and sits in front of my bathroom window and meows.
As soon as I walk out, she runs ahead of me towards the chicken coop on the north side. She knows I go to that one first. Vince goes to the other one first and I think that frustrates Cat. She runs ahead and hops up in this old chair and waits for me to pass.
Cat
I pet her on my way to the coop. Then I pet her on my way back. If I get sidetracked and go to the greenhouse or take too long, she will come looking for me.
Cat
She runs ahead of me.
Cat
But if she gets too far ahead of me, she comes turns and comes back closer to me.
Cat
Several times along the way, I have to stop and pet her. She will get right under my feet and stop. I told my friend who feeds her when I’m gone . . I don’t know if she’ll come close to you but if she does, be careful because she will trip you in an effort to get petted.
Cat
She runs across the driveway to the coop on the south side of the house and waits for me there. Then she leads the way back to her food bowl.
Cat
Almost to her food bowl, she waits not so patiently for me to get there. I’m not quite as fast as she is!
Cat
A little more petting and some food. Her morning is complete. She’ll eat and then go off and do whatever she does all day. It will be evening before I see her again.
We’ve come a long way. I never thought she would be this friendly or be so set in her ways that we have to do the same thing every morning.
I’ve made no progress with Thief but once it gets warmer, I’ll start spending more time trying to win him over.
wanda j says
See it just takes patience. Cats come around they just do it on their own time. I’m going to send you photo of my daughters cat who looks just like this someday. She is just fatter than yours but looks like Cat is getting there finally.Have a great weekend.
Diann says
That’s so interesting. Love the photos and wonder what is her true history for being in the woods. Thief I don’t remember so much what you have blogged earlier. I am sure both don’t want you to move away.
Carolyn says
A cat’s attitude is….Take a number and wait.
Maggie says
My scaredy cat acts almost just like this, except she is an inside the house princess. I went away for a few weeks and my kids were home, but she mostly hid from them. She scared of the sound people make with the sniffles and the snap of a banana peel! You are only allowed to pet her when she says so.
Sherry Moran says
Once when both Tim & I were gone for a week, my d-in-l and grands came to feed and take care of our cat. They said they never saw her, but the couch growled at them everytime!
Sherrill Pecere says
My cat’s not much for petting but he does love to run just ahead of me and trip me up if I’m not watching. As soon as I begin to move in bed in the am, he’s there to help speed up the process so his food bowl will be filled faster.
susan says
whatever happened to the cat that lived in the quilting room? i must havemissed something?
Rebecca in SoCal says
Cats do love routine, and she has worked one out.
I’m not sure where the hissing fits in, though. The picture on the chair looks like she may be hissing.
quiltnqueen says
How awesome. What a fulfilling, gratifying feeling it must be to have won her over. 🙂
Dottie says
Great story and great pictures!!
Susan says
She is making sure you stick to that routine, isn’t she? Cats are funny and amazing creatures. As often as my son’s cats bash their heads against the door, or go skittering of the desk when they jump into a box, I would expect they’d have no brains left, but it doesn’t seem to affect them.
cassews says
awwww How precious .. Routine is routine with some cats .. The grand cat was that way till we took him back to Dad.
lacefaerie says
Cats love their routines! Our Balinese 1 yr old kittens will sit at the start of the hallway, meow and stare at us if we are 10 minute late heading to bed. Cats are so funny!
Robin Crittenden says
Did she ever get in the heated house? Did you take one side of the roof off. It worked for ours.
Judy Laquidara says
No! We took the lid off and she looked at me like I had ruined her home but she still didn’t get in it.