Jill does a good job of keeping her fur clean and beautiful. She'll also share some licks for you if you're lucky. Occasionally, she'll give my hands a little grooming if they are in the right place at the right time.
Saturday, May 1, 2010
A Declawed Cat
Jill is a front-declawed cat....Declawing cats can sometimes result in long-term pain or stress in the cat...luckily for Jill, she doesn't seem to suffer from any of the negative side effects of declawing. She uses her paws to express affection and she doesn't mind you touching her paws. She reaches out to touch the person she's sleeping next to often...she also will "make biscuits" or "knead" with her front paws when she's really happy.
Occasionally Jill will try to scratch the cats' scratching post as if she had claws. Because scratching helps cats de-stress, I encourage Jill in this behavior. It's cute and sweet that she tries. I hope it helps her release whatever stress builds up between her cat naps and eating. : ) It was also something she started doing only after she got settled in to our household.
If you're looking for a declawed cat, perhaps Jill is your gal.
On another note...look at that cute nose! Does Jill have a darling face or what?? I was chatting with some APA people about how beautiful Jill's face was and they mentioned that many British shorthairs and Russian Blues have short faces like Jill does. We obviously have no idea what Jill is - and who cares! Her little face speaks for itself...
Friday, April 30, 2010
Jill & her feline friends
Jill is easily the most laid-back cat I have ever met. She has a preference for calm surroundings too. My permanent resident cats, Adelie, Mou & Bug, are not always calm. Mou is a formal feral girl who can be quite opinionated about her personal space. She is sometimes not friendly to new cats. Bug is a goober. He sometimes runs like a tornado through the house. He is also a momma's baby (that's what my hubby calls him) and he likes to be cuddled and expects to have the #1 spot in his momma's arms. Adelie is the dominant cat. She's playful and needy. They are all 7 years old.
It's often hard for our resident cats when we bring in a foster. But we use APA's methods to introduce them slowly (after Jill goes through an quarantine period in our study). This went so smoothly with little Jill, but no one was fast friends. As time has gone by, its been interesting to watch their tentative friendships unfold.
Jill is definitely welcoming & friendly to strange cats. She has no hostility and is not bothered by new felines. My cats were bothered by her; she was not bothered by them. Even when my cats hissed at her, Jill just ignored them. She wouldn't even change course - she'd just walk by! I admired her spunk. Bug was peeved. His hiss should be viewed as the most ferocious thing in the world, right??? With time, my cats got curious in her...except for Bug. Jill loves to cuddle almost as much as him and he won't come near me if Jill is there. This leaves him in a puzzling cuddle deficit...
Adelie was the first to really begin to become interested in Jill. One day I was watching TV and Jill was sitting next to me. Adelie jumped up into my lap and invited herself into the snuggle pile. She sniffed Jill...Jill was nice back. Adelie (who looooooves to groom people and other cats) tentatively licked her. Jill was a little worried - was this a hostile poke or a nice lick? but let Adelie continue...Adelie got more into it when she realized she was allowed to groom Jill. By the third lick, Adelie was pleased that Jill was being sweet, and Jill burst into appreciative purrs. Now those two girls can regularly be seen sleeping together on the couch. They don't cuddle up together, but they sleep within a foot of each other. A big step after such a short time!
Bug took one claw-free swat at Jill one time. Right in front of me (tactical error!) She looked at him like he was crazy and continued about his business. But the next time he tried to give her a stink face, she hissed at him, one time. It was enough. Since she stood her ground, simply and firmly, I regularly catch him sleeping on the bed with Jill when I am not home. The don't sleep close together, but they are still sharing the same space. He quickly gets up if he sees me coming - like he doesn't want to get caught. But I am on to him...
It's often hard for our resident cats when we bring in a foster. But we use APA's methods to introduce them slowly (after Jill goes through an quarantine period in our study). This went so smoothly with little Jill, but no one was fast friends. As time has gone by, its been interesting to watch their tentative friendships unfold.
Jill is definitely welcoming & friendly to strange cats. She has no hostility and is not bothered by new felines. My cats were bothered by her; she was not bothered by them. Even when my cats hissed at her, Jill just ignored them. She wouldn't even change course - she'd just walk by! I admired her spunk. Bug was peeved. His hiss should be viewed as the most ferocious thing in the world, right??? With time, my cats got curious in her...except for Bug. Jill loves to cuddle almost as much as him and he won't come near me if Jill is there. This leaves him in a puzzling cuddle deficit...
Adelie was the first to really begin to become interested in Jill. One day I was watching TV and Jill was sitting next to me. Adelie jumped up into my lap and invited herself into the snuggle pile. She sniffed Jill...Jill was nice back. Adelie (who looooooves to groom people and other cats) tentatively licked her. Jill was a little worried - was this a hostile poke or a nice lick? but let Adelie continue...Adelie got more into it when she realized she was allowed to groom Jill. By the third lick, Adelie was pleased that Jill was being sweet, and Jill burst into appreciative purrs. Now those two girls can regularly be seen sleeping together on the couch. They don't cuddle up together, but they sleep within a foot of each other. A big step after such a short time!
Bug took one claw-free swat at Jill one time. Right in front of me (tactical error!) She looked at him like he was crazy and continued about his business. But the next time he tried to give her a stink face, she hissed at him, one time. It was enough. Since she stood her ground, simply and firmly, I regularly catch him sleeping on the bed with Jill when I am not home. The don't sleep close together, but they are still sharing the same space. He quickly gets up if he sees me coming - like he doesn't want to get caught. But I am on to him...
Balconies & Sunshine
I was watering my plants the other day on my balcony when I glanced down and realized the cat at my feet was grey and orange (Jill) instead of brown tabbie (Mou)...My girl cats often go out on the balcony and enjoy the sunshine (interestingly, my boy cat seems to be deathly afraid of heights and will not set one paw on the balcony).
I suppose Jill had decided it was time to see some sun. She enjoys taking her day-long naps in front of the sliding glass doors...looking outside, sleeping, watching the birds, sleeping.
I'm not sure why I was surprised that my brave little Jill was not intimidated by the balcony; Jill has always seemed to have an independent spirit. I reached down and gave her a little protective pat...she seemed pleased with herself and her new adventure. I worried about her wobbly leg, but Jill as usual let me know that my worrying was unfounded. She wandered around exploring with her foster sister cats Mou and Adelie til it was time to go in.
What can I say? Girls just want to lay in the sun.
I suppose Jill had decided it was time to see some sun. She enjoys taking her day-long naps in front of the sliding glass doors...looking outside, sleeping, watching the birds, sleeping.
I'm not sure why I was surprised that my brave little Jill was not intimidated by the balcony; Jill has always seemed to have an independent spirit. I reached down and gave her a little protective pat...she seemed pleased with herself and her new adventure. I worried about her wobbly leg, but Jill as usual let me know that my worrying was unfounded. She wandered around exploring with her foster sister cats Mou and Adelie til it was time to go in.
What can I say? Girls just want to lay in the sun.
Weekends at Adoption Events
This past Saturday Jill went to her first adoption event. After a long morning of extra special snuggles and pets, to make sure she felt as good as could be for the event, I packed us up into the car and headed off to Ohlen Petsmart. I do mean "packed" us up. Jill comes with a care package including a bag of the food she's been eating (to help her transition to her new home - where she can eat whatever food her new family wants to serve her), a bottle of soothing special-for-Jill made aromatherapy drops, her vet records, her rabies certificate, an APA adoption packet with all sorts of good info on adoption a new pet, and most importantly, a handmade knit blanket from our house. Jill has slept on this blanket since she came home from Town Lake Animal Shelter.
Jill was wearing a pretty peach bow for the adoption event. I know I am biased, but she looked gorgeous. She spent the day in the cage next to a 6 week old kitten, but still got tons of attention! I think that says she's a gorgeous gal. Several people held Jill and commented on how pretty and calm and sweet she was. She's a doll!
Overall, Jill was an angel at the event. I stayed with her the entire time, to make sure she didn't get stressed out (I don't mean to be overprotective, she's just so darn sweet!) Plus APA needed the help : ) She even sat in my lap for an hour, just letting herself be cuddled...
When we got home, she lounged about, enjoying her freedom and the comforts of home. This grey and orange beauty won't be around for long! Her sweetness is just too rare!
Jill will be attending events regularly, so look for her on APA's where are the cats page!
http://www.austinpetsalive.org/events/cat-adoption-events/
Jill was wearing a pretty peach bow for the adoption event. I know I am biased, but she looked gorgeous. She spent the day in the cage next to a 6 week old kitten, but still got tons of attention! I think that says she's a gorgeous gal. Several people held Jill and commented on how pretty and calm and sweet she was. She's a doll!
Overall, Jill was an angel at the event. I stayed with her the entire time, to make sure she didn't get stressed out (I don't mean to be overprotective, she's just so darn sweet!) Plus APA needed the help : ) She even sat in my lap for an hour, just letting herself be cuddled...
When we got home, she lounged about, enjoying her freedom and the comforts of home. This grey and orange beauty won't be around for long! Her sweetness is just too rare!
Jill will be attending events regularly, so look for her on APA's where are the cats page!
http://www.austinpetsalive.org/events/cat-adoption-events/
Monday, April 12, 2010
Photo album with Jill
Want to see more photos of Jill? Visit her photo album:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2053763&id=1026034272&l=8058273e6c
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2053763&id=1026034272&l=8058273e6c
A Video of Jill
Here is a sweet little video showing how much Jill appreciates being pet. The TV is on in the background (sorry about that). But you can also hear Jill's little purring...Isn't she sweet?
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