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...

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.

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/

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

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?

Jill the Beautiful

Though Jill's sweet snuggly nature is perhaps the most special thing about her, she also happens to be quite a beautiful cat. Jill is a light-grey dilute calico. Her primary colors are orange and grey. On the back of her head she has a large orange spot. She has several other orange spots on her body, while also having orange hairs mixed in with the grey. She also has some cream-colored areas on her belly.



Jill has a heart-shaped dark grey nose (which you can kind of see in the photo below). It's adorable. It even turns up at the end a little bit! The photo below also shows how Jill's coat blends orange and grey...I admit I'm biased, cuz this little gal's got my heart, but I think she's beautiful!

Jill: in search of snuggles and delicious food

Even though Jill had been getting over the kitty cold she left the shelter with, Jill was being very stubborn about drinking and eating. I started to grow increasingly concerned that Jill wasn't eating enough - or some days anything - other than what she was force-fed. Jill lost some weight. After visit 4 to the vets, we were about to put Jill on some other medications to address nausea and to increase her appetite...when all of a sudden Jill decided she'd like her dinner, please!

I literally jumped up! Ready to serve! And brought Jill a heaping bowl of dry kibble. And miracle of miracles Jill dug right in. Jill is still not eating a huge amount, and she has a lot of weight to gain back (I believe 2 pounds)...but we are no longer so worried about her. I'm not just steadily working with her to gain the weight back.

I'm still at a loss as to why Jill chose that exact moment to start eating. I guess in part she must have been feeling good enough to eat. But I also think that it had something to do with Jill beginning to feel more at home in her foster home. I wonder what happened to petite Jill prior to living with her foster family...there are moments looking back when she probably was so quiet because she was a little overwhelmed.

Happily I can report that Jill is blossoming. She's shared a new little meow with me. It's half purr half meow. She's not a very talkative cat, so when she talks it usually means something like "I'm happy to see you" or "make way, I'm going to get in on this napping action!" If I kiss the top of Jill's head, she's start purring immediately. My friend came over to visit Jill and remarked on how neat it is to have a cat that will just lay there, still, content, while you pet her, for as long as you like. Jill is not one to end a petting/snuggle session. They're too delicious....and this cat needs love.

Got Catnip Mice?

Jill has been a really busy girl lately, boosting her immune system with healthy food, getting over the cold she left Town Lake Animal Center with, adjusting to her new foster home, and of course, being the center of household petting attention (being the new girl isn't always bad).

Amidst all this, it's hard to believe Jill has time to just be a cat...but this morning, as Foster Mom, padded to the coffee pot and gave Jill her morning pats and scratchies, Jill noticed a little catnip mouse on the living room floor. Foster Mom had offered Jill lots of toys prior to this...but Jill had preferred snuggles, being held, and napping, to athletic endeavors such as leaping after fluttering feathers.

But this mouse had it coming. Petite Jill tentatively sniffed, swatted, and batted him around...even chasing after the mouse after Foster Mom got into the game and tossed the mouse for her...

Isn't it fun when a cat gets to act just like a cat? Like she doesn't have a care in the world?

Welcome to Jill

Jill is the sweetest, most darling cat...She's so special she decided she'd inspire a blog about her so that her foster family could share more photos and details about her unique brand of love...Right now, to be sure she gets her paw print on the blog, Jill is sitting on the couch, between her two foster parents...snuggled in, prime spot, purring.


The most notable thing about Jill is her calm loving demeanor. This beautiful orange and grey dilute calico with a dark grey heart-shaped nose loves to cuddle. She'll stare up into your eyes, sigh, and then settle in for a good long nap with some deep purring. She's a grateful cat.


Jill came in to Town Lake Animal Shelter without a history. Usually we get to know a little something about a cat's past...but we know nothing about Jill except what she manages to communicate. She's declawed, but still happy to let you touch her feet and if she's really loving the snuggle session she'll make biscuits to show her joy. Jill is very calm. She'll do great with children. She's very comfortable with other cats (her foster family has 3 other cats). Jill has never shown any hostility - she doesn't bite, growl, hiss, or scratch (with her hind legs since she's front declawed). She is just dying to be in a home that she can trust and that is full of love. This little gal blossoms the more love you show her. What you give her, you get 10 fold back. Gratitude defines her.

Jill walks with a cute little wobble. Something happened a long time ago to one of her hind legs. It doesn't inhibit her mobility (she jumps up on the couch, climbs stairs, and has a sense of independence); but, it's best if Jill has her food dish on a carpeted surface because when she bends down if the surface is slick (since she doesn't have front claws and her one hind leg is weak) she has a hard time getting a grip. Carpet solves the problem : )

Jill's a delight! We'll be posting her latest episodes of sweetness here...along with more photos of her...