Three weeks ago we adopted ‘Cheddar Jack’ from the local shelter.
We informed the kids that they would need to be extremely patient, gentle and respectful to Cheddar’s disposition and fear.
He had been abandoned as a tiny kitty and the only home he knew was a small cage at the shelter. Once we brought him home, he insisted on hiding in a small area at all times during the few days and only came out to eat or use the litter box.
We then coaxed him into a cat bed with no cover over his head so he was bit more exposed. A few days after that we moved him to a larger room which seemed to intimidate him. To be honest, I was not very confident that he would be happy here as he was so skittish, scared and distant.
However, he soon came to explore the room and by week two, he spent time in each different room of the house and seemed to bond to me and become my furry shadow.
This past weekend, I happened to be watching ‘Cats 101’ on Animal Planet and identified that we had adopted ourselves an Egyptian Mau breed. Cheddar may be mixed with a tabby based on his coloring and stripes mixed in with the standard Egyptian Mau spots.
He is very jumpy to noises and as fast as a cheetah but has now spent a night in each of the kids room, keeps talking to our older cat and trying to get closer to her (the hissing and spitting helps to deter him).
Cheddar has helped to teach the kids patience, respect for differing personalities and how, with extra TLC, you can help teach those who have not been well treated or loved, how to trust and be a part of a loving family.
Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) says
This story will have a happy ending! The other cat might never come around, but there will be peaceful co-existence, if not downright affection between the two. The next lesson might be “tolerance.”