Foster Cat Journal: Candy Day 3

Scared little girl, at least has taken to enjoying her mini-cat bed, instead of trying to kill it, as she had the day before.

Patience is a virtue that I'm struggling with. Candy got here a few days ago and I still haven't touched her-which is torture for me. I'm going slowly, but today I decided she'd been here long enough and it was time to give her a bit of a push.

Oh Joy. Candy is hissing at me, yet again. Hmpf!

Candy hisses at me all the time. In fact, she hissed so much, she “broke her hisser.” For when she tried to hiss, it came out as a little squeak. The good thing is that her ears have never been flat back, her pupils don't seem to dilate and she doesn't growl much. She's quieted down a lot more, but definitely seemed bored. There was only the basics in her crate: a litter pan, fresh water and food and a bed. That was it.

I just want to hold you, you stupid kitten! You're too cute for me to not touch you!

I gave Candy a small, lavender soft ball with a bell inside. Tweetie had one just like it that he loved. Being small, it didn't frighten Candy and she investigated it right away.

Candy reaches for a toy for the first time!

Because she had a positive reaction to the toy, I added an small krinkly ball, and later a toy mouse. I gave her nothing large or scary. She must have been playing with the toys when I was out of the room, because I found out later that they had been moved from where I left them and one had been tossed outside the crate.

I think that being able to play gets her mind off confinement and perhaps softens her overall well being. I also challenged her with a “Cat Dancer” and she liked watching it, but was a bit nervous about going too close to it just yet.

Candy is doing well, moving about the crate while I'm in the room. She doesn't get too close to me, unless I have food, but that's okay. She's not cowering in the back of the crate and I've even seen her stop to wash her face and once in awhile she looks up at me, which melts my heart, of course and makes me want to touch her. She's good at reminding me that she'll kick my butt if I try.

So the battle continues, but so far Candy is doing well.