FCJ: Life in the Doodlesphere

Now that I'm certain the DOOD does not have Feline Leukemia, I was able to let him out of the bathroom and allow him to mingle with my cats and Mazie. I knew there would be some issues, but many things surprised me.

©2011 Robin A.F. Olson. I'm free from my room. Now what do I do?

Firstly, DOOD was fearless about meeting the other cats. In fact, he was a bit too confrontational with Nora and Nicky. It seemed that DOOD was checking out each cat, trying to gauge if he could dominate them, play with them, or stay clear of them. It didn't take long for him to understand that the females were just not loving him jumping on them. Most of the boys didn't care, though it was pretty funny to see our huge cat, Nicky get scared of little DOOD, who chased him around the living room. Nicky could have sat on him and it would have been “game over” for DOOD.

©2011 Robin A.F. Olson. This is pretty much what I end up seeing for a majority of the day-Blitzen & DOOD wrestling.

Right away the DOOD and Blitzen became fast friends as I had hoped. I often see them rolling around the floor, in a blur. There's no growling, no ears back. They chase each other. They lick each other's face. They don't sleep together, but other than that, I think they're bonding or humping each other-hard to be certain what the heck they're doing or trying to do to each other! It's a good way for both of them to release pent up kitten energy and I'm glad for it.

©2011 Robin A.F. Olson. The first night out, DOOD was already finding a spot on the bed to call his own.

Some evenings, the DOOD comes upstairs and hangs out with us and some of the other cats. It's amazing how relaxed he is and how accepting the others are. Of course not every cat is his biggest fan, but they seem to be working it out.

©2011 Robin A.F. Olson. Spencer, our mascot, with the DOOD by his side.

I found DOOD sitting next to Spencer one afternoon. Spencer couldn't be bothered about the newcomer, but it was as if DOOD wanted to be his friend. It was sweet watching them sit together so peacefully.

The biggest change was seeing how DOOD has relaxed and stopped attacking me. Between working with him while he was in quarantine and the fact that he's no longer stressed from being confined, he has really started to blossom. DOOD still furiously licks my face, but for a shorter period of time. He's comfortable being held and doesn't nip my hands. He plays with toys with vigor, but doesn't suddenly grab my ankles and scratch. He's so different from the wild child I rescued a few months ago.

©2011 Robin A.F. Olson. The DOOD with Nicky and Nora (far left).

He seems to be quite happy, exploring his new territory. I trained him to go to “his spot” to be fed and he's learning to stay off the counters. He's using the litter pans the others use and I finally saw him sleeping. He lays belly up some times. It's clear he's relaxed and in a very short period of time. It must have been a big change for him going from being the only cat to one of many.

I think about the email I got from his former owner-they had just seen one of DOOD's siblings and it made them wonder how "the cat" was doing. They never referred to him by a name, just "the cat." They asked if he was still attacking me and said that their son used to kick and chase DOOD around the house. I wanted to go to their home and kick and chase their kid. I never wrote them back. They don't deserve to know how he's doing.

©2011 Robin A.F. Olson. Thinking about what could have been...

I imagined what DOOD's life could have been like if I hadn't gotten him away from that family. He would have gotten more violent. Eventually they would have either let him go outside, then not worried about providing for him any more or they would have dumped him at a shelter and being so anti-social he would have probably been put down.

©2011 Robin A.F. Olson. Ho Hum...not a care in the world!

That was just not going to happen. When I saw DOOD's photo in one of 10 emails about cats needing rescue. I knew he had to come here. I didn't know why, I just knew I had to help him. Now that he's been with me for a few months, I admit that the DOOD may become a “foster fail.”

When I turned 50, I promised myself that “one day” soon I would get my last cat. He's be a fluffy tux. He'd be an adult. I have conflicting feelings about putting DOOD up for adoption, but saving an adult is important and kittens can always get a home. I can't seem to put DOOD on Petfinder just yet, but I'm not sure I should keep him. I want to be as responsible as I can and thoughtful about how my other cats are handling him being here.

©2011 Robin A.F. Olson. Sick in bed with a cold, the DOOD helps me feel better.

If DOOD continues to do well and is accepted, I think he's found his forever home. Shoot. I love him! Can you blame me?

If it just doesn't work out, I will make certain he's placed with a family that respects his needs and can provide for him and not subject him to abuse and aggression. Either way, the DOOD will be in a good home.

So far life in the DOODLESPHERE is all blue skies and pouffy white clouds.