My front door still isn't fixed, and Nanook and I have a not-very-comfortable modus vivendi. (Petey is still scared, and runs whenever the door opens--but this is actually a pretty quiet garage door.)
Anyway, Nanook FINALLY took the hint, and when I went in the garage today, he followed me. He did the same weird thing he does when he comes to the front door from the street--instead of cutting straight across, he will follow the edges. Petey does this, too--I know I've talked about this. Anyway, Nanook went all the way around the garage, so he could be up against the wall, instead of coming straight up the middle.
I finally figured that he's doing this so he has somewhere to retreat to in case the adventure goes awry. (And so as not to frighten him, I waited until he was safely in the kitchen before I closed the door.) I'm glad that he trusts me enough to come in this way--it makes my life a lot easier.
Only one narcissus (of about 20) has produced any blooms--it has produced 3. The rest of my garden is growing, but I still have no broccoli (4 plants) and only 1 cauliflower (of 3 plants).
Petey is REALLY glad I'm home. (The last time I fed him was Monday morning, so it wasn't too bad, but he was clearly hungry. The neighbors do put food out, but it's competitive.)
Nanook knows what's coming (that I'm going to squirt antibiotic down his throat), but he sits still for it, though he closes his mouth and I swear he tries to hold his breath--which, of course, makes it easier to get his mouth open. I would definitely ask for liquid medication as a choice next time I have to medicate him.
The alarming red coloration is gone. There's a definite scab, and he rubs it, but not excessively.
He is the best cat in the world. But I'm still glad I had his claws trimmed when I took him to the vet.:)
Nanook didn't go outside today till 10:30. I'm worried he's peeing inside the house someplace I haven't smelled yet. He usually wakes me around 5:30 to go out, but most of last week, he didn't go out until it was full light.
Yesterday, Petey came both times when I called him. Today, he's disappeared completely. I have some nice wet food for him, but I'm not leaving it out for the coyotes, armadillos, and possums.
Petey came for a pet and some dinner tonight--after dark.
I think the problem is dominance. There's a very skinny young male tabby who bedeviled Petey last winter, and while I've seen him around, he seems to be back to annoy in a big way. He's very fast and very sly. I saw him earlier this evening when I was calling Petey, and he froze in mid-stride, to the point where I almost didn't see him any more. But then I hissed him away--I wish I had a more permanent solution.
Anyway, Petey doesn't like having a lot of competition for food--who would? He tends to avoid confrontation, and I think maybe that's what's been happening.
When I opened the front door this afternoon, Petey was very interested in coming inside, so I left the door open and got him food, and then put it on the floor six tiles in. (I'd previously put it about 3 tiles in.) He came in fairly readily, and was eager to be petted. Not so interested in eating. Six tiles in is far enough that I can shut the door behind him, but I didn't do that. Yet.
I had to put the food on the stoop in order for him to eat. (This was just kibble--I suspect that wet food might have had a different outcome, especially because everything SMELLS after the rain.)
This morning, I opened the front door, and Petey was 2/3 of the way inside before he forgot that he doesn't do that. So I left the door open when I went to get his food, and then put the food about 3' inside the door. He wasn't eager to come in, but he came in and he ate about half the food before I accidentally spooked him. He was really calm until he ran outside. He does actually seem interested in coming in, and he certainly seems interested in being petted. I hope that by the time it gets cold that he's a more regular visitor to my front hall.
Last night, I fed Petey when it was almost dark, and Nanook came inside. Nanook was slightly puzzled when I wouldn't let him out again, but he quickly figured out that I was getting ready for bed, and he was down with that. I had the best sleep I've had in...well, a very long time.
I'm trying for the same thing tonight. I fed Nanook when I came home, and he took his regular post-prandial nap. I fed Petey while Nanook was sleeping, and then a few minutes later, Nanook wanted back out for sunset hunting. Okay, fine. I open the front door, and Petey comes running (Pavlovian--there was food in his dish still). Nanook decides to go out anyway, and slides off to the right. Petey tries to make nice with Nanook, which Nanook hates. I try to distract Petey from Nanook by calling him forward.
Petey is confused--he checks the bowl, and there's still food in it. Why do I want to pet him? I assure him that it's because I love him so much I can't get enough of him. He comes closer...closer...I lean out the door... And he decides that I can't be trusted and runs away. Sigh.
Nanook has now relaxed onto his haunches, not hopeful of being able to move any time soon. I can hear him thinking at Petey, "GO AWAY GO AWAY GO AWAY".
I give up and go inside. In a few minutes, I will try to go call Nanook in for the night.
Petey is a most excellent cat. He comes when I call, and on occasion, he doesn't even run if he's asleep on the stoop and I can pass within about a foot of him when I go in the house. (Even Nanook will run from me when we are outside--I put it down to instinct.)
He makes me pet him copiously when I feed him in the morning, though he still does not like being picked up when I do so.
In the evening is when I feed Nanook and Petey wet food, and while I usually pet Petey a little bit, he lunges for the wet food PDQ, so I don't have to pet him as much.
Nanook is still wary of Petey--our deal is that I distract Petey so Nanook can slip in or out unmolested. If Petey tries to rub noses with Nanook, Nanook will back off in fear. (I think the fear is generalized rather than specific--he's done the same thing with me). Petey likes Nanook, and they often hang out together, or look out for each other. One night, I called "Kitty!" and they raced each other to the front door--Petey was almost all the way inside before he realized that he doesn't do that.
I have gotten Petey to come inside on occasion, but he's just not comfortable. He's clearly regretful, which I find interesting. I keep trying, but I don't think he'll ever become desensitized enough to be comfortable.
In other news, I have REALLY been enjoying the full cast recording of Robert Heinlein's "Have Spacesuit, Will Travel". This book is a favorite since my youth, but I like this recording much more than reading the book. I am not going to delete this when I'm done with it.
