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Is your cat a hidey cat or does she love having visitors? Is she used to the vacuum cleaner and the mop, or does she still skitter away when they come out? Will she snuggle in your lap when you want her to, or do you have to wait until she feels like it?<\/p>\n
Most cats seem to come with a particular ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/oliviaspeaking-225x300.jpg\")
comfort level. I\u2019ve had cats that were so accommodating, you\u2019d think they were puppies\u2014\u201cWhatever you want, Mommy. I\u2019m putty in your hands.\u201d But those cats (for me) were few and far between. Maybe they were actually puppies.<\/p>\n
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Especially when you rescue rather than adopt, your cat may arrive with a can of worms\u2014a purrsonality that keeps you guessing. Many of those cats become what I call oxymorons. They can be as skittish as a wild rabbit or fox or\u2026 And they can be as affectionate and loving and relaxed as a big old friendly dog. At any rate, they are fascinating creatures.<\/p>\n
Our calico, Olivia, who was rescued from the streets ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/kittenPixie-225x300.jpg\")
during 2020, is such an oxymoron. But I like to think of her as a loving companion in progress. Even her face illustrates her split purrsonality. She is aloof and remote\u2014even snooty at times and just wants to be left alone. Then she has her extreme opposite side. In fact, at the moment that I\u2019m writing this, she\u2019s curled up and purring in my lap. Loving it!!!!<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve noticed lately that when something frightens her, she runs and hides. When the danger is over, however, ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/cattreesterling-225x300.jpg\")
she comes to me seemingly for comfort. It doesn\u2019t take long for her to regain her confidence until something frightens her again. I notice that when there\u2019s a leaf blower or a chipper or hammering in our neighborhood, Olivia will look at me, seemingly for my response to it. I croon to her and this seems to settle her down some. Oh, she\u2019s still on alert in case she has ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/catstraygrass-225x300.jpg\")
to do battle with the noisy intruder, but she will stay out in the open, usually wherever I am\u2014maybe she thinks she\u2019s protecting me.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/CatMollieCouch-300x225.jpg\")
I\u2019ve learned that each cat has a different comfort level and that it can change over time. It\u2019s up to us to provide the space they need to feel safe and to let them have their space, but to be there when they need our input and support. It\u2019s a![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/catscapades\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Oliviasweetface-225x300.jpg\")
big job, but someone\u2019s gotta do it.<\/p>\n
Note: She did not do well with the fireworks over the weekend, but we could get her to settle down a bit as long as I sat quietly with her and talked to her. No one got much sleep, and I know this scenario was replicated throughout our neighborhood, community, county, state and beyond. Along with Halloween, July fourth is definitely my least favorite holiday\u2014and Olivia\u2019s.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Is your cat a hidey cat or does she love having visitors? Is she used to the vacuum cleaner and the mop, or does she still skitter away when they come out? Will she snuggle in your lap when you … Continue reading