Hi from NYC! Newbie cat mom of 7 year old rescue!

Hi everybody, I've just about exhausted the list of people in real life willing to listen to me gush about my new cat's every movement, so I turn to you...

My partner and I adopted an absolutely beautiful older cat from the Animal Care Center whose behavior assessment marked her as good for a beginner home. (My partner is comfortable with cats, but this is the first cat I've ever let into my home and heart) This sweet girl is 7 years old and chatty! She's in great health, just some dental issues (I can relate- I've got them too). She was found as a stray in a building, and she wasn't even spayed, but she must have had love and affection from somebody because I've never met such a trusting and affectionate cat, who allows herself to be picked up and solicits attention all day long. Anyway, this is Lucinda:








I adore her. She's such a lovebug and is always bumping her little head on me and rubbing against me. That picture of her wrapped around my foot happened the very first night we took her home, which is just nuts to me that she'd be so trusting so fast. When I lay on the bed for a nap, she hops up too and takes one cuddled up with me. The other day she actually had the whole line of her body pressed lightly along mine with her belly up and her limbs all stretched out, sleeping like an angel - so trusting. When I come home she waits for me at the door and I throw everything down so I can give her lots of pets and she can rub on me all she likes. And boy does she like! I'm hoping it means she really likes me and trusts me... it makes me feel special to think I have been chosen

Maybe because she's older, she's not really into the toys so much. We got her a bb8 wand toy with ribbons and she'll play with it for .2 seconds before bumping my foot with her head, lol. But I still try it - maybe she likes another toy... or maybe she really does just want to be loved on and screw the toys, haha.

Though she does let herself be picked up, I don't do it because a) she just got spayed this Wednesday and b) I've never been confident handling any animals that way. She has the sniffles, so we're going to the vet tomorrow for that and her general wellness visit, and I hope for them to show me the proper way to do it there. Yesterday and today, when I was petting her (in response to her rubbing on my hand for pets!) she gave me a light nip (not painful, really very well-mannered) and I stopped petting her and she wandered off - she didn't seem upset, but it was confusing because she was bumping on me in the first place. I hope I haven't been overstimulating her. I'm still trying to learn cat language.

I love her!


Nice to meet everyone!

Welcome to TCS [emoji]128522[/emoji]!!

I'm so glad you and Lucinda have found us! You can be assured that you can talk and boast about your girl as much as you like here...and pictures, we adore pictures so keep 'em coming!

Thank you for welcoming an older gal into your hearts and home. Both older and black cats have a harder time finding forever homes. I think that Lucinda clearly senses that you are to be trusted and that you are her person due to how she immediately allowed you to be so close to her. That is a gift [emoji]10084[/emoji]️
Please keep us posted on how you all are getting along. Your vet will be able to show you how to pick Lucinda up in a supportive manner but some cats (like mine) just don't like being picked up so don't be offended if Lucinda never takes to being picked up!

If you have any questions or concerns, there are loads of experienced, nice people here so please ask [emoji]128522[/emoji]

Thank you so much for your kind welcome message HelloMissKitty! I appreciate it!!

When the ACC called to check up on how Lucinda was doing, the staff member told me that they're very careful when adopting black cats out in October because people will be cruel to black cats on purpose, especially during this month. My heart never hurt more. Miss Lucy is not only beautiful, she's as sweet as she is lovely. Imagining someone being mean to her or hurting her just because she's a black cat in October, when she is so trusting and so affectionate... what a sad and awful thought

I'm glad she was only in the pound for a week before I adopted her. I wish you could have seen her in the cage, rubbing herself against the bars when I crouched down, mewing, "Please love me! Pleeeease love me." It would have tugged anyone's heart strings.


That was her picture in the pound! Angel.

Do you think it is normal that she has nipped me? Not a bite, but a very gentle press of teeth against my hand as if to say delicately "Thank you, no more." Is that normal? I don't want to cause her to hate me or reject affection from me after such a promising start. Not that she seems to have shown signs of that, as she still curls up next to me when I lay on the bed with her, but I'm a little nervous with my first cat baby and not knowing the "language"

Yes, I do think it's nothing to be concerned about. My thoughts are along what you are thinking (you have excellent cat instincts [emoji]128522[/emoji]) She is not trying to hurt you but rather saying "no thank you" to whatever you were doing in that moment. I would suggest noting how/where you are petting her when she does that and you'll probably start seeing a pattern. For example, maybe she doesn't want you to touch her in a certain place. Here's a great video from Jackson Galaxy (famous cat behaviorist) about this:


And here is one on cat body language:


Hope these help. Any of Jackson's videos are great resources for a new kitty owner.
Also, your baby is still adjusting to her new home and life after being deserted and in a shelter so she's probably still settling in. Thank you again for giving this sweet girl such a loving home [emoji]10084[/emoji]️

Welcome to TCS!

Lucinda is lovely with her jet black fur and she has nice eyes too! [emoji]10084[/emoji]️

Thank you so much for your kind words TabbyTom! I love looking at her every time she comes towards me so pretty and elegant I fall so much more in love. I didn't know you could love a cat this much!

misslucinda said:

Thank you so much for your kind words TabbyTom! I love looking at her every time she comes towards me so pretty and elegant I fall so much more in love. I didn't know you could love a cat this much!

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Oh ya, wait till the two of you start talking to each other and she listens and obey commands, you'll love her even more [emoji]10084[/emoji]️:rub:

Thanks @TabbyTom   She mostly mews when she wants food or during pets - it's sooo cute. I think she has the makings of a lap cat in her if I can just get up the courage to scoop her safely and nicely up. She allows handling but I'm a wimp and she's my first cat baby so I'm still a little insecure! Plus she's under the weather and it's just her first week... Luckily, she's REALLY really sweet and patient as I get used to petting her.

She does this thing I didn't understand until I read up on it, where I hold out my hand, and she puts the side of her mouth on my hand- sometimes I even feel her teeth, but she's not even opening her mouth like she's trying to bite or anything, it's incidental. I realize now that she's just trying to get me to rub her cheeks, and since she has such a slender face I'm basically rubbing the side of her lips lol. But she pets herself on my hand that way, so that's how she likes it! 

@HelloMissKitty  I forgot to thank you for linking me those videos! I'm actually binging all seasons of My Cat From Hell now in hopes of picking up some cat language techniques and improve my overall understanding of how they work She is currently curled up right next to me trying not to sneeze lol, after a little petting session - and smurgling the plush blanket I'm wearing. Her lil body is actually pressed against my thigh and it feels so great that she trusts me enough to lie there, even though every night she's like "antibiotics, whyyyyyyyyy" lol. I'm relieved she seems to forgive me!

misslucinda said:

Thanks @TabbyTom
  She mostly mews when she wants food or during pets - it's sooo cute. I think she has the makings of a lap cat in her if I can just get up the courage to scoop her safely and nicely up. She allows handling but I'm a wimp and she's my first cat baby so I'm still a little insecure! Plus she's under the weather and it's just her first week... Luckily, she's REALLY really sweet and patient as I get used to petting her.

She does this thing I didn't understand until I read up on it, where I hold out my hand, and she puts the side of her mouth on my hand- sometimes I even feel her teeth, but she's not even opening her mouth like she's trying to bite or anything, it's incidental. I realize now that she's just trying to get me to rub her cheeks, and since she has such a slender face I'm basically rubbing the side of her lips lol. But she pets herself on my hand that way, so that's how she likes it! 

@HelloMissKitty
 I forgot to thank you for linking me those videos! I'm actually binging all seasons of My Cat From Hell now in hopes of picking up some cat language techniques and improve my overall understanding of how they work She is currently curled up right next to me trying not to sneeze lol, after a little petting session - and smurgling the plush blanket I'm wearing. Her lil body is actually pressed against my thigh and it feels so great that she trusts me enough to lie there, even though every night she's like "antibiotics, whyyyyyyyyy" lol. I'm relieved she seems to forgive me!

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You will learn so much from My Cat From Hell...I know I sure did [emoji]128522[/emoji] Are the antibiotics in pill form? If so, pick up some of these:

http://m.petsmart.com/h5/hub?id=/ca...-pockets-zid36-12731/cat-36-catid-200053?null

Most pet stores carry them and while they are a little pricey, they are a lifesaver when it comes to giving a kitty pills. Lucinda sounds like she is very happy in her new forever home [emoji]10084[/emoji]️

@HelloMissKitty  Unfortunately they're oral antibiotics We have a little syringe we have to put in her mouth. she doesn't like her cherry-flavored goop and since I'm scared of picking her up, it falls to my partner to do it while I try and get the antibiotics into her stubbornly closed mouth. Lucy doesn't really attack aside from some halfhearted swipes, but she does cry and run and she clearly hates it, and it breaks my heart every night. Today is Day 4 of our 14 day sentence and all I can say is that her kennel cold better be cured as heck by the time this is over! I don't want her to feel so congested and sneezy, so we gotta do what we gotta do.

I will DEFINITELY keep those pill pockets in mind - she has some more vet work to go (baby got plaque! and a chipped tooth) so we'll see how that all goes. It doesn't seem to be super time-sensitive so I want her to bond with us for a bit more time (and get used to her carrier) before bringing her back to the vet. She is now sleeping upside down with her little kitty mouth slightly open, snoring and stretching away in a lil ball shape.

It's a relief to hear people who know cats say that Lucy does sound happy

You can try doing steam treatments with Lucy to help break up the congestion. Run the shower in your bathroom as hot as possible and steam up the bathroom. Then bring Lucy in the bathroom and hang out with her in the steam for 15-20 minutes 2-3 times a day. You are doing a great job with her care and Lucy looks very happy.

@catlover73  thank you for the idea and for the kind words! I appreciate it and I'll give the hot shower a try. I wonder what she'll make of it, lol

misslucinda said:

@HelloMissKitty
 Unfortunately they're oral antibiotics We have a little syringe we have to put in her mouth. she doesn't like her cherry-flavored goop and since I'm scared of picking her up, it falls to my partner to do it while I try and get the antibiotics into her stubbornly closed mouth. Lucy doesn't really attack aside from some halfhearted swipes, but she does cry and run and she clearly hates it, and it breaks my heart every night. Today is Day 4 of our 14 day sentence and all I can say is that her kennel cold better be cured as heck by the time this is over! I don't want her to feel so congested and sneezy, so we gotta do what we gotta do.

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I can feel your pain. I once had to do eye drops, twice a day for two weeks with my cat. It sure did feel like a sentence but we got thru it. In a weird way, I think that whole ordeal bonded us. It became easier as the days wore on and she knew what to expect and while not great, she knew it was not going to hurt her. Hang in there!

misslucinda said:

@catlover73
 thank you for the idea and for the kind words! I appreciate it and I'll give the hot shower a try. I wonder what she'll make of it, lol

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One of my cats does not like to be picked up and carried around. When Apollo got a kity cold a couple years ago he fought me when I carried him into the bathroom. He was fine once I got him in there. After the first treatment he demanded them on his own by meowing at us every time hubby or I used the bathroom. When he felt better he stopped asking for steam treatments. I should have had hubby bring him in the bathroom the first time he is much better about allowing hubby to hold him.

aww I love black cats!!

You've come to the right place to learn! Thank you for adopting an adult cat