Poor Pengy thread is gone

[turtlecat]

that's not a holding pattern!! lol. well honey, let me say, that soon you'll be able to pet her, and then she'll be on your bed, and then, if you need to address it, you will be able to take her to the vet with no trauma to her.. to see about her hips and if it's causing her a great lot of strife.. and what you can do to make her comfy.

I'm so proud of her, she's starting to have a real trust.

 

[noni]

Originally Posted by turtlecat

that's not a holding pattern!! lol. well honey, let me say, that soon you'll be able to pet her, and then she'll be on your bed, and then, if you need to address it, you will be able to take her to the vet with no trauma to her.. to see about her hips and if it's causing her a great lot of strife.. and what you can do to make her comfy.

I'm so proud of her, she's starting to have a real trust.

It's been a holding pattern since before Christmas - nothing new, and even some backsliding. But she's made so much movement in the last two days. That's how she is, though. She makes a giant leap, and then scares herself, and either she retreats back "behind the wall" again, or stays there and tries to figure out if I'll turn into the boogey man.

But her coming up to the bed, and then last night with the tummy and the baker's rack exploration...and it seems like she's leaping out again.

I am so proud of her, too. She's worked so hard and come so far. And you're right, TC, I just want to be able to take her to the vet should the need arise without massive trauma. And maybe someday I will be blessed enough to hear her purr, and meow. I still haven't heard any vocalizations from her...I think when that happens, it will be a huge thing for her as well as for me.

Thanks everyone, for the Pengy fan club. She and I both need it.

We'll see what happens tonight...

Best-
Michele

 

[rarepuss]

noni, sooo sorry the thread is gone

my id was also erased, i re-registered just recently

 

[yosemite]

Michelle, I think we are all almost as excited as you over Pengy's progress. You are a marvellous human being for taking on this dear cat. I'll check in again tomorrow hoping to hear the biggest news of all - that she came onto the bed!

Seriously, it's things like your story that bring us all back day after day to see how all our new friends (human and furry) are doing. Keep up the great patience and care.

 

[rapunzel47]

Originally Posted by Yosemite

Michelle, I think we are all almost as excited as you over Pengy's progress. You are a marvellous human being for taking on this dear cat. I'll check in again tomorrow hoping to hear the biggest news of all - that she came onto the bed!

Seriously, it's things like your story that bring us all back day after day to see how all our new friends (human and furry) are doing. Keep up the great patience and care.

Almost the first thing I do here is hit User CP for a list of new posts in my subscribed threads. This early morning visit has to be a short one, so I'm selective -- and guess which one gets opened first if it's there

You and Pengy are awesome, Michele! I'm waiting with bated breath for the bed visit, or the bonk, or the rub. Who knows which will be first! But will it ever be special!!

Keep up the good work.

 

[noni]

You guys are so great. Really and truly. She's a dear sweet girl, and I am learning so very much from her.

Last night was interesting. She was on the chair again when I came to bed, and she left as soon as I came in the room. But it wasn't a hurried "oh I gotta go hide NOW" leaving, it was, rather, a casual sort of thing. She left the chair the other way from the condo; she stepped over to the trunk I've got under the window, poked her nose through the levelors, checked the outside, walked the (wide) sill behind the rocker, and then hopped over to the back floor of the condo.

As soon as I'd settled into bed, Simon came up. Pie came next. Esse came over, and Charlotte climbed the condo to the top floor. And Pengy watched the whole thing through the hole in her tube. Once everyone had assumed their normal places, Pengy came up through the hole, stretched over and hopped with ease over to the baker's rack. She walked around the 2nd tier, and settled in to watch the bed activity. Pie got ahold of my hand, and decided it tasted good; she groomed it for a while, with Pengy watching. Esse got a ton of scritches, and her purr was rumbly and loud. And of course Simon laid on my chest and snuggled under my chin. And Pengy watched with attention the entire thing.

I have a chair on the far side of the baker's rack. It's an old, broken chair that I leave out for the cats to sleep on and to play with (it's a swivel chair for the computer). Pengy eyed it, and reached out and tapped it a few times. I thought perhaps she would hop down onto it, as it's used sometimes as a bridge from the baker's rack to the bed by the others, and she's seen them do that countless times...but she didn't take that step. She was so curious about what we were doing, she was nearly leaning off the rack. And there was a really interesting look in her eyes; I'm not sure what it was - I think it was curiousity, but I dunno...

Anyway, this went on for easily 15 minutes. She finally walked back to the condo side, stretched with her front paws on the condo and her hind legs on the rack - that was so cute and really showed her confidence - and went back to the condo. I heard her moving around after that, but couldn't see her.

So it seems she's finding another place she's happy hanging out...expanding her territory, as it were. And this is a great thing. Especially since I didn't hide behind a book, and just watched her openly the entire time.

YAY Pengy!!!!!

Best-
Michele

 

[valanhb]

OOOOHHHHH! I think she's getting closer and closer all the time!

Ophelia did that a lot before she let me touch her. She would watch with such curiosity when we would love on Trent. She would hear those purrs and tilted her little head trying to figure out just why he would be purring?!?! The first time she really saw it happen I could see the panic in her face, wanting so badly to warn Trent that those big things HURT kitties and he shouldn't let us be so close! But for some reason she couldn't fathom, he not only didn't get hurt but he actually LIKED it! The more she watched, the less scared and more curious she became. It wasn't long before she took the chance to interact with me up close (i.e. on the bed).

I'm really looking forward to hearing about Penguin's curiosity getting the better of her too, just like Ophelia's curiosity finally got the better of her!

 

[captiva]

Go Pengy

I am soooo waiting for you to post that she was on the bed one day!

 

[snowleop]

It's so heartwarming to hear about the progress of your little girl! I'm so proud of her for gaining more and more trust, and of you for being so patient.

 

[turtlecat]

Wow.. that holding pattern didn't last very long

YAY pengy.. you know one of these days, you're going to wake up to a Pengy sleeping at your feet!

 

[mamacat]

Originally Posted by turtlecat

Wow.. that holding pattern didn't last very long

YAY pengy.. you know one of these days, you're going to wake up to a Pengy sleeping at your feet!

The day Michele posts that, I am going to cry my eyes out, I just know it... Happy tears, happy tears!

 

[rapunzel47]

 

[noni]

It's so weird, sometimes. I can see her wanting to know what's going on; the curiousity factor is huge. And I can see she wants to be included, too, sometimes. But she hasn't taken that step yet. It'll come in her time, I know that...but still, it's so hard walking on this knife blade.

It's just really strange. Almost like she understands at some level I'm not the boogey man, but she doesn't believe her own self about that. I can't say I blame her; she's been so badly treated in her life. It's like she's relaxing into the environment, but can't all the way yet...it must be so conflicting for her.

She didn't come onto the baker's rack for a long time last night, and when she did, it wasn't for a long while. But still she did, and however long she stayed, it was still a blessing. She didn't approach the swivel chair at all...just stayed on the other side of the rack. But she was watching me and Esse (the others didn't want to come to bed last night...), and so at least there's some consistency in her actions. That's a good sign, to me. No matter how long she stays, she is expanding the edges of her comfort zone.

This is hard. Interesting, but hard. Exciting, but hard. Hard.

Best-
Michele

 

[clixpix]

She's doing so, so well! Maybe she was confused as to why the others weren't where they usually are, so she didn't stay on the rack long. Or maybe she likes them "settled" first before she can make her move? Either way, she's doing wonderfully!

 

[ldg]

OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I missed so much - and it is FABULOUS! Her level of curiousity is beginning to overtake her level of fear - her territory is expanding, she KNOWS she's safe - I am just simply BEAMING the hugest smile!

Michele - you should be SO PROUD of yourself and her! I know it gets so frustrating with the two steps forward and one step back (or more), but this is just too huge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And just think - isn't it fabulous? You weren't dreaming!

 

[noni]

Lauri, you're right, I wasn't dreaming.

She's come onto the rack every night since I first noticed her doing that...and today, because I'm still sort of sick, I took a nap...and she went onto the rack while I was laying down. She was rather interested in things, and pawed the corners a bit, and looked up at the third level (where a toy was). I am thinking of hanging a dangling toy and seeing what she'd do with that.

I've been thinking about it, and I don't know if she can jump onto the bed. I have a high raised bed - hip height - and it's a 4 poster, so the foot and headboards are rather "imposing" I'd imagine. I am not sure that she can jump up if she wanted to, given her hip/back/spine issues. Anyone have any ideas as to how to make this easier for her, or more inviting?

Best-
Michele

 

[zanniesmom]

How far is it from the rack to the bed? What are their respective heights? I would imagine that some type of step arrangement would be better thatn a ramp, so she could stop on each level to feel safe. Like a box on a chair. She will get there, though. She really wants to be part of the gang, she just isn't quite brave enough yet. Becky

 

[noni]

Um, the heights between the two are different by about 6-8 inches, with the bed being the lower. It's a 6 foot rack, and this is the middle level, so I'd guess it's about 3 and1/2 feet off the ground - a big way to go when you're disabled. The spacing between the bed is about 3 feet, maybe 3 1/2 feet; again, a long long stretch when you're disabled. Simon makes it easily, but the others like to use the chair to come over. But they jump from the chair to the bed, and the chair does spin. I think that scares her.

I do think you're right - she wants to come over. The way she positions herself on the rack tells me as much; she is fully facing the bed, watching everything and everyone. The rack is about 10 inches wide, so for her to be hanging off the edge of it facing me tells me that she's very interested. And hopefully she will be brave enough one day to come over. If we can find a way to bring her over.

I'm considering the box idea, but I think that'd be so foreign to her - coming "up" may not be the safest way; I think she likes to see where she's going and who's there prior to going there. It would make sense, to know what she's getting into, if you look at it from her perspective. But I can't put a "bridge" up, either, because it's not a very large room, and I need to be able to move around. Or maybe I can, but I haven't figured out the mechanics of it yet.

BUT! I just went in to the bedroom to look at this, and realized that my robe's belt is gone...but not "gone," just dangling from Pengy's level in the condo. How cute is that...she's laying in there with my belt. So I walk around with a robe that won't close tonight. It's all good...she can have it if she wants it, you know?

Best-
Michele

 

[zanniesmom]

I think you are right about the spinning chair. Whatever you figure out for her, she will need to feel safe withdrawing quickly if it gets too scary and a moveable chair would be too traumatic and she wouldn't try again.
That is too cute with the belt. You may have to get yourself a length of rope to hold your robe together, because I can't see you taking anything away from Pengy that she wants. Becky

 

[pinkdaisy226]

Maybe some stairs, I know they sell some for elderly cats? I'd been thinking of some, not because my kitten can't handle it, but when she jumps off the bed (which is also rather high), she makes this horrible THUD that makes me feel like she fell off (which she didn't).

I hope you feel better, I'm glad she stole your belt, that's kinda cute, and here's hoping things keep going so well!