From feral beginnings to learning to live with her human
Last September I brought a fifteen week old kitten into my house. A sweet little tortoise shell, she had been born to a feral mother. The mother lived around the property of a local pet boarding facility. They had scooped up the kittens, tamed them, vetted them and then found homes for them.
I named her Tramp and brought her into be a companion to my rather anxious cat, Hobo.
Hobo had arrived at my house almost a year earlier. Literally hitting my door at daybreak and then announcing herself with loud meowing shortly after. She was barely two months old. I brought her into a home with two adult cats who eventually accepted her.
Hobo was a sweet, loving and social little soul. She loved her two housemates. Within the space of a few months in 2019 both of her housemates died unexpectedly. It took her a few weeks but she managed to get the message across to me she didn’t like being on her own especially when I went out.
So in came Tramp. The two of them hit it off. I had brought cats together over the years and usually starts with them in a bit of a standoff checking each other out. That didn’t happen with Tramp and Hobo.
Tramp had a bit of a standoff with me though. It was a first for me. To have a cat in the house who is nervous of my presence. It has been a bit frustrating and also a challenge. I’ve had to keep reminding myself that she’s here first as a companion to Hobo, being comfortable with me is not required.
Didn’t stop me trying though. I just had to be very patient.
Every time she came within reach of me, I’d reach out and pet her, scratch her chin or give her belly a little rub. When she moved away, I didn’t try to restrain her. Left her in charge every time.
She’s been slowly becoming more comfortable with my touch. Has started coming to my hand when I bend over and offer it. Occasionally she’s jumped up where I’m seated and stayed near me for a few moments. A few times she laid down on my chest when I was in bed. Never ever for long. I used to chuckle, it was like she would lay down and then remember where she was before darting off.
Hobo spends her days curled up beside me as I work. Tramp is often within sight be well out of reach. She has on occasion slept on the back of the couch but out of my easy reach.
Then yesterday, she jumped up the couch, skirted past the sleeping Hobo and onto my keyboard before turning and reaching out to start kneading at my stomach like a kitten does with their mother. I braced myself and let her knead as I gently petted her and scratched her ears.
For a few brief moments she moved up onto me and curled up. I kept petting her. Then she moved down beside Hobo, curled up beside her and went to sleep. She stayed there until Hobo got up and left the couch, she followed.
This morning, the same thing. As I write this she’s curled up with Hobo. She stayed curled up sleeping even when Hobo got up a couple of times and then returned.
Will see what happens in the coming days but it seems Tramp has taken another step toward trusting her human. You know, the family that hangs together, stays together.