Hi friends!
Welcome to the first edition of the Rosie Rundown, our weekly newsletter with cute photos (attached) and fun Rosie updates as she adapts to her new home!
We can't believe it's been one month since we brought her home, and we can't imagine life without her. She's brought so much joy to our household and caring for her has been a true joint project for us both! Rosie has learned a lot (and so have we) and she's been such a brave kitty. Coming from a hoarder situation, to a shelter, and finally to our apartment!
The first week, we kept her in our bathroom with all her supplies until she got acclimated. It was a true emotional roller coaster, but all the tiny wins (she groomed herself! She ate some food! She came out to see us!) felt enormous as we learned to be cat parents and she learned to be a safe, loved, happy cat.
The first night we let her out of the bathroom, we found her sleeping in our cupboards by the baking supplies the next morning! We got her out of there, and she went straight to the one hiding place we thought we had blocked off for good– under the bed. Turns out she's even tinier and craftier than we thought she was, as she foiled our plans for blocking the under-the-bed space three more times.
Once we removed the cardboard "barrier" for good, she's been out and about in the apartment more and more. We think, for her, there's something that makes her want to stay in hiding spots she knows she's not supposed to be in. The secret ingredient: crime (or minor misbehavior).
Rosie's first vet visit went well, and she got a clean bill of health! She gave poor Rocky the silent treatment for the rest of the day, but eventually warmed back up.
Her meows started out as raspy chirps, but have gradually solidified into a proper, and more dramatic, "meow." Most often employed at 4 or 5 in the morning, or when we're talking to her, we think these plaintive cries for attention are her way of mimicking us, and being part of the family.
Other things Rosie has learned since being with us:
Canned tuna tastes amazing
The universal kissy sound which means "hello kitty!" does, in fact apply to her, and not just random street cats we meet in the neighborhood
The scratching post is much better for scratching than the side of the dresser (this one took a while, but we got there)
How to jump on the table, and subsequently the bookshelf, dresser, and bed
Us trimming her nails does not mean she's going to die
Us grabbing tufts of fur out of her mouth, leftover from one of her many grooming sessions, does not mean she's going to die
The front door opening does not mean she's going to die
One of us sneezing does not mean– okay, she's still scared of this one
She loves to play, usually as we're trying to get ready for work, or go to bed! Very inconvenient for us, but do we stay up and watch her attack a stuffed mouse / toilet paper roll / feather on a string? You betcha.
Today, since it's her one month anniversary, we gave her a tiny tuna filet (breakfast) and salmon filet (dinner) that we picked up at PetSmart. She really got into it once we cut them up a little bit ("you expect me to bite this, like the common rabble?") and we're hoping she's not TOO spoiled. But we all know she already is ;)
That's all for now, folks! She's currently glaring at me, telling me it's time to go to bed. We'll be back in the next week or so with another Rundown, probably shorter than this one. Stay tuned to find out if she learns how to sit on a lap and how she handles the vacuum. (It's YOUR fur and litter dust we gotta vacuum, queen. So really, you brought this on yourself.)
Until next time!
Ellie, Rocky, and Rosie