Ooooops ...... one more foster!

[greenkitty]

Fabulous news and lovely to hear he's enjoy a potter in the garden. Such a heart warming story

[Crewella]

He follows me out now when I go to feed Woody in the outdoor pen. He's never gone far from the house, nor out for long, but he knows the way round from the back door to the front and seemingly likes to potter outside for a few minutes every day.

I've seen his bed stealing method - it's hilarious, though I do feel a bit sorry for the rest of the gang - he's definitely been going through a stage of trying to assert himself. He walks slowly up to the resident incumbent of whatever bed he's after, then stops, lowers his head and stares them full in the face - he actually looks quite scary. He then very slowly advances, two steps at a time ........ you can almost hear the Jaws music as he moves in. He doesn't make a sound or react even slightly when the victim starts hissing and batting at him ...... just slowly keeps advancing .......... two steps at a time ........ until they back off and he gets the bed! This is why he's now earned the nickname Puggy the thuggy!

[greenkitty]

He is quite a character isn't he?!! Nice that he doesn't wander far too, being an oldy he's probably content as you say, just to potter outside for a few minutes and then go back in to steal a bed!

[Crewella]

Yep, he's definitely a character! He's great fun to have around, though, and he does seem to be calming down a little. He's finally grasped 'NO', he's learnt that our food is nothing to do with him, and he's beginning to relax around us and not leap up to investigate every time we walk in or out or get up. Last night I found him curled up, half asleep, in the prime sleeping spot against the radiator ..... purring away happily to himself.

I've not weighed him, but he's definitely put on some more weight - he's getting quite chunky!

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d154/ ... 040386.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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[greenkitty]

Hard to believe he's the same cat!

It's lovely when they finally relax, I know what you mean about jumping up every time you come in the room, must feel like home when they don't do that any more

[meriad]

oh wow!!!! what a difference

[bobbys girl]

Oh bless him, so pleased. He looks great.

[HRHFluffy]

Great photos Helen. Thanks for the update. He certainly is getting quite chunky!! He's got an adorable expression and a very cheeky personality to match What a difference you've made to this lovable old boy.

[Crewella]

I've been out at work all day, but apparently Pugwash spent a happy couple of hours this afternoon pottering round the garden in the sunshine with my OH. That's the first time he's been out for more than a few minutes, and apparently he looked thrilled to be out and just followed OH around, watching what he was doing.

The rest of the household seems to be getting back to normal at last - it's amazing how many different phases there are in the settling-in process when introducing a new cat. After Pugwash decided to assert himself and try out all the beds, the others retreated to other parts of the house and stopped sleeping in the living room, leaving Pugwash as the sole occupant. I felt horribly guilty to have foisted him upon the rest of the gang at that stage but, thankfully, a month down the line they seem to be sorting themselves out and coming back to join us on the sofas again.

Coming home late last night to find Merrick, Daz and Pugwash all on the sofa with OH really made my day!

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d154/ ... 040525.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[greenkitty]

Aww Helen look at your boys, lovely to see them all together, just been to have a word with Basil!

They are complex creatures, my girls have been having a few tussles over the last couple of days, I think they're trying to sort themselves out after Hectors passing.

[bobbys girl]

Aw Helen, what a lovely photo. Glad everything is settling down. All the kitties look content even if OH's perched on what's left of the sofa, just like us really.

Gracie has a new trick and I swear I have nothing to do with it. She waits until OH is settled on the sofa then jumps on his knee for a snooze - something she has done for a while. Dave is a smoker (something I can't abide ) Just recently everytime he lights up, Grace gives him a dirty look and jumps off his knee. She sits in the doorway staring at him then, when he has finished, she comes back and makes a big thing of getting comfy again.

[Crewella]

I'm afraid I'm a smoker too.

Most of the gang don't seem to mind, but Merrick is similar to Gracie. If I light up he does this long drawn-out 'huff', shoots me a filthy look and jumps off ..... unless I hold the ciggie up in mid air and make sure to blow directly upwards. Anyone looking in would think we are potty - both perched on the available edge of the sofa holding up our ciggies ..... there's nothing like a bit of home comfort is there!

Hi Julia, I'm sure it will take the girls a while to adjust to Hector not being around any more. As you say, complex creatures - even small changes can upset the balance of relationships and take a while to settle down. I hope the girls manage to adjust without too much upset, give them a fuss from me.

I'm sure it's taking you a while to adjust too. (((hugs)))

[Crewella]

It's lovely to see Pugwash out enjoying the sunshine!

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d154/ ... 040528.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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One final thing that made me realise Pugwash is well and truly integrated. Daz likes to come in and out through the window in my office, and I just let him out (again). Pugwash was sitting on the ground just below, but Daz still chose to jump down right next to him, touched noses and sauntered off down the garden. If there were any issues, Daz would not have chosen to land where he did - that really did underline the fact that, in spite of his grumbling and bed stealing, nobody is really worried by Pugwash. Made my day!

[greenkitty]

Did have to smile at the second picture, he looks like he's in a grump!!

[Crewella]

He IS a grumpy old git - I'm afraid he looks like that most of the time!! That's his 'Puggy the Thuggy' face!

[Kay]

I'm still trying to work out how my Tosker manages to be in two places at once

[Crewella]

I have to say, much as love my grumpy little git, Kay ......... your version looks a much nicer cat!

[bobbys girl]

Tosker's older brother? Both sweetie-pies however grumpy.

[Crewella]

I've been trying to get this on film for ages, please forgive the lousy quality - it's so hard to get them to 'perform' to order, and with him in particular it's hard to get him sitting quietly for a scritch!

Pugwash has a 'sweet spot' on his back and does this every time you scritch it, bless him!

http://vid35.photobucket.com/albums/d15 ... h_0001.mp4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[greenkitty]

LOL that's so funny, bless him

[Crewella]

Pugwash has taken to going out so successfully that I'm now happy for him to come and go as he pleases. He never goes far, and is content to just sit in the sun, watching the world go by in the field opposite by the river. It's really nice that he's settled in so well, and the fact that he goes out now gives everybody a chance to sit with us, or indeed reclaim their own beds sometimes.

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[bobbys girl]

He has that look about him, just like our Tom. If he were human he'd be leaning on a gate or sitting outside the pub watching the world go by. I think it's contented retirement.

[greenkitty]

Does he come when you call him?

[Crewella]

Yes he does, bless him. One advantage of a food-obsessed cat!

I called him in when it got dark last night after he'd been out for about an hour. I couldn't see him, but I could hear what sounded like a herd of elephants crashing through the shrubbery. By the sound of it, he just focused on where I was and charged, flattening anything in his path!

[greenkitty]

Let nothing stand in his way!

[Crewella]

Exactly!

He's a much happier cat since he's been going out. He's getting less grumpy and will often stop for a quick stroke as he passes you, which he never did before. He hasn't sussed asking to go out and come in yet, but he follows one of the others and always comes in when I call him. I think it's finally sunk in that he lives here, we love him, and he'll always get fed. He now sits on the sofa with us as we eat but doesn't go near our food, or he walks off in disgust, but he doesn't hassle us at all any more. I never thought that would happen!!

He also seems a much healthier cat, he was always a bit snuffly and he's better now he goes out, and his coat and skin are plusher and less dry and flaky. He grooms himself more often as well.

[lilynmitz]

This is such a lovely story Helen, sorry, I've been preoccupied with other stuff, but you've done wonders for this guy, who seems a real character. I loved his bed-pinching tactics!

[Crewella]

It's not always been easy, but it has been a real joy to watch him fill out and settle in. Especially when you think that the vet said he wouldn't have made it through last winter on his own.

It's funny, I though he was pretty settled, but in the last couple of weeks, since he's been going out, there has been a real change in him. He now looks like a happy cat, he's more relaxed, more affectionate and much less grumpy - it really is as though he's realised this is his home.

He's never sat on us or come right up to us for attention (though he does follow us around), but last night OH fell asleep on the sofa and woke up to find Pugwash sitting on his chest, peering into his face, nose-to-nose!

[bobbys girl]

He's never sat on us or come right up to us for attention (though he does follow us around), but last night OH fell asleep on the sofa and woke up to find Pugwash sitting on his chest, peering into his face, nose-to-nose!

Oh lovely! The darling boy sounds really at home.

[greenkitty]

Probably a massive adjustment for him going from being outdoors fending for himself to being indoor and fully catered for with furry companions, you're all doing so well settling him in. OH must have thought he was dreaming!!