Getting to know us.

Most of yesterday Willow was hiding. Our cleaner was in so we had to make sure that she was kept in the kitchen anyway. After the cleaner had gone we opened the kitchen door, so Willow could have a bit more freedom. We closed all the doors upstairs and told the kids to keep their bedroom doors closed when they weren’t in them.

We settled down for a movie and in the advert breaks we went into the kitchen for drinks etc. All was well, and we heard nothing from Willow. She was still in her little hiding spot. After the film we checked on her again. The food that had been left out for her had been eaten and she wasn't in her place. So we began to look for her. Sonya found her on her bed as she had forgotten to close her door.

We went in to see her and she was ok with us stroking her. She needed to move out of the room, because she shouldn't have been in there anyway, so I picked her up. She didn't like being held so I let her go. She went back downstairs to her hiding spot.

We went into the lounge to give her a bit of space. Ray was sat in front of the lounge door where he could see her exploring out from the kitchen, without making it obvious that he was looking at her. He was giving me a commentary of what she was doing in the hall. She came as far as the lounge doorway before she went back into the kitchen.

Later when Ray went to the kitchen to get some supper he got some sliced ham out of the fridge to tempt her out with. She came out but didn't seem interested in the ham. She allowed him to stroke her a lot. He called out to me to come and see. I went in the kitchen and we both had a lovely time making a fuss of her.

Willow kept going up to her food dish and looking at it then looking at us. We thought maybe that was her way of saying, "look, it’s empty! Aren’t you going to put any food in it!?" So we gave her one of the food pouches that Ant had given us. She wolfed it down! Afterwards we were allowed to give her more attention.

Later when we were in the lounge she came in. She went behind a chair, which is in front of the patio doors. We could see the curtain moving. After a little while Ray investigated. She was sitting in front of the window, looking into the garden. When she noticed Ray she went back into the kitchen. We closed the kitchen door and went to bed.

This morning I got up and wanted to feed her. I gave her dry food but although she ate some she was still eyeing up the other bowl wishing for it to be filled. Siobhan had come down by this time and was enjoying giving Willow attention. I filled up her bowl with the food pouch. Willow ate then came to us for more attention. Sonya came down and joined in too. Willow loves all of the attention she is getting from us!

She is in the kitchen now in half of the carrier that we have made into a basket for her (see picture). She is still a bit shy but she is more content now. She seems to have gotten used to us now, but she's still a bit apprehensive. That nervousness is sure to go in time!

Sandy

xx