Willow's Blog

Two Weeks On

2007-08-23T23:21:00.000+01:00

Since my last post Willow has been getting on well. She is still a bit shy as she hides behind the sofa sometimes, but she likes more attention now.

We've noticed that if she is on the stairs that she doesn't like anyone coming down the stairs. It scares her. I suppose it's the case of "whats that coming over the hill? Is it a monster?"

She has some favourite spots in the house. Sonya has been away this week so she has been sitting downstairs for a change. She likes sitting on a big stool thing that we have in front of the patio doors. She sits and just looks out into the garden. Looking at all the activity there. She doesn't mind us coming over to stroke her while she's there either. She stands up and arches her back. Making sure that we stroke her all over. Ocassionally she will lie on her side and like her belly being rubbed.

We have worked out that she doesn't like Cod food. We gave her some the other day and she just ate the dry food. Totally ignoring the other that we had put out.

A funny thing that she sometimes does is pull herself along on the carpet using her front 2 paws.

She was meoowing alot last night. When Ray went to investigate what was wrong she ran away? Maybe she's just practicing? She doesn't make much noise and when she does meoow its not that loud.

Well thats all for now. I'll try and get a pic of her for the next post. Haven't got the camera at the moment.

Ant a little message for you. How's your new foster cat going? I've been looking for posts on him/her but I couldn't see any. Hope its better than you hoped.

Take Care all

Sandy

xx

Sleepy Willow

2007-08-13T10:56:00.000+01:00

We've had quite a busy weekend so haven't had the chance to update. During Saturday Willow didn't leave the kitchen all day. I'm not surprised though. It was the coolest room in the house. It was a very hot day! In the evening we left Willow in the kitchen with the door closed (with everything she needed), because we were going out. We got home quite late, and Willow was keen to get some food as soon as we got home.

Sunday morning was also quite busy. Me, Siobhan, and Ray went to church while mum stayed at home with Willow, because the late night had made her extremely tired. Mum took the time to change Willow's tag details over. The clicking of the plastic frightened her and Mum had to keep hold of her tightly as she had to get it finished. Once she had finished, she tried to pick her up and carry her to the sofa. Picking Willow up was ok but when mum tried to sit with her she scarpered, so she used her brush on her for the first time while she was in her basket. She loved it!

We came back home and Willow was still in the kitchen in her basket. Later on in the day at her tea time, Ray decided that it was time for her to be more sociable. So he and mum put all of her things into the hall, got Willow to come out of the kitchen and closed the door so she wouldn't be able to get back in. She found a quiet place upstairs on the landing. That was much better. She could be seen but she could still have her space.

Today she has been going in my room and mum's room. She has come for attention every now and then, but found the rug in my room very comfortable, so she fell asleep on it (see picture). I think Siobhan went in my room and disturbed her though because mum found her in the middle of the stairs. Siobhan had to come down to get some lunch so had to disturb her again. Willow ran back upstairs to stay out of the way on the landing and she went back to sleep.

Today she's been mostly sleeping, so we haven't heard much from her. She's being called for food at the moment so hopefully should come down soon!

x.Sonya .x

Getting to know us.

2007-08-11T08:39:00.000+01:00

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

She's Arrived!

2007-08-10T10:15:00.000+01:00

This photo was taken when we visited Willow at her foster home on 01-08-2007

Last night we got a phone call from Ant (foster dad of Willow) saying that she was ready to go home with us.

When we got there Willow jumped off the sofa and into a hidey-hole. Maybe she knew she was going to go home with us? After a chat to Ant and Jon, and signing forms etc, Ant put Willow into our carrier. After saying our goodbyes (Willow meowed goodbye) we took her to the car and strapped the carrier in. All the way home Willow was, despite her feline appearance, as quiet as a mouse!

Once we got home we took her into the kitchen. Ant said to continue as normal, to pretend she isn't there until she's ready for some attention. We took off the door of the carrier, put dry food and water out, and left her in the kitchen with the door closed. Later Ray had to go back into the room. She wasn't in her carrier, but was in the middle of the kitchen. On seeing Ray she ran into a corner of the room, underneath a table. She has found a hiding spot!

This morning when Ray came down she was out again and did the same thing. She is very fast seemingly. Ray noticed that the litter tray had been "investigated", as some of the litter had been moved.

When I got up, I was concerned a bit when I couldn't see or hear her. I thought maybe that she was behind the fridge. I eventually saw her in the place Ray had said she was, so I'm content that she's fine.

Sandy

xx