Not Yet

We haven't tried again yet, but I think I feel better now to have another go at sleeping in her room tomorrow. In the meantime, look who's taking advantage of the new, pretty, unused bed. They've logged more hours on it than Mia.

Pip. Every time I look at his face I think "silly cat."

Doesn't she look pretty, though? She really makes such a pretty ballerina.

Progress

Carlsbad Flower Fields, 4.2009

I miss the sun. Just a little bit. It's such strange weather we're having, but I do hope it stays this way 'til next weekend.

I was missing the way Lola used to be before Pip came into our lives: the way she'd announce herself with a short "Rrr" before coming into my bedroom, her sleeping form at the foot of the bed, her purrs, her kneading. All of that was gone last week. It was only a few days ago that she started sleeping on my bed again and she's actually OK now if Pip is there too.

She fell asleep with Mia and me last night, but must have went away sometime later. Then she came back early morning when Allan came into the room and she followed him in. I heard her meow a little and she jumped on the bed. She walked on top of me like she used to and kneaded on my hips. She's slowly coming around and it makes me happy.


Baby Lola, 7.22.05


She Grew Up Pretty, 4.10.08

Cats on the Brain

Hello, Pip. That's short for Tikki tikki tembo-no sa rembo-chari bari ruchi-pip peri pembo.



There were so many cats at the shelter. We were there a week before and I was overwhelmed. How do I decide which one to rescue when they all needed rescuing? The older cats that meowed at us as we passed by their cages tugged at my heart, but I wanted to get a kitten because I thought Lola would feel less threatened by a younger cat. On our second visit, Allan spotted this little tuxedo kitten. Out of all the kittens, he was the only one that purred and rubbed himself along his cage to get our attention. He was named Lightning at the time and he's 3 months old. We waited a long time to fill out the adoption papers and all the while he slept so soundly in Allan's arms.



We kept him in Mia's room at first. I didn't heed the advice to keep the new cat separated for two weeks. I was too eager to see what Lola's reaction to him would be. She's seen other cats, feral ones that pass through our backyard, but never one up close and personal. She walked into the room ever so slowly and my hopes of a fast friendship were dashed when she began to hiss and growl at him. Deep, low growls. I've never heard those sounds from Lola. Ever. And it scared me a little that my sweet kitty could do that.

On the second day I kept them apart for most of the time. I supervised them when they were together and it wasn't any better. Pip would try to come close to her and Lola would have nothing to do with him.

But then it took a turn for the worse. Pip was a rambunctious kitten and was use to being around other cats while Lola was likely feeling threatened. She was set on establishing her dominance. For two days, I was a stressed-out mess. They fought so often. I was scared for Pip but Allan said that if Lola had really wanted to hurt him then she would have already. Pip gave as good as he got. It was a cat thing that I couldn't go between although it killed me to just let it happen. Lola ignored me and I was so sorry for bringing such a change on her.



Here they were seemingly fine.



A minute later, combat begins.



And on the fourth day, they tussled still but only a little. I went upstairs to look for them and I found this sweet scene.





And the day after...

Lola Cribbies

Mia calls her that sometimes.

They have a new game together too. Mia runs around the house trailing a shoelace and Lola chases after her.