Last night, Madoc was an absolute unholy terror! This morning? A super snuggle bug

[Siwsan]

He was pouncing, non stop and claws out, occasionally at my head. I almost reached the point of putting him in the play room (which I now hope to reclaim as my en suite shower room). He hasn't been there since becoming an 'only kitten'. But, damn. Once scratch by my eye and another on my lip were enough.

After much patient frustration, on my part, he finally let up and allowed me to sleep.

This morning? Snuggles galore. Purring like an angel. Giving me lots of those loving kitten gazes and soft kitten patty paw pets. Well, and attacking my fuzzy slippers but that's ok.

[2naSalit]

1. In a couple days...

My snuggle buddy goes back to his mom's. I've been keeping him while she's in limbo between selling the house we all lived in and moving into the new house being built (long story but bad timing had a lot to do with it). So, since I found housing first and could have pets, I offered to house the cat, who lived at my apartment as well as the main house because we both love him. I have been keeping him since the closing a couple months ago. The problem is that he's always been a summertime free range cat and I had to keep him indoors most of the time because I live in a parking lot next to a wild land with coyotes and cougars beyond the pavement. Once it's winter out, he becomes a mostly indoor cat, it isn't quite winter here yet so it's been a challenge. I take him outside but have to pick him up and bring him in as soon as a rabbit shows up and he decides to chase it into the grassland out back. He won't tolerate a leash.

Fortunately, at his mom's he can go outside and have his freedom again keeping the hay barn free of mice. I'll miss him but at least I got to spend this time with him before saying goodbye. He'll end up about an hour away and I hope to leave the region next year so it's that time coming up in a couple days to let him go. I'll go visit when I can until I move away.

Glad that Madoc is turning out to be a sweet little guy with lots of energy. He certainly has a sweet face.

[Siwsan]

2. He keeps me hopping, that's for sure

His new game is to hide around a corner and wait for me to walk by so he can lunge at my leg. I've learned it's best for me to wear jeans and faux Ugg boots to protect myself. And, really, he rarely makes contact. Sometimes he just leaps straight up in the air, all four legs extended and paws at full extension - only to land shy of his target.

Madoc tried to slip outside, the other day, so my brother suggested getting him chipped. He's a sneaky little guy. I have to double check, before I close ANY door, including kitchen cabinets and the refrigerator, to make sure he's not inside. I opened one cupboard, the other day, to see him 'breadloafing' right next to the toaster.

Fingers crossed I get my car back, soon, so I can see about bringing in a companion for him. Our local shelter is over run with kittens, right now, so I'm really optimistic we will be a family of 3, very soon.

[2naSalit]

6. After all the years of living with cats...

And many without, I have found that one pet requires another. Some cats are okay with a dog as the other but a companion is a good idea, you'll never get anything done ever again until the year after next.

Do you think any of the outdoor cats might be a candidate, like the one who lets you pet it?

[Siwsan]

9. I think it would take too long to socialize and de-flea Mittens. I want Madoc to have a friend, now

But that doesn't mean I won't keep working on Mittens the Kitten AND Scooter. Even if they just become outdoor pets with a nice shelter, that would be fine. Somehow I suspect, though, that Mittens might be the best candidate for being fully socialized. Only time and effort will tell.

[2naSalit]

10. I hear you.

I figured you would continue working with the outdoor cats.

I hope you find a good companion for Madoc soon, he is probably still trying to process why he's the only one in the house at times.

[wnylib]

11. Sounds like Madoc is going through what I call the

hunting phase of kittenhood. It's when they first start acting out real hunting behavior instead of just playfully swatting and chasing things. They hone their stalk and attack skills in this phase.

When mine went into that stage of development, her stuffed cat, Fluffy, became her prey instead of her companion. At that time, Fluffy was around the same size as my cat, Ember. Ember used to drag Fluffy around with her, tripping over Fluffy in the process and curling up with her.

Then one day I saw Ember carry Fluffy next to the footstool in the living room. Ember went to the other side of the stool and backed up several feet. She slinked across the carpet, belly low, and just before reaching the footstool, Ember got into the pounce posture, wiggled her butt, and leaped around the stool to seize Fluffy by the neck and shake her hard enough to snap the neck if Fluffy had been a real, living animal. Ember repeated that game several times.

Around that time, she also started attacking my hands in bed and pouncing me when I rolled over. She was serious, not playing, but fortunately, did not go for my head or neck. Still, it was bad enough that I shut her out of the bedroom a few nights.

She is 6 years old now and still likes to play stalking games with me, but it's just playful again, and not when I'm sleeping anymore.

[samnsara]

3. i miss kitties

[2naSalit]

7. I go back to petless this week...

But I can't keep a pet in this new place anyway so my "foster" leaving on Wed or Thurs is best for him. My place was always meant to be temporary, we're all thankful it worked out this way. (See comment above).

[niyad]

4. Such a sweet little angel! He could not possibly do anything wrong!

But no more scary movies for him.

I know that you willfind the perfect companion for him soon. Sophie and Morgan will see to it.

[MontanaMama]

5. It was Halloween after all.

🎃

[2naSalit]

8. Very good point!