Tea Time Cat Chat

 Tuesday 1st November 2022

   

Today I travelled to Battersea Cats and Dogs home to adopt Moon.  A cat who is aged one year and six months, and is very very timid.  He needs quiet, and patience.  He had been at Battersea for four weeks (this they consider too long). Normally cats are re-homed within 3/4 days.  Because Moon would not come out of his igloo to meet people, he hadn't been chosen. I have a quiet home, and am happy to take time for a cat to feel comfortable and confident.  Moon then managed a 1.5 hour drive from Battersea to The Old Coach House.  He scuttled from his carrier to his igloo and stayed there for the rest of the day.  Eventually, just before bed, he allowed me to tickle him under his chin. I can see why Battersea named him moon, with his full moon eyes.  Whilst I have decided to rename him, I have stayed with the concept of the moon and decide on PAN - (Moon of Saturn, God of the fields and woods, and the word-forming element meaning 'all, every, whole, all-inclusive...'). I adopted Pan yesterday as I have the rest of the week as leave from work, so we can start to get to know each other. Today I decided I wanted to document how out friendship develops... 

Wednesday 2nd November 2022  

 

afternoon tea by the fridge...

During the night Pan ventured out from his Igloo, ate his biscuits, explored the room and found the space behind the fridge.  I imagine he is very tired after his long, hyper sensory day, and wants to be in a place where he can sleep and not feel vulnerable to attack. I have left him there all day.  I have been on a walk and pottered.  I have thrown treats to him, and he has eaten them.  I have offered him treats in my hand and he has eaten them from my hand.  I made my afternoon tea and sat by the fridge and chatted to him.  He licked the bowl from which I had eaten yoghurt.  He cleaned himself and played peekaboo.  The photo above the first I have managed to take of him. I have only seen him fully once as he darted from carrier to igloo.  This is going to be a real journey of discovery. 

Thursday 3rd November 

 

"Behind the fridge is not so comfortable so I will venture out and look adoringly at you so that you will do anything I ask !!!"

The evening saw Pan explore the sitting room and the plant pot.

We did share head bumps and purrs before bed :)

Friday 4th November 2022

An eventful day - a 4am lemsip found Pan having ventured out to sit under the sofa. There is a cat there somewhere - look for the eyes!!!!

Morning found him underneath the cooker and built in cupboards.  

Fortunately treats tempted him out, and I could block up the gap. 

He has spent time, over the course of the day, darting from behind the fridge to behind the sofa, and exploring. He is making the surroundings his home; rubbing up against furniture. He is also constantly on the look out for an escape hole.  I need my wits about me. 

Before bed we again shared head bumps and purrs - progress is slow.

 

5th November 2022

Good morning says Pan.... yes I broke back in to under the work surface, but if you leave that alone, I am happy to pop out when I am ready and calm... please can I have some water (I have not yet located where you have left a bowl of water for me.)

and one day I will go outside and explore all that is beyond the window.

 

Sunday 6th November 2022

'I slept in here - not under the kitchen counter - much more comfortable

A day where Pan seemed to grow in confidence... jumping into cupboards  and the fridge, sleeping back in his igloo, miaow-ing, purring, rubbing up against my legs, and allowing me to pick him up and stroke him, and him being settled whilst being held and purring and head bumping.  Soon I am sure he is going to try and bolt the door into the hallway :)  He is now sitting on his blanket in the sitting room, in a spot he is safe and cannot be reached.  Progress is being made as he expands the spaces in which he feels safe.  

 

morning tea... 

evening sitting...

 

Monday 7th November 2022

I am long, and curious 

No break in's this morning, simply chatty and glad of company, ready to eat breakfast as fast as it could be served.  Getting used to a work from home day, so hearing the voices of people seen on the screen - they had strange accents !!!!

Supper shenanigans placing myself in front of the cat gallery - pictures of cats past, and I am cat present and future... and I am handsome at that !!!!

lots of purring, head bumps, scattering around, and miaow-ing... confidence appears to be growing...

 

Tuesday 8th November 2022

long day away in London...

Worried about being away so long... on returning home lots of head bumps, purrs and rubbing up against me.. and following me about everywhere ... I think I was actually missed.

 

Friday 11th November 2022  

What a few days - long work days in London and Pan to see my return home.  Getting used to mum popping in, and coming out from under the cooker to see meet her properly.  Being allowed to explore more of the house.  Understanding what is beyond the windows (birds and squirrels to chase when I am allowed out). 

               

Pan is a joy; so affectionate, and playful. He is going to be a hunter.

 

14th November 2022

Black Cat Appreciation Day... 17th August every year

On the eve of being here two whole weeks.  I could not have envisaged such a  transformation.  Beginning to establish routines, and demands.  Oh so ready to venture outside (but not until the weekend when there is some gardening to be done.  I cannot believe my good fortune to have such a magnificent little cat as part of my life. My dad wanted to know if black cats were considered lucky or unlucky ... I absolutely agree with what is stated on this vets website

https://www.countrysideveterinaryclinic.org/services/cats/blog/10-reasons-adopt-black-cat-honor-black-cat-appreciation-day

 
19th November 2022

19 days since Pan arrived here, and over the couple of days I have started opening the door to the outside - the world beyond the glass windows...  

Pan has tentatively taken his time.  

This morning he took his first steps into the garden,safe in the knowledge that he could flee back inside and hide under the cooker.

What is so joyous in witnessing this journey, is understanding how Pan is making The Old Coach House, his home.  Watching the pathways he takes which give him confidence, how he watches, and smells the air, where he sits and watches, how he allows me to interact with him when he is exploring... he is defining the space in which he will live and play, eat and sleep...his territory 

27th November 2022

Pan enjoys running in front of me, laying down and miaowing and looking at me as if to say 'adore me and stroke me - but only stroke me in the way I like ...'  and I obey :)  His favourite places to do this are, as in this picture, half way up the stairs, and by the back door.  

This week Pan encountered a badger, who seemed to want to come in the back door, and my neighbours cat.  He was not phased, taking it all n his panther-esque stride.   His confidence is building.  He is exploring outside more and more - it will soon be time for the unveiling of the cat-flap - and at the end of the week the Christmas Tree!!! That is going to be interesting - watch this space :)

1st December 2022

a month with this powerful ball on energy and inquisitiveness

last night Pan slept at the foot of the bed... the weekend will introduce the Christmas tree and perhaps the cat-flap ... 

he is my Christmas Angel

29th December 2022

Snow, Christmas Tree and Cat milestones

On 12th December we woke to the silence and beauty of untrodden snow - a new experience for Pan... -8 degrees proved too cold to venture out, and a preference for looking at the garden from inside.  On 24th December guests were entertained.  Pan, growing in confidence with unknown/new people in the house, ventured down to observe from the doorway.  On 27th December time was spent introducing and practicing the cat flap.  Pan can now explore the outdoors with full independence...  he has progressed to sleeping snuggled up beside me and under the folded over bed cover :)

 

25th January 2023

my heart is full  

cold nights trying to keep the heating off - snuggling 

Pan 'spoons' so tightly I sometimes dare not move...almost three months his home, and he has defined his outside patch, and determined that the neighbours cat will not get away with bullying...

 such a transformation in such a short space of time xxx

 

12th February 2023

a 3 month milestone where Pan is now so at home in the outside, and growing in confidence daily...

7th February he brought me my first 'gift,' where I came downstairs  to find the hallway full of feathers. A good job Pan was also scheduled for his first vet visit for worming and flea treatment! Pan's first trip in the cat box since his journey here to the Old Coach House. To be honest, whilst his miaows on the outward journey were rather guttural, he handled it brilliantly.  The vet also checked out the lump thing that I noticed from when I got back from Sophie's before he was going outside.  I had checked it too and it was much smaller that it had been...The vet is not concerned thinking it might be a small pellet (not sure how he got that here as he had not been out at all).  Anyway she gave him a clean bill of health - strong and healthy.
He has also ventured onto the roof from the bedroom window :)

he loves being above and being able to look down ...

he is miaowing loudly at me as I type, looking through he window because he wants to go out. And whilst it is not warm out, I open the window and it is lovely to smell the air and hear the birds.

 

15th April 2023

over 5 months of playing hard, being curious and inquisitive, exploring, and pushing the boundaries; 

here Pan is sitting on the skylight above my desk... on days when I take early morning tea in bed, I witness him jump from the bedroom window, and hear him climb over the roof of the house chasing squirrels!!! They always win as they jump away into the trees beyond.

...then having exhausted himself through play, and the patrolling of his external territory, he happily claims his sleeping spot and crashes

💓💓💓💓💓

 

16th September 2023

Five months of fun have ensued since my last update...

Pan has managed my week away in Scotland and being fed by neighbours 

I was worried as to how he would be, and whilst he ate the food, he did not venture to make friends with those opening the sachets of food - but he is gainin gin confidence all the time.

I did find wounds; 

clearly gained through defending his 'Pan' home space.  

Equally he has found a cool(from the 30 degree heat)

and safe hiding space, where he can sleep alfresco.

 

1st November 2023

A Year of Pan

Pan's first birthday here had moments that were fiesty, challenging, and defining...the morning found him unable to walk one of his back legs -  trying to get him to the vet in the cat box - very challenging !!! Having to leave him at the vet where they needed to sedate him in order to x-ray and check for a broken paw- distressing.  No paw broken but 4 wounds sustained through defending himself and his patch from the bully cat - both a relief and restricting (not allowed out for 5 days due to open wounds). 

The cat flap blocked  to stop Pan breaking out !!!

Sleeping outside, being able to look down from above, a favourite place when the weather is warm.

The first time he became a lap cat - sleeping on my knitting!!!!

No photograph can truly capture the specialness of his eyes and his character, but I will keep trying.  Thank you Pan for all the adventures, fun and love over your first year at The Old Coach House.