Bilbo continues to adjust well.
A day after my last post, Bilbo got the zoomies for the first time and was playing with toys himself and running through the house. He wanted to play with the others, but they still weren't having any of it. It was funny to hear his trill and see him zipping after an imaginary prey like the old cats do (less often than they used to).
Later the same day, he got into the treat game. We throw treats and they run to get them before the other kitties get them, although we generally try to throw them towards one cat or another and it usually works out well, unless they're not paying attention and one of the others is. Bilbo went from not knowing what to do to running after treats.
A few days later, he didn't want anything to do with those treats. 🤷♀️
He's rarely under anything anymore. In fact, he seems to like sleeping on the dining room chairs (cushioned) or out in the middle of the floor. He likes to stretch out that big body of his and seems to get too warm too easily, unlike the others who curl up like pill bugs. He doesn't even mind the sound of the air-popper and popcorn popping. Things like that don't even make him blink anymore, although the vacuum is as scary to him as it is to any cat and he doesn't like the rustling of our winter coats.
He's starting to jump more when he plays too. I think he's getting a feel for the laminate flooring throughout the house; laminate legs, you might call it. He doesn't jump like the middle two kitties yet, but he's getting more air time, so maybe he doesn't have an injury. Rather, maybe he just doesn't like the lack of traction.
He's picky, though, about his food. He has been since the beginning. I even tried Tiki cat treats and he turned his nose away while the others wanted the pasty goo.
The other cats are getting more trusting of him. The oldest is getting closer without hissing or growling. There have been a few swipes from the old guy, but Bilbo mostly lets it go like water off a duck's back. He's just too lazy and laid-back to care much, although he does give the others wider berths at times because of their signs of not liking him.
I wish he would be less lazy, at least enough to clean himself better. His coat is getting oily and flattened. We may have to give him a bath. He does clean himself a little, just not enough and not everywhere.
He also has moments when he doesn't want any attention and times when he's clingy for attention. Friday evening (two days ago), I was sitting at the kitchen counter and he jumped up on the stool next to me to climb into my lap. He laid his head on my arm or pressed his forehead into my arm and purred the loudest I've ever heard him. (This morning, he did the same thing and got to a point of attacking my arm--this time, he wanted to get me to play.)
And later, oldest seemed to want to play with Bilbo. It was brief but the spark was there, then Bilbo didn't know how to react and walked away. Things could be happening that we didn't expect for a long time. 😻
This will probably be my last regular update on him unless something new happens. Overall, he's coming out of his shell and is more comfortable in our house, and our other cats are less worried in his presence, even relaxing.
I wish I could have gotten the picture yesterday (Saturday), but Bilbo saw me and ruined it by moving. The oldest was sleeping on the cat toy cabinet (actually for litter, but that's too messy, so it became their boy box in which they go in and pull out toys to play with) by the bay window and Bilbo was sitting a foot away looking out. Neither seemed to care about the other being so close.
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Oldest is usually where Bilbo is--near me--but his second
favorite location is the corner of the bed, as in this picture. |
As proof, I was able to get a picture last night. While I was praying my rosary, the two were peaceful and close. Both have a tendency to want to be with me when I'm praying. There's a peace of spirit in prayer that I think they feel and enjoy. Oldest kitty has been my prayer pal since I started on a regular routine. I suspect this is the start of Bilbo joining us.
It helps that, although Bilbo is reasonably young, his energy level is similar to our older kitties. We also have played with them all in the same room and make sure our old kitties get lots of reassurance that we're still here for them. We let them see that, although we accept the new boy, we also still give them our attention.
Great progress in the last week. I expect by spring that we'll be seeing Bilbo snuggling with one or more of the others.
Meow! ("God bless!" in catspeak)
