Cat lady

Guilty! But look at them! Doesn't it just make you smile? It's been nearly a year since Buddy (the tiger) joined us and he's come a very long way socially. His mother was hit by a car and he was raised by a single man in Honesdale. George (the guy) decided to give Buddy up after a change in jobs that was going to keep him away from home for periods of time.  Buddy ( or Budderball, as I like to call him) was used to a quiet, one-person household so joining another cat and a dog and 2 people was a little traumatic for him. He's skittish and probably always will be, but he doesn't scramble nearly as often as he used to.

Strides made? He used to run and hide when anyone came over. Most people saw him the first time by getting down on the floor and looking under the bed. Now, he is usually the one that comes out first when company is over.  It takes a lot of commotion for Allen to wake up and realize there's company, haha.
Still a little stand-offish, he now comes and gets on a lap or lays next to us on the couch. And while he hasn't ever really purred (Allen sounds like a lawn mower when he gets going!), you can hear a whisper of a purr. I'll get him purring yet!
He had food issues when he came, too. George fed him a couple of handfuls of food once a day, because he didn't want Buddy to get fat. It's a nice thought, but when Buddy moved to a house with food out all of the time, he gorged. He's chunky now, but is not as food focused as he used to be. He's figured out we aren't going to take it away and is much more relaxed about eating.

And Buddy is so very aware of his surroundings! If we move something to a new spot or add something, he knows right away and investigates cautiously.  Because yesterday was so nice, I put the Adirondack chairs on the front porch and the little bugger noticed. He sat in the front window for quite awhile, just checking them out! Nothing gets by him.

Buddy is the most cat-like cat I've ever had, and that's been an adjustment for me...I'm used to a cat coming when I call, but most times, he just looks at me. Allen comes running, talking the whole time...that's more like it! Buddy will come around. He and Allen have bonded and he even likes the dog!

So, yeah, I'm the crazy cat lady. I would love to get an orange cat - I'm partial to them - but that idea has been kaboshed, nixed, no-way-in-hell-are-we-getting-another-one'd...but we'll see. We got Buddy, after all :)