With Shasta, though, caution seems to be required more with the initial approach than the exit from her cage. As the sign on her door says, she's a little anxious.
In the couple times I went in to visit her earlier this week, on one I got rubs and the other I got a defensive smack. Early days yet though... September arrival Colin, who slapped me for weeks while caged, now follows me around joyfully trying to headbutt my knees.
As always with a new arrival, RAPS staff are working on learning Shasta's likes and dislikes and trying to help her feel less anxious about her environment. So far, they've been able to add chicken to the list of enthusiastic likes.
Updated January 2012: Shasta has sadly, and suddenly, left us to go to the rainbow bridge. She turned out to be one of those cats who had a hidden illness that didn't show itself until it was much too late to do anything for her.
In the little over a year we got to know her, she did become more confident about her surroundings, though not considerably less cranky when it came to dealing with what she felt to be too many other cats. She did come to enjoy the odd pat from her human carers at the sanctuary, but I think what I'll always remember most about her is the way she would claim an entire large plate of wet food for herself at dinner time and growl with righteous indignation at any cat who dared to try and share.
Will miss ya, feisty girl.
Posts
so pretty :)
ReplyDeleteHi, I want to thank you for updating Shasta's status and for paying attention to her before she passed away. She was my cat for two years and i am so sad that she is no longer around and especially that I could not keep giving her a home until the end. She had a difficult life and was a difficult cat and I am grateful that someone was there for her, even if you couldn't get close to her. Thank you.
ReplyDeletep.s My name is Claire, too.
Hi Claire, Thanks so much for writing - that means a lot. I just wish we'd had more time with her, grumpy growls and all.
Delete- Claire