Mocha came home vaccinated, de-parasited, neutered and still slightly dopey from his day at the clinic. We moved him directly into the laundry room, with the decision to go for one major transition rather than a series of small upsets. If our little sewer rat was going to convert life as a happy house cat, let it start with a litter box in the laundry room. Right now.
All in all, his conversion progressed smoothly and steadily. His only litter box transgression came within the first week, and was, I strongly suspect, the result of a miscalculated attempt at a high jump over the baby gate separating him from his humble abode.
My only disappointment was an apparent transfer of loyalty when the little chocolate feline chose George as his new best friend, but as time progressed I came to believe that Mocha understood who he needed to win over, and who he’d already won. Smart kitty.
He uses his scratching post, though I still cringe and keep a close watch when he jumps on the leather couch. An indoor cat with claws is a very scary thing.
The catnip mouse brought on a serious bout of paranoia, so with the thought that it might not mix with his post-neuter painkiller, I put him through a few days of detox. But even a drug-free Mocha turned a little too maniacal when exposed to the weed, so he’s now content with shoelaces, ping pong balls, the glass beads in the bowl on the coffee table, the cloth covering the little table on the landing, and the strings that control the dining room blinds. Now that he’s comfortable roaming around on all levels, the house has become a giant kitty amusement park.
The Final Frontier, yet to be completely conquered is the greyhound. Though outweighed by a good 75 pounds, Mocha established his role as the Boss of Boone immediately and without room for negotiation. Boone agreed to the terms and has been nothing but accommodating (except for one brief reactive moment for which he was immediately and eternally regretful) even going so far as to refuse to join everyone downstairs for movie night, allowing Mocha full, free access.
They now share space pretty comfortably, and though Mocha will still arch and hiss at Boone should the dog have the audacity to lift his head while the cat sniffs his feet, he no longer runs in terror, but merely returns to his investigation when Boone lays his head back down in defeat or disinterest.
I think the Kwik Trip Kitten is on his way to King of the Castle.
From Four Sticks Farm 