A brief history, first...
Minnie moved into my home in July 2002. She had been picked up in April, and kept at the shelter/clinic until a proper home could be had. From July to Oct/Nov...Minnie lived strictly in my basement....I hated it. (Of course, I made her several beds, had her food, litter,etc. down there). Then, I always think it just got too cold...and up she moved to under my bed. So, food, litter, etc., was relocated to my room. This wasn't a good thing at all. Too many cat wars happened.
I moved Minnie to the spare room, set up her 'station'...she had a huge computer box as her hidey hole (free reign of the home, but, she didn't avail herself of it). This was maybe in January 2003. By February/March, on very rare occasions, I would find Minnie on the window sill...but, the second I opened the door, or moved into the room, she ran. I kept the door closed for 12 hours at a time to afford her complete security.
At some point, I moved Minnie's house into the closet. I took out all my shoes, cut a hole in the door, and put food and litter in there. It seemed more comfortable to her.
By April/May....I would catch Minnie out in the room, on the window sill, and by June...it had become a daily ritual. She would come out at night (dusk) and sit in the window, under the chair, AND walk (OK, crawl) past me to do so. She know longer ran all the time. By July, every single day/night, Minnie came out. She would sit on the floor and watch us.
Well, guess the heck what? Today...I mean prolly since late July, Minnie has taken to wandering. She will now go, nearly every evening, out of the closet, down the hall, and set up camp under the dining room table. I sometimes find her there in the AM!!! Do you hear me? AM!!! I have found her in the living room, on the bottom shelf of the bookcase (which is set up for catnapping)! This weekend...she was in the LIVING ROOM WINDOW!!! Just looking out, sniffing things. She could not go any further in my house than that!
She purposely strides down the hall, away from the hidey hole, with me and Binx in plain sight, and goes about her business. She still runs when she sees me (though she sits for pets inside her hidey hole), but, not with fear, more with apprehension. In the morning, when I go to change her food,water and litter, I always smile when the closet is empty... cause I know she is out and about.
14 months.....whoever thought.....I can't wait for the day I can go up to her and pet her outside the hidey hole....I know that day is somewhere off in the near future. Maybe that will be Minnie's Christmas present to me.
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