Fern was adopted in May 1997. I was told she'd be shy. This, as I learned over time, was an understatment. But when the foster mom brought her to me and I held her and she curled up into a little ball, I was hooked. (she was about 1 year old at the time)
She was brought in to the shelter as a stray, so no background was available, but she came home with me (together with Rutherford, who was adopted on the same day)
Miss Fern hid behind the bed....days....weeks.....months.... You could not approach her without her running.
The only time I managed to touch her was at feeding time. I taught her to be tolerant of my hand as I placed her food bowl down. This is how we made our progress.
There is no way I can recall or write about all her milestone, but suffice it to say that it took her 4 YEARS to venture onto my lap.
When we moved to this house, which has 3 floors, you could gauge her progress with which floor of the house she resided on. At first the 3rd floor was her haunting ground. She'd sleep in the beanbag chairs and eat up in that room. Then she progressed to the 2nd floor. She took up sleeping in the middle bedroom (now the mouse room). Then the day finally came when she moved her sleeping area to our living room. First it was behind a chair, then it was on the loveseat (we don't sit there) and now she is right up on the back of the sofa with my husband!
But the reason that this all comes to mind is what she has been doing this week. She actuall ASKS (you can see it in her eyes) for me to sit in my chair so she can come up for her "pets".
Fern.....you were worth every minute.
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which one in your signature is Fern? 
), and I was afraid he'd never let me pet him again. I'm glad your little girl is getting so comfy with you after all this time!
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