Narley has been adopted! ; Another update; 6/1; post #25

[treybabe]

Narley has refused to eat or drink and he's peeing on the seats in the truck. At this point, who's to say if it's behavioral or medical? The streets that he came from were mean streets, to be sure, but it's what he knew. Now he's in new territory w/all new cats and new people, so it could be that he's just plain scared. Can you spare a prayer for this boy that it isn't a medical issue after all he's been through and that things will settle down for him and his wonderful new family?

Yes, I'll say a prayer for Narley tonight. I agree that he can be afraid. It usually takes time to adjust (three or more weeks) for each new move. We took in our girl kitty some years ago and she was extremely hostile for sometime but as we patiently kept showing her that we loved her she got better. She had been lost in the woods, then stayed in someone's garage for some time, then in a rescue shelter, all before we got her. We've had her over five years now. She is most content and we are happy to have her as part of our family.

[Medusa]

Here is the email:

Narley used the litter box twice yesterday to pee. We're having to put him at the entrance to the box, but he is now going inside without freaking out. He also pooped today, but so far no pee. We'll try again later. He's still REALLY freaky when we try to pick him up. He hisses, growls, slaps, etc., but we're working on that! :-) He's moving around the truck now, and has found the "upper level", which is where he is now...asleep in one of the travel crates. He's eating...not like we'd like to see, but each day is a little better. We figure it is just going to take his tummy a while to adjust. Also, we're BIG "hands on" people, so he's obviously not used to that either, but as time goes on, he will be, we're sure.

P.S. We're now calling him Frank Narley...since he has those cute blue eyes, and so did Frank Sinatra! <grin>

[katladyd]

This boy just needs some time to adjust to being part of a loving family. These wonderful people seem more than willing to give Narly this time to adjust. You gotta love people like this!

[treybabe]

Here is the email:

Narley used the litter box twice yesterday to pee. We're having to put him at the entrance to the box, but he is now going inside without freaking out. He also pooped today, but so far no pee. We'll try again later. He's still REALLY freaky when we try to pick him up. He hisses, growls, slaps, etc., but we're working on that! :-) He's moving around the truck now, and has found the "upper level", which is where he is now...asleep in one of the travel crates. He's eating...not like we'd like to see, but each day is a little better. We figure it is just going to take his tummy a while to adjust. Also, we're BIG "hands on" people, so he's obviously not used to that either, but as time goes on, he will be, we're sure.

P.S. We're now calling him Frank Narley...since he has those cute blue eyes, and so did Frank Sinatra! <grin>

Mary, thanks for the update. He may keep on hissing and growling for a while; but if they don't force it (like trying to pick him up so soon) and give him time to get used to things he could come around on his own. We tried to pick ours up, pet her, etc. and she showed the same hostile behavior. Once we let her alone she eventually came around and is now a very affectionate kitty. (5 years later).

MJ

[Medusa]

Here is the email that I received this morning. I edited only names of people who may not want to be revealed.

Hi

Your email got buried under tons of rescue "stuff" and I just now found it. I'm copying (____) as he also asked for an update, and it's easier to just type all this once.

For a while there, we weren't sure we were the right family for Narley, as he had gotten it in his mind to not like us and tried to take a piece out of us at every opportunity. He also refused to use the litter box, and in the truck, it made life nearly unbearable. He never had seen a covered box before coming to us, and covered boxes are all we use, so we were pretty much at an impasse. We've compromised now...he uses puppy pads in one of the crates, and Keith and I clean it as soon as we know he's gone potty. He is probably going to be one of the cats who stay at home and are cared for by our friends and petsitters in our absence, but we're still not sure. We haven't ben able to get home just yet...the freight that pays best isn't going to Texas, and we have to take what will pay the bills and keep these fur children in groceries and medicine.

Just in the last day Narley has decided he wants some of what everyone else is getting..petting, stroking, snuggling, etc. He's now coming out of the crates where he's been mostly hibernating, and he's currently laying on the top bunk, just over my head, with his head hanging down watching me type. He has allowed us to pet him, and clean the "eye buggars" from the corners of his eyes. We will, of course, continue to work with him, in the hopes we can make a "continental traveler" out of him. It would make monitoring him 24/7/365 for any sign of URI, etc., much easier if he will consent to travel with us, but if not, we have a good alternative in our friends and petsitters. We currently have 5 fur children that don't travel with us...3 have tried it and didn't do well, 1 was a feral we trapped-spayed-released, but she liked our pool cleaner guy so well that after a year of him feeding her while we were on the road, she became an indoor-outdoor kitty, and still is, and the 5th little guy is an older cat who has NEVER had any attention, and is quite wary of humans...he's one of the ones we adopted from the lady in New Orleans and was one of the 97 or so she had at the time the levees broke in 2005 after Katrina...92 survived and tread water 3-5 feet high in the house for 3 weeks before anyone got to them, so this little guy has reason to be wary. He's safe, has a comfortable life with plenty of food and fresh water, along with his choice of snoozing locations, and a bevy of folks to watch over him while Keith and I are on the road. All in all, not a bad life. Anyway, if Narley chooses to not travel, we understand and wil respect that decision. We'll keep you posted.

And don't worry..Narley is fine, eating and drinking, and even had one of my french fries this afternoon. He was sunning himself on the dash earlier this morning, and FINALLY seems to be adjusting to Keith and me. Regardless, as we said above, he has a place to live out the rest of his life in relative comfort. Sooo, RELAX and DON'T WORRY. He's fine!!

Amanda and Keith

[katladyd]

This is such good news! These people are their love for cats are awesome! Narly, indeed, landed in a good place.

[jenluckenbach]

Wonderful update, Fabulous people!!!