Saturday, August 30, 2014: …And the Silent Treatment Continues and a Later Scare

Tommy woke up around 3:00 A.M. and made a fuss. I can’t keep waking up in the middle of the night when she wants attention, so I thought if I ignored it, she’d go back to sleep or amuse herself.  Well, she did jump up on the bed by my feet and fall asleep, so I thought I was on the right track.

I woke up at 7:45 to a silent cat.  All morning she hardly mad a sound. At first when I tried to pet her, she moved her head away or in one case tried to bite me.  I even tried using the temptation of a treat to get her to interact, but she would only come near for the treat and then leave.  She spent all of the morning (other than it was litter box or nourishment time) either sitting under the dining room table or on my shorts to be ironed on top of the table.

When I would walk by, she’s sometimes look at me and I would pet her. She would accept the gesture, but made no attempt to initiate any interaction with me. I finally gave up and headed into the study to work on transcribing my grandfather’s diaries. I didn’t get through five days before Tommy came up to my feet asking for attention.  I couldn’t get her to jump up, so I picked her up and put her on the desk. She started purring and spent about five minutes with me walking around the desk and making sure that I petted her.

When she jumped down she went into the living room and I heard her playing starting to play with a foil ball and then called out to me. I thought that it might finally be play time. Wouldn’t you know she’d want to play right when I needed to get ready to leave to visit my relatives during the afternoon.

 As I was getting ready, Tommy understood what was happening. As I exited the shower suddenly my silent little kitty became quite vocal and positioned herself right next to the bedroom door. I wasn’t getting out without her. As I was getting dressed I told her that I would be visiting some of her aunts and uncles, and she moved over towards the bed. When I finished, I went over to the bed and got out the treats which Tommy knew would be put on the bed. I sprinkled a few on the bed, said good bye and headed out not knowing what Tommy’s attitude would be when I returned.

When I returned home I found a very grateful cat who almost rubbed the skin right off my legs.  She also received a present, but I didn’t have any C batteries, so she will have to wait until Sunday to enjoy her new amusement.  She did enjoy playing in the small Tommy Hilfiger bag where I put her little catnip mouse.  She was getting caught in the handles, so I removed them.

I watched the remainder of the Badger game and Tommy hid under the dining room table. I don’t think that she cared for my tone during the game.  I did crawl under the table at one point to apologize for scaring her with a sudden outburst. She probably thought that the frustration in my voice was directed at her.

When we played before bed I noticed that there was a little red spot on her right lower eye lid. I got a clean damp cotton ball and after some fussing and escape moves I was able to clean it.  Although I was originally frightened by what appeared to be a small wound, I thought I should check it in the morning since it didn’t seem to be bleeding, oozing anything, etc. After that experience. Tommy headed for under the bed. I hoped that during the night she would feel comfortable enough to jump up on the bed to sleep.

Friday, August 29, 2014: An Aloof Cat

Tommy didn’t wake me up until 5:30 this morning. Although she may have been awake at other times during the night, she was quiet enough not to wake me.  At 5:30, I reminded her that it was still dark and to wake me up when the sun was really out. She obliged and didn’t wake me again until almost 7:30. This time the wake up was vocal only and she didn’t jump on the bed, something that I actually enjoyed.

I handled the morning routine thinking that Tommy wanted some alone time. While she sat by the balcony screen door keeping watch over the neighborhood, I went into the study to complete the morning computer tasks. I accomplished most of what I needed to do before Tommy beckoned through the door that she wanted to come in. 

She came in and saw that I was working on the computer, so she left and waited out in the living room. I thought for sure that she’d jump up and “help” type, but I guess it was her day off. She continued to “hunker down” under the dining room table during most of the morning. It was a pretty dismal day, so I could understand her lack of motivation.

I left for lunch with friends and when I returned Tommy gave me her usual “where have you been and I deserve a treat attitude.” I spent the rest of the afternoon and early evening doing laundry and trying to get Tommy to play. She spent her day lounging, supervising and napping. Occasionally she’d let me pet her for a very short time, but she didn’t want to play.

The evening was more of the same. She occasionally walked by, but still didn’t want to play or be petted. When she went into the bedroom to eat around bedtime, I went in and prepared for bed. She jumped up at the bottom of the bed and walked toward me. When I tried to pet her she jumped off the bed. I finally gave up and went to sleep frustrated that today my role was only that of servant.  Perhaps tomorrow Tommy will want to spend time with me. 

Thursday, August 28, 2014: All's Well That Ends Well

Tommy decided that 12:50 was a good time to make noise and play by herself. I was okay with it as long as I didn’t need to become involved. It didn’t take long until I fell back to sleep; I’m not sure if she was still playing or not.  We woke up again a couple times, but each time I reassured her that all was well and I fell back to sleep.

Whatever was bothering Tommy during the night continued in the morning. I’m not sure whether she didn’t get enough sleep or was upset about something else. Either way, she wanted me to complete my duties and then leave her alone.  I gave her the space she wanted and worked in the study until I heard her calling to me. I tried sitting on the sofa thinking that maybe she’d come sit by me, but she sat next to the chair where I usually sit to do the morning puzzles. I guess she expected me to stick to the routine.

When I petted her later all seemed to be going well until she suddenly moved her head and I came very close to poking her eye.  That set her off back into her mood. I apologized, gave her a treat, and let her cool down while I worked on the computer.  When I came out later to change the channel, she was in a better mood and I was able to give her the usual morning chin rub.

I was going to a friend’s baseball game and needed to leave at noon. Tommy was fine with staying in “her suite.” When I returned 5 hours later, I think Tommy hadn’t expected me to be gone so long.  It took her a while to forgive me and allow me to pet her.

Tommy spent some time sitting on the sofa. I’m sure that it had something to do with the fact that there were treats to be had.  We spent a quiet evening with Tommy amusing herself before we had the last round of play before bed. I really wanted to get her moving so that perhaps she wouldn’t wake up quite so often during the night.  She spent a considerable amount of time racing around after the laser light even jumping up to catch it on the wall. This was new; she usually would just chase it when it was on the ground.

After much play, some petting and a treat or two, we called it a day and went to bed.  Tommy even started the night on the bed, something she hadn’t some for a while. It was a good sign that the day had ended well.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014: A New Phrase Enters Our Lives

I was awakened during the night by a loud thud. It seems that Tommy misjudged the distance and holding power of the sheets and fell when she tried to jump on the bed. Of course that meant that I needed to get up, check on her and comfort her. I gave her a treat when she jumped (successfully) back on the bed and we went back to sleep.

Perhaps because Tommy had slept so much the previous day, she was ready to go at 5:30 and woke me up.  I just rolled over and told her it was too early for me. She tried again at 6:30, but got the same result. Finally at 7:30 I got up, but by this time Tommy was in a mood probably because she had to wait to be able to roam the condo.

I let her have some alone time while I worked in the study. When I heard her calls of “distress,” I knew that she was in a better mood and ready to enjoy the day with me. There was construction nearby, so the noise was irritating to her, but we tried to play. She kept getting distracted, so we stopped.

As I was making the bed and getting ready to leave for lunch, Tommy started chewing on a foil ball. She managed to dislodge a piece and as she went to eat it, I said something I never thought I’d say. “Don’t put that in your mouth; it’s achy pooey!” That being said, she did drop it and I picked it up and threw it away.

She spent much of the morning under the bed, so it made leaving “not a chore.” I left a couple treats on the bed, lifted the bed skirt and said good bye and that I’d be back soon.  We’ll see how her mood is when I return.

When I returned Tommy was glad to see me but still seemed a bit out of sorts. She didn’t seem to have much energy or interest in playing. I let her nap and waited to see how she would be once she woke up.

She woke up in a much better mood. We spent some time playing, but she didn’t seem to want to play for an extended amount of time. I brought out a couple of the new toys that my friend had given Tommy the previous day and she really enjoyed the catnip “bar.” After she played with that for a while, she was ready to play with her fleece teaser for quite a while.

We stopped around 7:30 when Tommy decided to sprawl out on the living room floor. During the 10 o’clock news we headed into the bedroom to play and get ready to sleep.

Tuesday, August 26, 2014: Tommy Is a Good Hostess to a Gift-Bearing Friend

This morning started a bit early, but since we were having company this morning I was glad to be up before 7:00. We had our usual morning routine, but when Tommy laid down in front of me for her usual petting she opened her mouth like she was getting ready to bite. We hadn’t had this issue in a while and I’m sure she realized her mistake when I left the room.

When I returned, we’re okay although Tommy seemed a bit put off. While I did the vacuuming she hid under the bed (normal) but returned there after I finish (not normal). She finally came out right before our company arrived.

As always when the company arrived, Tommy was the perfect hostess. She admired the gifts she received. (I have some great friends who come bearing gifts!) She allowed all the petting and attention that my friend wanted to give her. She readily went in the bedroom so my friend and I could go out for lunch. Tommy again showed what a people person she was and I was so proud of her.

When we returned Tommy again wasn’t too critical of my absence (probably because our company was still with us). After my friend left Tommy decided that she had had enough excitement for a while and decided to take a nap.  I got caught up with some paperwork.

I needed to get my haircut, so when Tommy woke up I needed to get her into the bedroom. She wasn’t moving but did allow me to pick her up. She usually doesn’t like to be picked up, so I tried to hold her like a baby. She actually was less fussy and we made it all the way to the bed without incident.  I put down her treat on the bed and headed out to get my hair cut.

When I returned Tommy was glad to see me, but wanted to spend time laying in the sun by the screen door which was finally able to be opened again after two days of air conditioning. The rest of the afternoon and early evening was spent lounging around with occasional short play sessions and food/water breaks.

My friend had brought some different treats, so I put both her usual and the new treats down and let her choose.  She decided to try the new treats and must have liked them because a few minutes later she was using her scratching post and looking at me. I had gotten her to use the scratching post by rewarding with treats and have been doing some “weaning” of the treat giving because she uses the posts very often.

I also put a treat in her little pillow (see previous posts), but this time she was having a little difficulty getting the treat out. I told her to use her paws and wouldn’t you know it, she started using her paws and got the treat out. I’m not sure if it was a coincidence that I mentioned the paws right before she used them, or that she understood what I was saying.  I know that when I say “Come on!” she follows me into a different room, but again I wonder if I said something else if she would still follow me.

When it was time for bed, we head into the bedroom. I know that we haven’t had an extended play time, so I try to engage Tommy in play. She plays with the fleece a little on the scratching post and she goes under the bed to play hide-and-seek with the fleece. She doesn’t seem very enthused, so I say good night, turn off the lights, and go to sleep.

Monday, August 25, 2014: Stressful Times and the Cat Carrier

I was right about our sleeping routine yesterday. Tommy alternated throughout the night between sleeping on the bed and sitting by the window. Each time she decided to grace me with her presence on the bed, she made sure to “announce” her intentions. I’m sure that this was payback for my extended walk Sunday.

Tommy “let” me sleep until after 7:00 and then let me know that it was time to get busy on my duties. I got up and handled food, water, litter box, and garbage, but that wasn’t enough. Mr. Rat made an early appearance which meant it was play time. Because we had missed our normal evening session the previous night, I knew that we were overdue for some playing. I got out the fleece teaser and we played for well over 30 minutes. I was then dismissed to finally make coffee and work at the computer while Tommy curled up by some of her other toys.

As I worked on the computer, Tommy came out to check up on me and make sure that I was doing “appropriate” things. I’m sure that she wondered why I hadn’t printed the daily puzzles and returned to the living room.  She returned to the living room and I knew that my minutes in the study were numbered and I’d better hustle to complete my tasks.

Everything was going well until the fire alarm sounded and we were told to vacate the building. I got out the carrier to transport Tommy down he 11 flights of stairs. I’ve never had trouble getting her into the carrier, but she must have sensed my panic and fought against going into the carrier. Fortunately the carrier has a “top load” feature and although she tried to escape, I got her into the carrier, by holding her down as I zipped it shut.

Once we got outside, she calmed down. I think that she actually enjoyed seeing all the people and being outside. We were outside under the front canopy sheltered form the rain for at least 20 minutes although it seemed like much longer. We were told that we could return to our units via the stairs but not the elevators.

We trudged back up the stairs with everyone else and Tommy let everyone know that she didn’t like all the noise of people climbing up the metal stairs. When we reached the safety of our unit, Tommy got a treat, many compliments, and lots of petting, so she settled down quickly.

I finished up the cleaning and had lunch. I didn’t look forward to putting her back in the carrier to go to get her nails clipped at Petco later.  I had planned on going later in the morning, but with the evacuation and thunderstorm, I delayed it until the afternoon.

After lunch Tommy was very curious as to why the carrier was still out and she kept inspecting it. I thought that this might be a good time to take her to have her nails clipped. I threw a couple turkey treats in the carrier and Tommy quickly went inside to retrieve them. I zipped up the carrier and off we went.

During both the elevator and car rides Tommy was quite vocal about being tricked into getting in the carrier, but was fine once we got to the salon.  When the young cashier asked if Tommy had been there before I reminded him that she had tried to climb up and over his back last time. He, of course, remembered her and I told him that there were turkey treats in her bag if needed. I barely had time to pay for her visit, more treats and a new toy and she was finished.

During the drive home Tommy was pretty quiet or shall I say a bit less vocal. We got home and she got her treats. I then showed her the new toy, a feather teaser and she played with it for a little while. When she tired of the feathers, she strolled over to the fleece teaser to let me know that it was still her favorite and I’d better still use it. We played with it for a while and then Tommy went for a drink, a bite to eat and a nap as did I.

We had a quiet evening and headed for the bedroom for one final round of play before going to bed. At one point Tommy went under the bed, so we played hide-and-seek with the teasers being dragged along the edge of the bed. Tommy seemed to enjoy it. She settled at the window and I was on the bed. I fell asleep, but was awakened a little later by Tommy who had jumped on the bed. I think she was surprised that I was asleep with all the lights and T.V. on and no good night petting. We took care of all of that and we curled up on the bed and went to sleep.

Sunday, August 24, 2014: The Supervisor and the Extended Absence

Throughout the early (emphasis on early) morning I occasionally woke up to find that Tommy was still sleeping on the bed. I can’t remember the last time that she had slept on the bed with me all night (or at least whenever I woke up). We slept in and didn’t wake up until almost 8:00. I of course greeted Tommy and let her know how nice it was to have some of her good old habits back.  

We spent the morning playing, resting, finishing laundry and folding. I didn’t do much resting and Tommy didn’t help very much with the laundry or folding which was all my clothing, so I completely understand. She spent much of her time supervising from her new resting pad, a grocery bag that she commandeered when it was emptied but before it could be stored.

We spent a quiet day without much incident.  At one point Tommy did come into the study to check up on me. I made the mistake of picking her up. As we neared the living room where she would jump down onto the chair she got a little to exuberant and one of her claws came in contact with my nose. I yelled “Ouch!” as she jumped down.

After I did a little clean up and placed a small bandage/dot on my nose I returned to find a very timid Tommy. I felt bad because it was an accident and it wasn’t her fault. I tried to explain it to her using yesterday’s stepping incident. I don’t know if she understood, but we spent a few minutes just laying on our sides staring at each other. It was one of those weird times when neither of us is sure whether it’s petting, playing, or apology/forgiveness time. In a way it’s a time out for us to just sit and enjoy each other’s company.

We played again later and had to trim the fleece teaser. A loop was created by all her chewing and pulling when we play and her claw was getting caught.  This also reminded me that tomorrow we need to have another mani/pedi (paw/claw) date at Petco. Over the weekend, she was occasionally getting a claw caught in the carpeting when we were playing, so she must need a nail trimming. I hadn’t realized that it had been six weeks. I’m going to need to start putting a reminder in my calendar to handle this every five weeks.

While I was typing in the study, Tommy came in and as I put it “screamed.” This told me that something was up that she wanted me to investigate.  I got down on all fours and followed her. About every six feet or so, she would turn around and check to make sure I was following her.  We got to the scratching post in the living room and she just sat under it. I’m not sure what happened, but after a few minutes, I was dismissed as she moved by the screen door and laid down.

Since I got Tommy I haven’t been walking as much as I once did. I used to average about 100 miles per month. Since it was such as beautiful day, I decided to take a walk.  I went almost 5 miles and as I was on the elevator going back to the condo I found out that I had lost my keys. Rather than face the wrath of Tommy twice I went to retrace my steps. After walking most of the route, I got a call from the front desk telling me that my keys had been found in the driveway.  After retrieving the keys, I opened the door and found a very unhappy kitty.  No amount of petting, treats and apologies seemed to work. She was having none of it.

After walking over 9.6 miles, I didn’t have any energy left. I showered, ate dinner and headed for the bedroom before 9:00. Tommy stayed in the living room and under the dining room until I finally brought her in around 11:00.

She first curled up on the bed and then went to the window for some fresh air. I had a funny feeling that this would be the routine for our sleeping hours.

Saturday, August 23, 2014: A New Sound, an Incident, and a Pleasant Surprise

I was awaken around 3:30 by Tommy.  I also heard the air conditioning kick in around the same time. I know how sensitive Tommy is to noises, so I figured that since I hadn’t used the air conditioning much this summer, she wasn’t used to those sounds in the middle of the night.  She jumped up on the bed and I was able to calm her down.

At 6:30 the garbage truck came to retrieve the trash. This means that several metal dumpsters will be grabbed, lifted and overturned. It’s actually pretty noisy and Tommy was sitting by the window complaining. We talked and then she did something that she hadn’t done for a few days; she jumped up next to me in her usual morning fashion. We spent the next few minutes greeting each other not only with conversation but also with Tommy licking my hand and me petting her.  I had missed this ritual and was glad to have it again.

When we got up (There will be naps later!) I could see that Tommy wanted to play. I decided to use the fleece teaser (her favorite shared play object) with her scratching post (her favorite individual activity object) in the bedroom. I wound the fleece around the post and we spent a good 20-30 minutes playing (including a short food break for her).

When Tommy indicated that she was done by leaving the room, I went and made coffee. Tommy amused herself with a paper grocery bag until I finished. Tommy then went “belly up” so I could do her morning rubdown. We finished with a short game of hide and seek. Tommy goes behind an object and peeks around it at me. When I go and find her, she runs away…whatever amuses her is fine by me as long as it doesn’t entail biting or destruction.

When I went to handle the computer work, Tommy came in after a short time to check up on me and have a short petting/rubbing period. She then decided to go to the living room to amuse herself with the paper bag and then to sit quietly and wait for me to finish.  The first few hours of our morning have worked out well today.

The rest of the morning was spent with me doing chores (laundry, cleaning, etc.) and Tommy napping, playing and getting attention from the worker/drone/slave/owner. She did start enjoying a new “toy.” On Friday as I was searching for collar stays, I came across a Hilfiger watch pillow. I don’t know why I kept it, but I gave it to Tommy and she tossed, chewed, and generally mauled it. I also put a treat in the fold where the watch was and catnip in the stuffing. She had great fun finding the treat and the catnip scent has made the object a bit more enticing.

Later in the morning I called my aunt in Madison to see how her therapy was coming along and when she’d be released to go back home. I wondered how Tommy would handle an extended phone call. She usually thinks that I’m talking to her and has trouble understanding why I’m not usually looking at her.

During the call she amused herself with Mr. Rat and the grocery bag, but introduced us to a new sound/vocalization. I called it a yowl because it sounded like a cross between a yelp and a howl. I could have also called it a “help” or a “holp,” but those just don’t sound right. It was loud enough that even my aunt who has some hearing difficulty heard her loud and clear on her end of the phone even though Tommy was about 12 feet from the phone. I’m not sure what the sound means because she didn’t seem to be needing attention as she wasn’t even in sight nor did she seem to be stressed. Maybe it was just a happy sound since she was having so much fun playing.

After a busy morning and early afternoon, Tommy decided that it was nap time and curled up in her soft bed by the living room window.  I got ready to leave which usually gets her attention, but not today. I very gently picked up her bed which caused her to open her eyes. She didn’t fight or try even try to get out, but just enjoyed the ride and wondered, I’m sure, where I was going with this. When I placed the bed by the bedroom window Tommy sat up and “asked” what was going on.  When she figured it out, she jumped on the big bed and waited for her treat. I gave her the treat, said good bye, and left for the baseball game.

When I returned there was the usual meet and greet. Tommy let me watch the news and then we had our usual before bed playtime. Play time did have one small incident. As we were racing around with the fleece teaser, Tommy ran over to me just as I was stepping. Her little paw got stepped on and she yelped and ran under the bed. After a few minutes of healing and calming down, I apologized with a treat and Tommy slowly and warily came back out to play.

Tommy signaled that playtime was over by hopping up on the bed and curling up. It had been quite some time since she started bedtime on the bed. I was so pleased and touched by her actions and I, of course, let her know how happy I was. She responded with a look that seemed to say to me, “Well, of course, I did this to let you know that all is forgiven, I’m happy and could you please turn off the light and go to sleep already!” I complied with a huge smile on my face.

Friday, August 22, 2014

When I woke up in the morning Tommy was again by the window. I know that she was on the bed sometime during the night, and I miss waking up to her by my side. I know that she’s a teenager now and probably having some rebellious ideas. Hopefully she’ll return to the bed as she matures.

I got up and tried not to disturb her and went to complete the normal morning tasks at the computer. When I finished of course she was there to let me now that she was awake.  I spent much of the morning searching for shirt collar stays and Tommy was a “big” help. I never did find them and I know that I have at least two dozen of them!

After the exhaustive search, Tommy napped under the dining table, but woke up long enough to expect some petting. She always goes “belly up” which tells me that she trusts me and I always reward her with a good rub down/petting. The rest of the afternoon was spent with me completed tasks supervised by Tommy (either awake or napping).

I prepared for the concert and got Tommy settled in for the night. For some strange reason, she readily ran into the bedroom when I called and shook the treat bag. She jumped on the bed right away searching for her treat.  We may finally be getting to the point where she understands my leaving and return.

When I return Tommy greets me right away, but something seems off. When I go into the bathroom I see that the toilet paper roll has been partially shredded. I know that I closed the bathroom door because I remember thinking how warm it still was in there. I must not have shut it tightly and Tommy somehow was able to get the door open and make TP confetti.

I brought the remnants out to confront Tommy and in a calm voice I said that we don’t do this to TP.  She seemed contrite, but I’m sure she was thinking “If you leave the house and I’m not supervised, you never know what trouble can happen!” Lesson learned, I’ll be more careful about the bathroom door in the future.

I knew that Tommy wanted to play and even though I was really tired from singing and standing on my feet at the benefit, we had an extended play time.  I made sure that part of the time we played in the bedroom and when I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer, we again moved back into the bedroom, but this time I closed the door.

I prepared for bed and wished Tommy a good night. She sat by the window and seemed to understand that the old guy needed to regenerate while she had plenty of energy left and would have to amuse herself until she was ready to go to sleep.

Thursday, August 21, 2014: Tommy, the Literary Critic

When I woke up in the morning Tommy was by the window gazing out. I knew that she had been on the bed sometime during the night, but again she had chosen to let me wake up by myself.  She seemed pretty unsettled, so I tried to help by having an early morning play session, but she only halfheartedly participated. I finally got ready and went out to run a couple quick errands.

When I returned it was raining and there was some thunder. Tommy was glad to see me and we had a nice conversation accompanying the petting by me and rubbing by her. When I went to the study to work, Tommy found that I had changed some bookends and although one shelf she liked to explore was now closed, the one above it had opened. She explored it for a while and found that there was a little more room to maneuver. “We’re” still not sure whether “we” like the change.

After the rain ended, Tommy lounged in the living room and tried reading. I stopped out and found her sitting on my reading chair “looking through” a book I was reading called How to Get Your Cat to Do What You Want. Yesterday when I was reading it on the bed, Tommy came over, looked at it and bit into the page.  I’m not sure if she likes the book for its literary content or as a snack.

The rest of the day and evening were spent leisurely. We played & petted and Tommy napped.  When it was time for bed, nothing seemed to get Tommy to go into the bedroom.  I left the door open, but she was not budging from the living room. When I picked her up, she settled into my arms, but when we got to the bedroom, she struggled to be released. Usually I can make it to the bed before letting her jump, but this time she got the better of me and jumped to the floor right into her food and water dishes.  As I knelt down to clean up the mess, Tommy helped by eating any stray bits of food that I missed. I went to bed and Tommy did whatever she does when I’m asleep.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014: A Late Start

Tommy did her usual early, early morning “hellos” which always result in my rolling over to go back to sleep after talking to and petting her. She tried again at 6:45, but I told her that I needed more sleep. What a surprise it was to get the next wake-up @ 8:55. I was happy to sleep in for a change, but know that I will appreciate the early morning calls when I attend a 9:00 class this fall.

At first Tommy doesn’t want to be petted, but when I get busy thinking I have some free time, the Princess lets me know that she’s ready for her morning rub down. After her rubdown, she gets up to let me know that she’s done with this activity. She later brings out Mr. Rat to let me know that play time has begun.  We spend time with the fleece teaser and then she moves under the dining room table to again signal that she’s done with this activity.

I attempt to move to the study, but she intermittently lets me know when it’s time to give her the attention that she deserves. I continue working on transcribing my grandfather’s diaries and Tommy lays on the living room floor in a spot that is always in my path so I can stop and pet her and again, give her the attention that she deserves. When she stops in to the study to check up on me the clear plastic blind tassels are refracting the sunlight onto the carpet. Tommy has a great time trying to catch the dot of sunlight.

I leave for rehearsal and when I return we go through the usual scolding, but Tommy doesn’t want me to pet her. I appease her by playing with her before heading to bed. We spend some time playing in the bedroom since she’s starting to view the bedroom as the place where we sleep or she is “confined” whenever I’m gone. I want to make sure that she also thinks of the bedroom as a fun place and a place where treats are given.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014: An Early Awakening and the Return of a Bad Habit

We were awakened by an early morning thunder storm. We headed for our safe place in the closet with food, water, pillows and blankets to camp out until the end of the storm.  Tommy seemed better once we got in there.  During one of the loud cracks of thunder she came close and I just petted her.  While I calmed her down, she started purring and I knew that I’d made the right decision to move. I’m not sure if she’ll always be afraid of thunder or will be used to it each year.

After the storm seemed to dissipate we headed back to bed. As usual I headed to bed and tommy started under the bed again.  We slept in and Tommy didn’t wake me until after 7:30 A.M. When I tried to pet her as I greeted her she immediately tried to bite me.  I’m not sure if this was a remnant of yesterday’s activities or she was still unsettled by the overnight storm. I followed my usual behavior except on the way out of the bedroom I noticed that she had finished her food, so I did go back for a moment to fill her dish before leaving again.

Later, when I opened the door, Tommy came out and talked to me, but I couldn’t tell if it was her scolding voice or her scared voice. I still confused the two. Since I wasn’t sure I continued the morning routine and knew that there would be clues to show me how she felt.  Clue #1: Back in the master suite it didn’t look like she had touched her newly replenished food. Usually whenever I add food to her dish she at least takes a nibble and moves it around.  Clue #2: When I went to the bathroom she followed me, went in her litter box, turned around and stuck her head out. Clue #3: When I finished in the bathroom, including emptying the litter box, I went to get coffee. After getting a cup, Tommy was stretched out on the carpet where I couldn’t miss her.  This position always signals that she’d like to be petted.  I cautiously petted her until I knew that it was safe.  Clue #4: After what seemed like an enormous amount of petting, Tommy brought her face up to mine and gave me a nose kiss. I now knew that all was well and we were both back to normal.

Tommy followed me around, but as I made the bed she didn’t “help” by jumping on the bed, she instead ate some food.  I went to the study to update today’s blog and when I went to the living room, Tommy wasn’t there. I started to open all the blinds and sure enough, out she came to supervise and make sure that they were raised high enough for her to see out from whatever vantage point she chose.  As I finished, she went to her scratching post and used it. When I first got her to use the post I would give her a treat when she used it. Now it’s a signal that she’d like a treat. Of course the second I headed to the cupboard, there she was waiting to see if I caught her signal.  When I brought out the treat she said patiently and waited and then devoured it the second it hit the floor. All was good at condo Tommy/Potter.

I leave to go to a movie and when I return we have our usual rituals…scolding, treats, petting, and playing. We spend a quiet afternoon together, but unfortunately I have to leave to go to a volunteer meeting. I eat a quick dinner and I’m off to the meeting.

Monday, August 18, 2014: Another Visitor Who Comes Bearing a Gift

Tommy woke up at her usual 4:00 time and seemed to be irritated. I tried to calm her down, but it didn’t last long.  I continued to be awakened occasionally and finally gave up at 6:45 A.M. I started the day with the usual routine, but Tommy didn’t want to be petted, so I knew that I’d get a lot done while I waited for her mood to change. I finished the puzzles and started making bread. Tommy surprised me by coming over to watch. She stayed away from the pantry/closet when I asked her so I could get out the big mixer. When I left the whip attachment on the cart, Tommy jumped up to check it out. Unfortunately she also licked it, so I had another item to wash.

She sat quietly and watched while I was in the kitchen. After I put the dough in the bowl to rise, Tommy decided that it was time for a nap and headed to the bedroom to sleep under the bed while I headed to the computer. I got everything I needed to do on the computer and shaped the dough into loaves.  Tommy didn’t reappear until the bread was baked and then she was curious about the aroma.

In the afternoon we played in between cleaning and preparing for company.  When my friend stopped over to meet Tommy all went well. Tommy as always impressed the company and even rubbed her head against my friend’s legs. We thought that maybe it had something to do with the fact that my friend had cats and Tommy was just letting her cats know that she had been with Tommy.

We went out for dinner and when we returned Tommy was again a good hostess. In fact, I swear she understands English. When my friend and I were talking about Tommy not liking to be picked up or sit on someone’s lap, my friend picked her up and put her on her lap. Tommy waited a moment and then jumped down. She then came over to me and jumped on my lap. I wasn’t sure if she was showing me that she knew to whom she was loyal or that she was just trying to be fair and sit on both laps. She didn’t stay on my lap very long either, but as they say, “It’s the thought that counts!”

After my friend left, Tommy was given a treat of some home grown catnip that my friend had brought over for Tommy. She devoured it and then seemed to be a bit aggressive. I left her alone and worked in the kitchen. When I finished, she was on her dining room chair and seemed much calmer. I petted her and let her know that all was well.

We spent a quiet evening and then headed to bed early since Tommy was already falling asleep. She seemed to get a second wind once we got in the bedroom but settled down again after showing me that it was too early to be in bed. I know that sooner or later she’ll be sound asleep next to me on the bed.

Sunday, August 17, 2014: A Morning Surprise

As usual Tommy wakes me up during the night as she goes through her overnight routines. I wake up a couple other times on my own and each time I see that she is right there next to me and has at least one if not both of her forepaws on my arm.  When we wake up in the morning I give her my usual “air kisses,” but this time she surprises me first by bringing her paw near my lips. I, of course oblige, and kiss the tops of her forepaws. She then brings her face up to me and “kisses” me back. It was so sweet. I never thought I’d wake up and get a good morning kiss from a cat. While I’m used to her rubbing and licking me, this was an unexpected but happy surprise.

The rest of the morning and early afternoon goes well. We have play time and actually run around the condo with the fleece teaser. We both could probably use a little more exercise.  Tommy is also staking out a place in the condo based on my activity. When I’m talking on the phone she usually sits on her dining room chair or on the floor and waits for me to finish. If I talk too long though I can expect her to let me know that it’s time to end the conversation.

I also need to practice for choir rehearsal. As I’m singing with the MP3 player and the keyboard both blaring, Tommy seeks shelter in the bedroom. I also partially close the door so there’s more of a buffer. I leave it open enough so that if she wants to join in or watch, she can.  She has yet to venture out of the bedroom when I’m practicing.

I get ready to leave for rehearsal. Tommy sits on the bed and waits for her treats.  She looks up as I leave but doesn’t try to make a break for the living room. I promise that I’ll return as soon as possible and head out. I think she’s glad to see me leave for a while as we’ve bumped into each other a few times this morning.

When I return all is well. Tommy is glad to see me and wants some attention. After giving her the attention, she allows me to eat, but as I finish she brings over Mr. Rat, a stuffed toy that my sisters gave her. This is her way of letting me know that it’s time to play.  I still haven’t figured out why she brings Mr. Rat over since there’s really no way for us to play with him together.  We’ve tried and Tommy just doesn’t seem interested. We play with the fleece teaser and laser pointer until Tommy climbs up on her dining room chair and curls up to take a nap.

When it’s time for bed, Tommy again thinks it’s too early, but is lured into the bedroom with a treat that she left on the bed. I settle in to sleep and Tommy settles in to do whatever she does during the night.

Saturday, August 16, 2014: Strike a Pose

Tommy wakes me up during the night and this time I can’t figure out why. I think she just wanted to remind me that she was also on the bed and I need to be careful about how I move. When morning comes, she’s sitting by the window waiting for me to get up and take care of her needs. That is of course why I’m around and tolerated, isn’t it?

I have rehearsal this morning so everything needs to be done quickly. I don’t think that Tommy going to appreciate having the master suite to herself again. We did get some play time in before I left, but as always, Tommy could sense that I was leaving and would make a mad dash for the suite doorway whenever I was near it. Treats always lure her on to the bed where I can tell her goodbye and that I will return. This time I get smart and put the treats down one at a time and move closer to the door as I toss each one on the bed.

When I return Tommy scolds and wants to stick close by but doesn’t want to be petted. I hope that it had something to do with the heat. She lounges for a while by the balcony screen door and strikes a pose.  The rest of the afternoon she naps near me while I work on the computer. I have to leave to pick up a friend and take him to pick up his car, so I’m sure Tommy won’t appreciate the “alone time.”

The evening was spent relatively quietly except for some much needed play time. When It was time for bed, I picked Tommy up and she didn’t squirm around like she usually would do. I think that she was just as ready for bed as I was. Maybe she had been partying and playing too much while I was gone.

Friday, August 15, 2014: A Bed Rediscovered

Tommy doesn’t wake up during the night, or at least she doesn’t wake me up. When morning comes, she’s sitting by the window although I know that she was sleeping on the bed. This isn’t a good sign. I seems she’s upset with me, but after a treat and some petting she’s less upset. I give her a little alone time while I work on the computer. This usually reminds her about how good it is to have me around the condo.

Tommy spends the morning running between the study when she wants my attention and the living room when she wants to be alone.  A friend stops by for an impromptu visit and Tommy puts on a show. She’s very well behaved (most of the time), but sometimes the kitty entertainer shows up and she does some climbing that she’s never done before.  She even naps in her bed in the living room which she hasn’t been in (other than to knead or walk through) since her first day here.

The afternoon is spent either napping or playing. A clear plastic blind pull in the study gets her attention for a moment, but then she realizes I’m typing and she needs to get my attention. As the afternoon continues we vary our activity between playing and napping. It seems that now that Tommy has rediscovered her bed in the living room, she enjoys spending time in it when the sun comes through the windows.

In the evening I have to leave to attend a dinner and when I return it’s the usual scolding and petting. We play for quite a while before I head to bed. Tommy still isn’t ready to settle down, but I’m sure that she will amuse herself and come up on the bed later to sleep.

Thursday, August 14, 2014: My Assistant, Tommy, Helps Me Type

Tommy woke up a couple times during the night. Each time she ended up by my head getting comforted and petted. She always calmed down and would lick my hand and then rest her head or one of her paws on my arm. It was easy for both of us to go back to sleep. When she was on the floor whether getting a snack, water or scratching her post, she’d always “announce” that she was coming back up on the bed. When I’d acknowledge her, she’d jump up. I guess she didn’t want to surprise me and possibly get accidentally pushed off the bed.

When we get up in the morning Tommy is unusually clingy. She sits by me at the computer and follows me wherever I go. It finally dawns on me that we hadn’t played last night and maybe Tommy wanted to play. Sure enough, when I got out the fleece strip teaser she was all over it for about 20 minutes. She sometimes had to stop for grooming, but usually would keep the strip under one paw. My favorite part is when she’s on her back and trying to grab it. She looks so intent…sorry there’s no photo, it’s too hard to coordinate the camera and her movements.

I continue to work at the computer with my assistant. Tommy likes to lay in front of the keyboard and once in a while her butt will add a line of spaces, 0’s or 1’s to the section I’m narrating.  I haven’t figured out how she does the 1’s yet as the 1 key is above the 0 on the number pad. She also likes to lay by the study window which gets the best afternoon sunlight.

After dinner I left to attend a fund raiser. When I return Tommy is happy(?) to see me. Once we finish our usual “I’m back!” rituals Tommy and I play for a little while but she doesn’t want to play for very long. We head to bed even though I can tell that she’s not ready. With any luck, she’ll amuse herself until she’s ready to sleep.

Wednesday, August 13, 2014: A Peaceful Sign

Tommy again woke up around 4:00, and seemed very nervous or scared. She even hopped up on the bed near my head. It took some time, but with much petting and a quiet voice, she finally calmed down and just curled up near me.  It didn’t last long, but I’m glad she felt better. How do I know she was better? She pushed the bottle of water I keep on the nightstand down onto the floor to play with it.  Fortunately I always keep it capped, so no harm, no foul!

When we wake up Tommy seemed to be in a good mood. I was hoping that we would have another good day. All seemed to be going well, when as I was petting her, Tommy again tried to bite. Right after the attempt and my scolding, she crouched down on all fours which made me think that she knew she had done something wrong. I left the room as I always do and went to print the morning puzzles (a good excuse).

When I opened the door and returned to the living room, I found Tommy in a very submissive pose. She was on her side and kind of curled up, but it wasn’t her normal “sleeping in a ball” position. When I went to her I petted her and talked to her very quietly. There was no biting and at times she extended a paw to touch my other hand. I could tell that she knew her behavior was wrong and wanted to make amends. After a few minutes, she finally got up and all went back to normal.

Tommy was pretty quiet throughout the morning. I’m not sure if using the pheromone spray on the sofa to stop her scratching had any effect on her.  At one point she was laying in the dining room and as I walked by I got down and petted her to let her know that all was well. She started licking my fingers which usually leads to a bite, but this time after she finished licking my fingers she started grooming herself. I’m glad I trusted her this time and let her prove herself. She tried once more later, but I think it was my fault for not catching her signs about where she wanted (and didn’t want) to be petted.

I spent much of my day doing some organizing and trying to find my bank bag that has all my important documents. It took quite a while and of course Tommy wanted to help. She climbed around the closets and “helped” look in all the drawers. We found it; it had fallen behind something.  Tommy was pretty tired, so as I was finishing up, she took a nap in the sun by the study window.

This may seem a bit bizarre, but we’ve had relative peace for a few days now, and today my peace lily started unfolding a flower for the first time in four years. It’s a special plant to me as it was given to me by my local union when my father died. I thought I’d killed it when I went on vacation four years ago. I tried reviving it, but it didn’t come back and after cutting all the dead leaves off (which were the only leaves there were) I couldn’t bear to throw it out.  A month later just when I thought the soil had finally dried out, a shoot appeared.  It’s come back, but hadn’t flowered until now.  I guess it’s a sign that Tommy and I are finally settling in to a peaceful coexistence.

When I start transcribing my grandfather’s diary by dictating into the computer, Tommy decides that there’s be less noise in the closet and naps there. Most of the rest of the evening Tommy spends on the dining room chair, but expects attention (which she receives) whenever I come near. The day ends peacefully as we head to bed.

Tuesday, August 12, 2014: A Bit of Progress Is Made

Tommy woke up around 4:00 and once again I reminded her that I don’t do extremely early morning.  When I wake up at 7:00, Tommy seems friendly but doesn’t do her usual morning wake up; she just sits near my feet.  We handle all the normal morning items and I prepare to leave for a meeting.

Tommy just sits on the bed, but when I go to say goodbye she darts under the bed.  When I return there’s the usual complaining, petting and treating.  Tommy also spends a considerable amount of time head rubbing my legs and feet. I can tell that she’s glad that I’ve returned.

We play in the afternoon for a while, but Tommy still occasionally darts away without and provocation. Sometimes I think that she’s afraid of shadows or she hears things that I can’t hear.  Whatever the reason we alternate between playing and “running away.” Darlene from Happy Endings No Kill Shelter (Tommy’s previous home) sends me a message about Tommy’s behavior and gives me some suggestions. One of my reasons for writing this blog is to get advice and Darlene comes through again!

I leave to go with friends to our usual Tuesday movie. We’re going earlier than usual, so I’ll be home for dinner.  With any luck, Tommy will feel better about being left during her usual afternoon nap time.

When I return Tommy again spends a considerable amount of time scolding me and then head rubbing my legs.  Tommy also jumps up on the sofa occasionally to sit by me and of course get the attention that she feels that she deserves. Although she stills spends some time on the dining room chair which is a safe place for her, I’m glad that she’s at least spending some time sitting near me.

She also continues to let me pet her without biting me.  I can tell at times that she’s ready to bite, but either I stop quickly enough or she’s trying to hold back. I hope that she’s finally starting to learn not to bite.

We again get to spend time playing and then it’s time for bed.  Today has been a better day and I feel that we’re finally starting to make some progress towards Tommy feeling calm and secure here (and of course only biting/chewing her food and not her owner).

Monday, August 11, 2014

Tommy woke up around 6:00 howling and running around the bedroom.  Since I wasn't ready to get up, I let her enjoy the time and she finally settled down on the bed. When I woke up at 7:00 she wasn't facing me and wouldn't even acknowledge me. I knew that she was in a bad mood and there was trouble ahead.

I tried calming her down and she did allow me to pet her and rub her chest/neck area that she really loves to have done.  Again I thought everything was okay and we got up and started the morning routine.  After finishing, Tommy laid on the floor and it seemed like she wanted to have round two of her chest & neck rubdown. It started okay, but then she bit my other hand that was near her face and it wasn't a little nip, but an open mouth bite.

I did the usual “Ouch, No!” and left the room. I don’t know if it’s really working, if there’s a better way to get her to stop biting, or if she’s just a biter and I have to live a very cautious life with her. It’s really frustrating and at times I think that she doesn’t like me very much. She used to sit by me and occasionally on my lap, but now she prefers to sit by herself.

If I leave her alone, she does usually vocalize that she wants to be included wherever I am, but that may just mean that she feels that she’s missing out on something. Today when that happened, I opened the study door and she came in and checked things out and left, so I guess she just doesn’t want to miss anything.

When I returned to the living room she again walked near me and laid down like she wanted to be petted. This time when I brought my hand near her, she tried to swat it away. I left her alone and sat on the sofa. She went and sat by the balcony screen door with her back to me. We seem to be out of synch lately and I don’t know how to bring out the cat that first came through the door.

We spent the rest of the morning in a very tenuous manner. When she wanted attention, I would pet her and speak in a very soft tone, but within a few minutes she would again move her head in a way that indicated that she was getting ready to bite. I’d seen it enough times to know it and was prepared. Sure enough, each time she raised her head, her mouth would open and she moved in to bite. Each time I would leave the situation and try again later.

Around lunch time I was sitting on the balcony trying to stay out of Tommy’s way when she came up to the screen and howled. As I opened the screen she came out to explore. I kept myself between her and the outer ends.  She just wanted to look at and touch the furniture, so we were safe. After a few minutes we went back in and I could breathe again.

After that Tommy went to sit on her usual chair next to the sofa, but I could tell by where she was putting her paws that I needed to be in close proximity. I decided to try something. I picked her up and out her on the sofa on the opposite end of me.  She decided to stay and curled up. She also let me pet her, so I gave her a treat.  She fell asleep, but was awakened later by the garbage truck that seemed to take forever and was very noisy. We went to explore and after the truck left, she came back to the sofa and she got a second treat. Later when I made lunch and returned to the sofa, she was nowhere to be found.  Suddenly her head peeked out from behind a towel on a chair. I laughed and then the miracle occurred. She got off the dining room chair and came back to the sofa where she again curled up and fell asleep.

I don’t know why she was in such a bad mood this morning, but I’m glad it’s gone… Maybe I spoke/typed too soon. My aunt called this afternoon and while I was on the phone, Tommy came over and let me know how upset she was that I was talking on the phone. When I finished with the phone call I tried to pet her and calm her down, but we were right back to the not wanting to be touched.  When I went to the sofa she went to the balcony screen and kept her back to me.

She moved to the sunny window for a short snooze and when she woke up she came back up to the sofa to continue her nap.  Maybe she’s got multiple personalities and the “dark ones’ have been dominant lately. I’m just going to enjoy her when she’s in a good mood and try to be patient and tolerant when she’s move do the dark side!

Sunday, August 10, 2014: A Lazy Day to Celebrate National Lazy Day

After our late night play, we both sleep late. At first I can’t tell Tommy’s mood. She’s on the bed, off the bed, wants to be touched, or wants to be left alone. I finally get up and start the day. As the morning progresses, Tommy lets me know when it’s time for the morning petting/rub down. We also spend some time playing with her favorite toy, the fleece teaser.

We have a quiet morning and I get all the computer work done. While I’m working on the computer, Tommy sometimes comes in to remind me that she needs some attention.  When she’s not by my side, she’s either sunning herself by the study window or in her favorite little box that she commandeered when it arrived and was left on the floor.

During the afternoon, we take our usual siestas. I originally put Tommy’s box in an odd place that I can’t see, so today I gave her a ride in her box and moved it to a different location in the living room; we’ll see if she likes the new location. She spends the rest of the afternoon and early evening alternating among the box, her living room chair and her dining room chair.

This was National Lazy Day and we do our best to honor the day! We spend the evening watching television and playing before heading to bed. Of course, Tommy decided that she didn’t want to go into the bedroom and threw an absolute fit. I left the room for a while so she could calm down & understand that if she decides to sleep most of the day, we’re still heading to the bedroom when it’s time to sleep whether she chooses to sleep or not. 

Saturday, August 9, 2014: A Better Day

When I wake up things seem okay. Tommy is yelling for me to wake up and she comes up on the bed.  She lays near my feet which tells me now is not the time to do her morning petting/rub down. When she comes closer and indicates that she wants attention I try to pet me but she again goes into biting mode.  I do the usual “Ouch No” and head to the study to work on the computer.

As I go out to the living room to do the puzzles, Tommy comes over and rubs her face against my feet. I figure it’s safe to try to pet her, but I’m wrong again. Although she doesn’t try to bite, she moves to the screen door to the balcony and keeps her back to me. When I finish the puzzles I figure she wants to be left alone, so I head back to the study.

While I’m working in the study, Tommy comes to check things out and does come up on the desk a couple times. Whenever that happens I give her the attention that she wants. Once when she licks my hand, she again decides to try to bite. When I respond with “Ouch, No,” she jumps down, but returns again later and we try again.  This time there aren’t any issues and she doesn’t leave the desk until there is a noise outside that beckons her to investigate.

Well, so much for progress.  I was putting some clothes away in the closet and Tommy came in as she always does. When it was time to leave I picked her up as I always do and went to the bed to “deposit” her since she doesn’t like to be carried. When she got on the bed I tried to pet her, but was again met by biting and swiping with her paw. I figured this was a good time to leave her in the bedroom and do the ironing.

When I finished, I found Tommy lying on the bed and I could tell she was still upset. Usually when there’s been a time out, she will meet me at the door and be a little meek. That isn’t the case today. I don’t know what’s going on with her lately, but she isn’t the wonderful cat I’ve learned to love. She must be starting to go through her teenage defiant phase!

I forgot to run to the bank this morning and have to travel all the way to Oak Creek. Tommy can tell that I’m leaving and tries to duck out with me.  When I return she again just sits on the bed and doesn’t greet me. I still give her a treat and we spend the next couple hours trying to get along.  She sits either on the shopping bags on the dining room table or in her box in the living room. Once while she was in the box I got up and she went running. The next time I get up I go slowly. When I get near the box I try to calm her down and let her know that I’m okay with her sitting in it.

I need to go a planning meeting/game party. I thought that it was starting earlier, but found out that it’s later and I will be gone during the Arab World fireworks. I turn the television up louder than usual and hope for the best.

When I return home everything seems okay. Tommy greets me at the door and although it’s very late we play for almost an hour. I think we both appreciated the attention. When we head for bed, Tommy plays the “Where’s Tommy?” game where she runs around the bedroom/bathroom and then stops suddenly. When I ask “Where’s Tommy?” she’s flying around the rooms again. Sometimes she puts her head behind the scratching post; she’s probably just like little kids who think they can’t be seen when they can’t see you. Tommy lets me know the game is over when she sits by the window. That’s my cue to say good night, turn off the light and go to sleep.

Friday, August 8, 2014

Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed. I hope it didn’t have anything to do with the collision between my foot and Tommy’s body at the bottom of the bed in the middle of the night. As I was turning over Tommy decided to change sides of the bed and fell off when she “contacted” my feet.  I of course apologized and she was given a treat.

When she woke up she didn’t want her usual petting and throughout the early morning decided to use the litter box right after I cleaned it each time. I wanted to make sure that I disposed of as much as possible before the weekend.  After zooming around the condo for a while she finally got everything out of her system and plopped herself on the desk in front of me expecting her morning petting.  Of course, the spoiled princess got what she wanted. (There would be no living with her if she didn’t get petted when she decided to allow her servant to give her the attention she deserved.

I had to leave for part of the morning to help a friend, but made sure that I returned as soon as possible so we/I could continue the Friday chores. When I return Tommy is ready for treats and petting.

We spend a quiet afternoon, but Tommy makes sure that I spent enough time continuing to give her the attention she deserves. She spends time lounging on the desk while I try to type. She still occasionally tries to bite but I catch her whenever she starts to open her mouth and she learns to pull back. I know she doesn't mean to hurt me and she thinks we're just playing.

Tommy spends a lot of time sleeping today and when she finally wakes up for good around 8:00 P.M. we spend a considerable amount of time playing.  She’s getting better, but is still occasionally spooked by some unknown factor.  We’ll be playing and then she’ll stop, yell, and run. I have no idea what happened and it always takes a while to coax her back into playing.

She’s also been heading into the study at night. There aren’t any lights on and when I go to find her, she’s usually sitting in a ball on the floor. I thought that she might be looking for her favorite box, but she continues to go to the study even when I move the box to the living room. It’s another Tommy mystery.

We continue to have a biting issue and I don’t understand why.  I can understand that she might occasionally try to bite when we’re playing or when she doesn’t want to be bothered. I try to watch my hands and her demeanor during those times. Tommy sometimes opens her mouth to bite right after she’s licked my hand.  It’s not an aggressive biting, so I don’t understand why she does it.

I continue to use the “Ouch, No” cue and then remove myself from the situation, but it doesn’t seem to be helping.  As we went to bed and she came up to be petted (I assumed) she tried to bite me again.  When I responded with the regular cue she moved to sit in front of the bedroom window and that’s how we ended the night. I’m sure sometime during the night she’ll move back up onto the bed and we’ll be back to normal in the morning.

Thursday, August 7, 2014:A Day of Rest (for one of us!)

I wake up a little early this morning to find Tommy’s head resting against my arm. Lately she hasn’t been sitting on my lap, so to have her cuddling my arm is always a nice way to wake up in the morning.  We have our usual morning routine and then I need to rehearse my songs for ARCW choir.  Tommy doesn’t care for my singing so she camps out near the balcony screen. I’m sure she’s hoping that the sounds of the city will drown out my singing.

I leave to attend the State Fair for a couple hours. When I return, Tommy is napping and it takes her a minute to come out of the bedroom. I caught her off guard, so she doesn’t scold me, but does, of course, accept a treat.  I go to the study to transcribe another month of my grandfather’s diaries and Tommy either sits up on the desk when she needs some attention, or suns herself by the window. 

Tommy spends most of the day napping by the windows in the sun with an occasional break for food, water, or attention. We spend more than half an hour playing before heading to the bedroom. I play a couple You Tube videos on the tablet and find that it’s not just my singing Tommy doesn’t like.  She sits next to my leather chair until I stop the video, then she finally feels that it’s safe to jump up on the bed as we get ready to sleep.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Tommy let me sleep in until around 7:00, but she was in a crabby mood. I took care of my morning duties, but we skipped the petting because Tommy indicated that she’d rather play. We played for about 10-15 minutes with her favorite, the fleece teaser, and also a couple small toys that were tied to the end of a cord.  She didn’t play with the small covered paper roll before so putting it on the end of a strong thick cord made her want to play with it.

After our short play time, Tommy quit to sit by the balcony screen and watch the outside activity.  Occasionally she would play with one of her toys, but then would return to the balcony screen. As I get ready to meet a friend for coffee Tommy realizes I’m leaving and goes under the bed. I’ll only be gone a short time, so I hope she understands.

When I return, Tommy greets me letting me know that I was missed and doesn’t seem too upset with me. We spend a leisurely afternoon both taking short naps as needed. During one of Tommy’s naps I try to work on transcribing my grandfather’s diaries, but the wind blows the door shut and wakes up Tommy. After we spend some much needed petting time I’m allowed to finish the month’s entries under the watchful eyes of Tommy who sits in front of the keyboard and expects me to use at least one hand to continue petting her.

After dinner I could go to a classic movie at a nearby museum, but decide to skip it. I figure that I’ve already been gone today and have been gone quite a bit lately, so I decide not to go. (I really wasn’t that interested in the particular film, so it was okay.) Tommy spends most of the evening on one of the dining room chairs and we spent very little time playing, so maybe I should have gone to the film.

The night ends okay and we head for bed. Tommy decides to stay up and amuse herself. I turn off the television and lights knowing that sooner or later Tommy will decide to sleep on the bed and I’ll wake up in the morning with her close by my side.

Tuesday, August 5, 2014: One Month Together

Around 3:00 I woke up and felt all of Tommy’s paws touching my knee. She also woke up and we spent a little while awake as Tommy completed what must be her predawn activities. When she came back to bed, she curled into her usual ball, but this time she was against my arm. She seems often to have a physical connection to me usually by just having a paw touching me. It was a good way to end our first month.

When we truly awake up for good, everything goes well. We (really just I) complete the morning tasks and we have our usual quiet petting time. It’s one of my favorite times of the day. I went for coffee with a friend who came back later to meet Tommy.

Tommy was again a great hostess and allowed my friend to pet her and give her all the attention that she thinks she deserves.  At one point she did think we were in play mode and did try to bite, but it was just one futile attempt and then she realized that we were in “meet and greet” mode.

After the company left we spent some time playing and then celebrated the one month anniversary of our adoption. Tommy spent the afternoon taking nap in various places, but usually woke up if I got up from my seat.

Unfortunately Tommy was napping as I prepared to go to see a movie as I usually do with friends. She was not very happy about being moved and let me know. She also knew I was leaving so that added to her vocal rebuke. Upon my return I was greeted without as much scolding as I’d expected. Maybe she was catching on to the routine of my comings and goings and wanted to show me how after one month she was learning. We spent some time playing before bed and then called it a night.