7/23/14:
Here is a picture of Heidi (aka Pawsome) investigating a box. She is doing fine except for a tiny bit of acne on her chin (and I think her nose) but the vet gave me some kitty clearasil for it. She still likes to zip around the house and even though she occasionally crashes into me, it doesn't seem to faze her - I guess she has a tough noggin! Everybody who meets her is amazed at what green eyes she has.
I also thought I'd forward along this comic I just read about adopting older cats.
It made me think of Baxter who is now 11 and spry as ever - people who meet him assume he's 3 or 4! He did recover from his latest dental cleaning/extraction a little more slowly than usual, but I'm hoping that with both of his lower canines gone it will be easier from here on out. I brush his teeth daily but he just accumulates plaque like he's getting paid for it.
5/1/14:
Here is my much-delayed picture of Pawsome together with a black cat who does not photograph well. Pawsome (now known as Heidi) has completely gotten over any shyness, in fact she is less afraid of noises like the shower or air conditioner than other cats I have had for longer. She is second in the pecking order only to Baxter, as he is the only one who refuses to get out of her way when she decides to commandeer the food bowl.
2/20/14:
Pawsome is eating plenty like a growing kitty should and now she and Baxter [fka Talky] are chasing each other back and forth around the house. I let her know that it it's her job to help him get his exercise since he's over 11 now.
2/10/14
An update, Pawsome is still doing great. She hasn't bonded with any of the other cats yet but she's at ease around them and vice versa. Today she was playing chicken with Talky for the right to sit at his favorite scratching post, so maybe they'll start playing together. She rarely hides any more and now alternates between napping and zipping around the house like a lightning bolt. She has a healthy appetite and seems to be getting bigger already.
Thank you again!
1/30/14
Pawsome is doing great. She's charging around the house right now, zipping past the other cats that are trying to stand guard on my room. The hissing and growling (from the other cats) has mostly died down. Talky seems to mind her the least, because after all, who could possibly challenge him for alpha cat status?
When she's not exploring she is very shy and likes to hang out under the bed, where it's dark and no one bothers her. She's eating and using the litterbox with no problems. I'll send a photo when I can catch her holding still long enough.