I finally settled on a name - Bailey. It's a strong and slightly unusual name, plus it seems to suit her. So Bailey it is! She has finished her eye drops and antibiotics, but still needs to take a yucky brown goo for about 2 more weeks. She's been sneezing less and her eyes are watering much less, so I think her cold is slowly getting better. Yay!
She’s putting meat on her bones and no longer feels so scrawny. She’s not heavy by any means – she’s about 3 lbs now, but she started out pretty bony. She’s still eating Royal Canin BabyCat 34 dry food – the little pieces are so tiny! – and Weruva wet food, which she loves! The Mack & Jack still seems to be her favorite. I’ve been mixing a seafood-based formula with some Paw Lickin’ Chicken to avoid too much mercury in her diet and she eats pretty much every crumb with great enthusiasm.
Her personality is showing through well. She’s constantly busy. Busy, busy, busy and more busy. I considered naming her Busy for a while, but it didn’t seem like the right fit. It would have been descriptive though! J Her energy is limitless and she’s curious about everything! She’s quite fearless as well and has no problem going right up to Barclay, the dog, and sniffing his face. Fortunately, Barclay is really good with her and, if he has a problem regarding Bailey, it’s that he is overly enthusiastic! She leaps onto beds with ease and they are all really high for her – in fact, Barclay has trouble jumping onto some of the same beds and chairs that she has learned to clear with no problem! Stairs are nothing for her and she races up and down them with great enthusiasm. She’s also very sweet and seems to love people. She will follow me wherever I go and then play for hours nearby. As with any kitten, she is always playing with things she shouldn’t! J With the other cats, she will see one and her eyes get really big. Kind of an “I recognize those things and I wanna play with them!” kind of look – at least that’s what Bailey’s thinking in my head! J Unfortunately, the other cats haven’t warmed up to the idea of a new kitten yet and tend to hiss and growl. It doesn’t seem to deter Bailey though. I’m not sure that that’s a good thing since they could end up trying to hurt her at some point, but she is quite interested in them which seems good in the sense that she’s not giving up or scared by them yet. So that seems to be Bailey – energetic beyond belief, brave, fearless, determined, playful and just all around happy.
I bought a different scratching post for her this week. The
cardboard ramp-like one she started with didn’t seem too interesting to her.
Well, she liked the sparkly little toy inside it and proceeded to completely
destroy it! J
I have seen her using the new sisal
post so that’s encouraging. I’ll see if the other cats like the cardboard one
because they love their current cardboard scratchers, but have never had this
configuration before. I feel I should add that, though the cardboard scratchers
are great for my cats and are usually less expensive, they are seriously messy.
Little pieces of cardboard end up all
over the floor, and four cats destroy one pretty fast. Anyway, Bailey’s new
scratcher is just a small sisal post that will almost certainly be too small
for her soon. That’s the problem with the sisal posts that are affordable –
they are never tall enough to keep a full grown cat’s interest! I bought a huge
cat tree climber / scratcher when my last kittens were babies and they all love it! Definitely a good investment.
It has seen better days though since the cats have scratched off a large patch
of carpet on one post and then went to work tearing the sisal rope off another
post. I’m starting to think I may need to invest in a new one, which I’m not
thrilled about because they’re expensive and heavy. Plus, what do I do with the
old one? They all still love it and use the house at the top more than
anything, so I hate to just toss it, but then I don’t want Bailey swallowing
bits of torn sisal. Decisions, decisions! J
Bailey has gained more and more freedom in terms of running around the house this week. She still sleeps in the small bathroom and stays there when no one can watch her, but whenever I have enough energy to keep at least one eye on her, she’s out and about and, of course, busy, busy, busy!
Prairie dog kitten like dead plant!
She seems to like Barclay and he loves her. As I said, the main problem with the two of them is that Barclay gets too excited and scares her a bit. Bailey will run right up to Barclay and try to play, while he tries to figure out the strange manner of kitten play. J All in all, they are doing well together.
That chair is no match for me!
Don't try it buddy!
The cats, as I said, are not as good. Bailey will run over to Clover (Chloe) and the two will sniff noses for a while, then Chloe hisses and runs away. Moxie just stares, hisses and growls under her breath. Emerson (Emma) tends to watch from afar and, should Bailey get near her, she hisses and growls as well. Mini is doing the best with Bailey. She at least tolerates her and seems genuinely curious, but unsure about this new little fuzz ball. She has pretty much stopped hissing unless Bailey does something unsavory. For instance, Bailey has decided Mini’s tail is a toy and will pounce on it. In turn, Mini has swatted her and Bailey backed off for at least a few seconds. It’s kind of sad that the best interaction I can report with the cats is basically that they will watch her from afar without hissing or growling! J I’m hoping it will just take some time and, to be fair to the cats, they haven’t spent too much time around her yet.
This doesn't look good!
Oh, crap! There's a third one!
Bailey also discovered a huge mirror this week. There was a strange little kitten in that mirror! J She was both curious and frightened by her own image, but seems to have realized that whatever that mirror thing is, the kitten in it is harmless.
I guess that’s been the week in kitten! Lots and lots and lots of playing. And, of course, a lot of cuteness! J
There's gotta be something good in here!
If there is any strange, nonsensical typing in this post, Bailey was busy trying to attack my hands the entire time I was putting it together! She has approved this message! :)
Whaaaaaaat?!?!?!
