Frankie & Grace

On Halloween there was an urgent call for someone to take Frankie and Grace. Their 2 week stay at Petsmart was too stressful and they needed a place to decompress. Since the Savory Delights had finished their quarantine period, I offered to let Frankie and Grace take over the kitten room. The two sleek panthers huddled with nervous tension and initially refused to eat, but when I held it towards them without moving for a long time, they cautiously gave a few licks, stopping to hiss at me if I breathed too hard or shifted my aching feet. They took awhile to adjust when I switched from the churu packet to my fingers, but they accepted more churu and then some chicken filet.

The next day, after warming them up with more tasty treats, I got their attention with the feather wand. Their former foster informed me the bolder one (sometimes you can see her lips are white) was Grace. She eagerly chased the feather wand as long as only my hand and arm moved. She'd scurry away if I moved any other part of my body. Frankie would dart out, attack the feather, then run away in fear.

Day 3 I was too impatient and approached them with the food a little too quickly. I paid for my haste with a tiny bit of blood, but the fault was mine. Looking at the pictures now I can see the body language I missed when I was busy juggling the phone and food. Still, I had a piece of a salmon treat and discovered they loved fish WAY more than chicken. When I slowed down and gave them time and space to come to me, they did, nibbling the salmon from my fingers.

Over the next several days I took 1-2 Savory Delights in. My experience with Mango and Tango showed me that anxious cats can learn from comfortable, confident kittens. Sure enough, both Frankie and Grace were much more comfortable eating or playing near or on me under the watchful eyes of whatever kitten was perched on my chest. Grace, in particular, was fascinated by kittens and would get very close to my face and the kitten, as long as I held my breath and didn't make any sudden moves. They both got bolder and would purr loudly as they came for their treats. They'd bolt if I touched them, but they would touch me.

So I brought more kittens in. They liked the kittens. Grace would knock them over by rubbing against them, not realizing how tiny they really were. And during food time, it was a war zone- a writhing mass of fur and teeth (SO MANY TEETH) trying to get at the food. The kittens climbed over, stood upon, tunneled under, and rubbed all over Frankie and Grace. I could hold food with one hand and then pet them with my other hand before they realized it was me and not kittens. At first, when they noticed the pets were from the human hand, they'd dart away, but they quickly learned that the kittens deemed that action as relinquishing all rights to the treats-they'd swarm in like locusts. Within 3 minutes of treat training with the kitten horde, they accepted pets from me.

And then it happened.... After a treat session and feather wand session, Grace came up and plopped down next to me, purring loudly. Not only did she let me pet her, she rolled over and gave me about 3 seconds with her belly up before she ran.

After that, we gave them more freedom to wander and mingle with the other pets, including the dog. They love the cats, particularly Grace who will rub up against any feline. They'd walk past the dog just like they would walk past me, but if humans or dog walked towards them, they'd run. Visually, they looked identical and I only knew Grace was usually more interactive and the first one to approach, but soon Frankie felt comfortable enough to come say hi without Grace, and then I really had no idea who was who.

I asked their first foster to stop by and help me distinguish them so I could put collars on. Orange is Grace and the light blue is Frankie. They're still skittish, but improving every day. They purr when they eat and I can pick them up and snuggle them in my lap during treat time. I think they want to be loved and just need someone who will encourage them, but also give them time and space to build trust.

UPDATE 11/24/22
Frankie and Grace are more trusting every day, despite me using the wrong names for them for the past 2 weeks! After putting on their collars, we identified them by name, but their personalities seemed to shift a little, with "Frankie" being more bold and trusting. They ran from the microchip scanner, but last night I distracted them with food or pets enough to scan them and realized they were mis-indentified. The orange collar more skittish one is Frankie and the blue collar girl is Grace. Both have really benefited from being let out of the kitten room around the other fosters and my housecats and dog. They are spending more time near us in the bedroom.

They love the kittens and discovered I'm willing to hide snacks under my pillow on the off-chance they'll brave the bed. That's me under the orange blanket, feeling pleased as peaches to have them climbing on me, even allowing me to pet them when the treats were gone.

They were curious when I brought Miyuki the walking cloud up onto the bed for a brush session. Grace climbed directly over Miyuki to come say hi and inspect the dog treats I had out for the good girl. Of course, I had cat treats nearby too!

Though they usually run when approached, when they're really relaxed I could slowly creep forward and eventually pet them, especially if they were with kittens at the time. One day I approached with treats and Grace actually climbed up to perch on my shoulder!! The next day, after I pet her in the bed, she meowed at me- I think it was the first time I heard her voice. She asked me to follow her into the hall where I was directed to sit down so she could roll around in my lap!!

Frankie still almost always needs treats to accept touch, but she lets me know when I can touch her buy purring and pushing into my hands during treat time. In that mode, she will let me pick her up and put her in my lap if I immediately offer her a treat. But after that, she'll accept pets and love, and even a very needed claw trim!

They love to be in the middle of play time. Frankie prefers feather wands but Grace loves little balls to chase around.

Grace is spending more and more time with the kittens. I haven't figured out if she goes to them or they go to her... but it's clear she loves it!

Grace recently rolled over in the pet bed to show me her belly. I was on my way to an appointment so I gave her some brief pets, but when I pulled my hand away she warbled at me so I pet her a little more. Then she grabbed my hand and asked for a little more. I really had to go so I walked around the bed to say goodbye to Frankie when Grace came sprinting across the bed, mewling at me. She put her front paws on my chest a few times, then hopped up on my shoulders for some love!

A young friend of mine adopted a kitten from my previous litter and keeps in touch. When she discovered that I was struggling to make a video (so many computer crashes) she volunteered to make one for me. We collaborated via text, zoom, and phone for 2 hours and she produced this gem!