An Update on Terra

[bds1960to]

Well, hi there.
Some will recall, others will not, that I rescued a 9-y-o longhaired tabby female, 16.75 lbs., from the Toronto Humane Society in early December.
She had real petting/intimacy problems at first. Mind you, she'd had 3 owners before me and spent time in the shelter in between each. Last owner was for just 8 months, then she spent about 4 mths in the shelter before I found her.

Well, I think her weight is going down. Very slowly. Mind you, the vet said it would take a year. Meanwhile, the poor lady has developed a front leg limp sometimes when she gets up from lying down for a while. Mostly if she's been up in her fave chair and hops down. I've checked her paws the best I can for too-long nails. I don't think that's it. I think it's weight-oriented. She doesn't complain. Just limps a little. Poor dear. I've cut her food back a bit more in hopes of advancing her weight loss.

Meanwhile, she's much less hissy than she used to be. She was so much so, at any touch, to begin with, that I suspected abuse. It's still possible that it was in her background. Or simply she wasn't handled much. Funny thing now, though, a couple of weeks ago, she plateau'd and became more affectionate. Yet will occasionally hiss while purring. So funny. Just give her head a tussle and tell her she's silly. 2 minutes later, she's fine.

This is my first time with an older cat. Am learning that, like humans, they can carry baggage from past experiences and you just have to experiment to see what will bring them along.

[Jim Hall]

yup two years on and diva du still hisses when she has had enough petting

does she strch when she gets up and does she run at all if she is playing?