help there are claws everywhere

reynardo! I hope it's been a good day.

Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, The Rev wanted to go look for a new cat. In this case, not specifically for her but as a companion for Jinx. Though we never got to fully integrate Jinx with Tilly prior to Tilly's rapid decline, Jinx has been looking about the house. We assume it's due to Tilly's "departure" as Jinx came from a multi cat house.

The Rev spent a few weeks researching nearby shelter websites before we went out with specific cats in mind at two different shelters that had remained on those sites through that entire time. Well, apparently, everyone and their first through third cousins had the same idea, but did it the day before. The first shelter we went to, the one we got Tilly from pre-covid, all the cats on the Rev's list had been adopted the day before. None of those left (and they're full not taking any more in except on an emergency basis) clicked.

Alright, next shelter, ditto. So we went home to regroup. We both poked around online. The third shelter in our county was down to six male cats if their website was to be believed. So, we didn't bother going there. Then I look at the shelter in the next county to the northwest, a good 45 minute drive away and passed that website to the Rev for review. Shelter was as full as the first one we looked at. So full, they were running a $25 special--any adult cat when usually, the fee was based on age of the cat with $25 usually the elderly cat fee. After a bunch of hemming and hawing, we decided to go take a look.

Cats ready for adoption are split into two rooms: Kittens and adults. Mostly out in the open unless they don't get along with other cats. Lots of cat walkways and a doorway out onto a "catio". We explained what we were looking for and met several that might fit the bill. We settled for Bee:
.

This was Bee's second time at this shelter, sadly. After she was initially adopted, she slipped out of the house and vanished. After more than a month, the family that had adopted her gave up and adopted another cat. A year after she vanished, Bee returned, but the family surrendered her back to the shelter. The shelter didn't have more details. So we don't know if it was a case where she didn't get along with the "newcomer" or maybe family were in a rental with a 1 pet limit.

Anyway, we were prepared to do the normal "three-three-three" integration: three days for cat who is initially brought home, isolated in one room and immediately hides from everyone/everything before finally showing themselves briefly. Three weeks until introduction to other pet(s), and three months for full integration.

Well, Bee was out of hiding, though still nervous after 24 hours. We put a grate on the doorway just to see what would happen. She and Jinx would sniff at each other with no growling. Seven days we removed the grate. There's been some paw batting by Jinx, but otherwise no issues. Now, two weeks later and you'd think the two of them had been here for years. Except Bee still isn't comfortable with the whole house yet. We've discovered this the hard way the first time she went exploring at night and got 'lost' in the kitchen and yelled out the "song of her peoples" until the Rev came down to rescue her. So, we're leaving a light on overnight in the kitchen for now.