Hi everyone,
We finally brought Ari home on 19th December. He was 15 weeks old then. He is
such a delight and really smoochy ! and such a good boy! He's tenacious and tests the boundaries but understands the boundaries really quickly.
He is now four and half months and it's been wonderful to see him grow in confidence and learn new things, such as navigating different landing surfaces when he jumps and leaps, learning his first tree climb (yep, he was interested in our fake Christmas tree when we were pulling it down after new year - so we had a successful tree experience this Christmas when we were expecting utter carnage!) and opening drawers .... **sigh** - but we love his antics and rascal-ness
.
It's also been interesting seeing him learn how to relate and try to win over our old dog. They're still not best mates quite yet but getting there slowly and Ari's still trying, and for the first time yesterday, they shared the same bed for a short while - so that's progress. It's interesting to see his tactics he employs to win Abby over so he can sleep in her bed ..... pawing, biting and licking the bed to leave his scent.
Ari is still learning what responses he receives to a paw with claws in and one with claws out with us and when he reaches for little 14 year old dog to play who has reduced sight and hearing. Poor Abby, doesn't know when a claw is coming or not, so we don't leave them in the same room together alone yet.
He's developing a healthy respect for Abby and he watches us interact with her. We had Ari out a few times this week in our back yard on his harness and Abby enjoyed initiating him to her outside world. Ari looks to her for validation and support in that big outside world. I have to say, Abby is eating so much better now he has a feline friend again and some other anxiety and lonely behaviors she was displaying previously since out old cat Q passed away has disappeared.
He's into everything we open so quickly - we have to be careful we don't accidentally shut him in for lack of seeing him - fridge, dishwasher, cupboards, drawers. He likes playing with water and is fascinated by bubbles when I have a bubble bath.
I must say the cat tree we bought was the best investment ever. When we first brought him home he lived in that tree all day for the first week (but would come sleep with us at night) while he worked out what's what and what's with that four legged dog thing on the ground. It was great to have levels and one we could use as a feeding station for him that Ari felt was safe. He wanted to hide under a bed in the spare room for hours when we first brought him home, but because I accidentally left the door unlatched, our dog got in and Ari's progress took a flying leap backwards. So we thought, well the two know each other is there, soooooo - we pulled Ari out put him on his cat tree in the lounge where he could hide and be up high and be as invisible or visible as he felt safe to be but in a social environment. It worked a treat.
Here's a couple of photos.
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