Some 10 weeks ago, I diaried a cat rescue at my apartment complex.
Some experienced commentors having done this and knowing pooties better than me figured this cat would overcome the wariness and get social- it was a matter of time. Thanksgiving eve now, and it has happened. The cat is up from 9 1/2 lbs to 12 1/2 lbs, is a regular at our place and has all the neat things down that a young cat exhibits.
After the treatment for worms, fleas, etc the appetite stayed up. The cat now regularily makes stops in the morning, and sleeps in all day, and goes on patrol on evenings and some nights. Now that it is colder, Magic spends more time indoors. This is an accomplished hunter.
I watched her use her huge forepaws climb a tree like it was a stroll across a horizontal and come down the same way, at a measured pace. The strength in the paws and flicking me off when she gets annoyed is quite something. The scratches are very easy to get, although I can see she mostly pulls her swipes. It took a while to determine M or F too. Privacy.
From a few tentative meows too faint to be sure it was a real message, she now has a solid tone, and a brisk, definitive one too. Be it going in or out the front door, or food, or just to find out where I am at, Magic is talking regularily.
The fur coat is very solid and elaborate, even for a long haired cat.
It is 99% black with a sub coat underneath of a bit of caramel or white visible only from below. She spends time in the coolest part of our apartment which is at the front porch 3 piece glass door which must be the least heat load on her system after strolling in near freezing temperatures.
Last week we introduced catnip, onto an extra scratching box/cardboard corrugated insert type of deal. It was promptly taken apart (pried apart) scrubbed and slobbered over on both sides, and drained of every bit of added c'nip the directions had required. It is a bit like having a wayward teenage daughter. She is resourceful and determined. My older cat avoids her.
The formerly exclusive resident cat finally asserted his territory (my office) and there is detente here, sort of. There is a curiosity, not any displays or threat behavior. Confidence. I believe this cat doesn't brook much from other strays or ferals. There are no bites or injuries that I can see, so alpha or winner or dominance is her forte.
Thanksgiving this year here has the added interest of sharing our bit of space and modest blessings with another creature, which is appreciative and makes our world more interesting and colorful also.