So, I have cats. Quite a number of cats. There’s an elder male, around 17. I’d love to call him the patriarch of the family but I’m not sure he displays all the leadership and wisdom one would associate with that role. (In fairness, I wouldn’t say I always demonstrate the leadership and wisdom one might associate with my chronological age either – but who does?) There is a group of 4 siblings – to my mind and heart, still kittens, though they’ll be 11 years old on their birthday next month. And there is a new member of the team, currently being onboarded into the household culture – Sweetie, an extremely sweet and loving formerly feral young cat I took in from the street this July.
I had been feeding and caring for Sweetie, along with other members of her outdoor colony, for about 8 months when, late at night on July 4th this year, I heard frantic crying through the incessant low rumblings of fireworks. I went outside and found my girl afraid and crying for me outside my window. That night, I decided, would be her last evening of living in fear of the elements outside, and I took her inside.
It’s been nearly 10 weeks since then, and this is how her onboarding process as a house cat is coming along:
Introductions
Slowly but surely, Sweetie is being accepted into the existing house kitties’ culture. It’s not always a smooth process -their interactions, though promising, must be supervised for the immediate future.
Roles and Responsibilities
Sweetie’s role is to completely enjoy herself and have fun in her new surroundings. These requirements, though, actually require a certain amount of oversight and training. For instance, having never been exposed to cat toys before (her playthings were fallen leaves and shadows that danced across the sidewalk), it’s been incumbent upon me to demonstrate how to bat at a birdie toy, and impress upon her the function of a cat bed. I had hoped her teammates would help her understand these tasks of her new role better, but the introduction process remains at the stage of “comfortably co-exist in a room without hissings or grumblings from any parties.”
Compensation and Benefits
Compensation: Breakfast in bed, so to speak, for the rest of her life. New brothers and sisters who will love and accept her. And the benefit, I’m afraid, is more skewed toward me than her – I hope she feels the happiness and benefit of being completely loved and cared for, while I accept the amazing benefit of pure, unconditional love from an extremely sweet little creature.
Takeaways
Sweetie’s onboarding has brought home great lessons and reminders. hose of balance – finding the harmony as we establish the old-guard with the new; patience – understanding the unique pacing and care one needs when settling in to a brand-new environment and culture; and compassion – it’s not easy being the new person, nor is it easy for the established ones to adapt to a new person, group, or structure.
If you’re going through similar changes, whether as the newbie or as the “old” one adapting to a new circumstance – please give yourself lots of loving-kindness, and trust your new state of being will feel comfortable and natural sooner than you think. And, try not to engage in too much hissing and grumbling on the way.
Magdalene Journal 