DIARY / Welcome to the family, Peggy!
Hello!
We recently welcomed a new family member, Peggy!
We saw Peggy and read how she was still timid and needing time to adjust. We thought we could really help and care for her, especially as our house has plenty of space for her to have her own designated area.
I first shot an email out to the Japan Cat Network, which they promptly replied. I filled out their survey which asked many different questions to help them find out whether or not you'd be suitable taking in a cat.
Soon after, we spoke to Sharon about the process of adopting on Skype. We were able to ask any questions we had, and she was also able to see what kind of cat parents we'd be.
We got in contact with Peggy's foster mum, Barbara, after and arranged a playdate.
Jonny and I met Peggy at the Barbara's house. Peggy was very shy and panicking as she saw us. She hid most of them time and hissed a bit. We were able to talk a lot with Barbara and get to know Peggy. Although she was extremely scared of us, Jonny and I were determined to create a warm space for her.
Only a few days later, on the 27th of September, Peggy was delivered to our home and we signed the papers to foster her and then officially adopt if all is well in a month's time. She was taken upstairs and into our shared office space we decked out with cat items. She immediately went to hide between the window and the curtain. She moved ever so cautiously only to other equally hidden away spots.
The first night was overwhelming for her. She had a little 'accident' on one of her cat beds, and ate only very little of her dry food and none of her wet food. I was concerned but I also had to remind myself that moving houses can be big deals for cats and they may behave abnormally.
Another day passed and she was eating and drinking well. She had successfully used the litter box! I have never been so happy to see cat pee before.
She spent most of her time sitting on the window sill, but whenever one of us opened the door, her pupils would get big and she'd stare, while breathing heavily. With time, this behaviour has calmed down.
Jonny and I worked really hard to make her comfortable in our presences but we also knew how important it was for her to have her alone time. When I would come home from work, I'd check up on her and sit in the room with her. She'd go from staring with big scared eyes to calmly squinting and laying herself out on the table. We also installed screen locks so she could enjoy the breeze from the window sill.
Sometimes, she meows loudly during the night and I'm not sure why. I have slept in the same room as her for a few hours once and she seemed to calm down a bit. When she and Francis meet properly and we determine they are okay together, I'm sure they can both enjoy sleeping on the human bed with us.
I can really see all her improvements and I'm very proud of her. When I first met her, she would hiss and scratch and now... well, she still hisses and scratches, but also has her soft moments! I can go into the office and do work with her laying by my side. She doesn't let me touch her directly but I think that will take some more time.
I can't imagine what she went through. I'm not sure if she was always a stray or used to be domestic and was abandoned. Her exact birthday is also unknown, but they guessed she was born sometime in 2015. She's lived a life completely unknown to us. She must have suffered a lot of pain and trauma from her accident too. From getting horribly injured to captured by strangers (with good intentions of course, but she didn't know this). She probably was scared and confused the whole time, while also in a lot of pain.
I wish for her to understand that we only want to care for her and she doesn't need to be scared anymore, and fortunately I think she really is beginning to understand that.
We recently welcomed a new family member, Peggy!
Peggy was found in rural Saitama, living in an abandoned house. She was found with a badly mangled front leg from an accident. Japan Cat Network had a team rescue her over the course of a few days. The trauma from her accident left her fearful of humans, so it was difficult for them to capture her at first. She was taken in for treatment but her leg had to be amputated. She was taken in on the 11th of April, 2019 and had been living with her foster carer before Jonny and I decided to take her in.
Jonny and I had been thinking about introducing a new cat to our home and searched around the internet. There are two big rescue organisations in Japan that I know of: Ark Bark and Japan Cat Network. There are probably a few more but I'm not so familiar. Please do let me know though!
I first shot an email out to the Japan Cat Network, which they promptly replied. I filled out their survey which asked many different questions to help them find out whether or not you'd be suitable taking in a cat.
Soon after, we spoke to Sharon about the process of adopting on Skype. We were able to ask any questions we had, and she was also able to see what kind of cat parents we'd be.
We got in contact with Peggy's foster mum, Barbara, after and arranged a playdate.
Jonny and I met Peggy at the Barbara's house. Peggy was very shy and panicking as she saw us. She hid most of them time and hissed a bit. We were able to talk a lot with Barbara and get to know Peggy. Although she was extremely scared of us, Jonny and I were determined to create a warm space for her.
Only a few days later, on the 27th of September, Peggy was delivered to our home and we signed the papers to foster her and then officially adopt if all is well in a month's time. She was taken upstairs and into our shared office space we decked out with cat items. She immediately went to hide between the window and the curtain. She moved ever so cautiously only to other equally hidden away spots.
(Peggy's first night)
The first night was overwhelming for her. She had a little 'accident' on one of her cat beds, and ate only very little of her dry food and none of her wet food. I was concerned but I also had to remind myself that moving houses can be big deals for cats and they may behave abnormally.
Another day passed and she was eating and drinking well. She had successfully used the litter box! I have never been so happy to see cat pee before.
She spent most of her time sitting on the window sill, but whenever one of us opened the door, her pupils would get big and she'd stare, while breathing heavily. With time, this behaviour has calmed down.
(Peggy becoming more relaxed as she sits on the window sill.)
(Peggy relaxing close to me.)
I can really see all her improvements and I'm very proud of her. When I first met her, she would hiss and scratch and now... well, she still hisses and scratches, but also has her soft moments! I can go into the office and do work with her laying by my side. She doesn't let me touch her directly but I think that will take some more time.
(Peggy finding my books make a very good bed.)
I can't imagine what she went through. I'm not sure if she was always a stray or used to be domestic and was abandoned. Her exact birthday is also unknown, but they guessed she was born sometime in 2015. She's lived a life completely unknown to us. She must have suffered a lot of pain and trauma from her accident too. From getting horribly injured to captured by strangers (with good intentions of course, but she didn't know this). She probably was scared and confused the whole time, while also in a lot of pain.
I wish for her to understand that we only want to care for her and she doesn't need to be scared anymore, and fortunately I think she really is beginning to understand that.
(Peggy enjoying her new bed which is attached to her favourite spot: the window sill.)
Soon, she can meet Francis too and I hope he's just as welcoming as us. For those who don't know, Francis is also a rescue. He was given away by his first owners, and then was abandoned by his second (just left outside). He was taken to a vet by those owners' neighbours and when the vet called them, they told the vet staff they didn't want him. That's how I ended up suddenly with a 3 year old ragdoll! It happened pretty fast and was not planned but I loved him like he was my own child! He is my baby and so I couldn't leave him in Australia when I moved to Japan. He ended up traveling with me and lives here now!
Thank you for reading! Have a nice day! 😊
For those interested, click here for the Japan Cat Network website, and here for Peggy's profile.
They do amazing work so please donate if you can. 😀
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