Major Changes

Well despite being in the local newspaper over the weekend, no one has stepped forward to claim this cute bundle of fluff (also known as Cleo).

She's such a pretty girl...

She has begun to exceed even my own expectations. Cleo is also stating quite loudly that she's quite happy being where she is currently and becoming more accustomed to life in our household. Unfortunately she has a rude awakening as we cannot keep her. Three cats is enough and I think Terra and Leo would go insane if we kept her permanently.

About three or four days ago now Cleo began making a break for it every time we opened the study/foster room door. She'd long since conquered the half door. I usually freaked out and blocked her not wanting her to interact with Leo and Terra.

Then I figured what the hell if she had to deal with us and strange noises and other cats it might expand what home she'd be ready for. So I let her wander out fully expecting her to freak out upon seeing Leo and run for cover of 'her' room.

Nope.

Cleo wandered around the house and barely glanced at Leo who was thoroughly interested in the newbie. He was being a flirtatious idiot rolling around and also hunting her through the house. I thought if she returned to cowering and hiding or if they got into a tussle I'd put her back in the study. Nope.

Sure there was chasing and some dark looks from Leo but if she overstepped her boundaries she just ducked down or rolled over or fled until Leo stopped chasing her then turned around and continued shadowing him.

Cleo ~ I surrender (only while you're looking at me)

So it became a daily thing while someone was home to let her wander. She is one cheeky little girl. She hears someone in the kitchen she thinks they're getting food for her. She'll get under your feet chirping and peeping and often my mother will cave and find something to give her.

Cleo has investigated the noise of a vacuum cleaner (from a distance), checked out the noise a mixing beater made (from a distance) and has begun tormenting the life out of sooky, wimpy resident cats Terra and Leo. She wants to play, they now say nick off. She pokes and prods and runs about the house freely following Terra and Leo until they hiss at her.

Only today she's popped up beside me to seek out company. She even climbed on my lap. On her own choosing. That I never thought would happen. (She is currently curled up asleep on my lower legs, I do have a fluffy blanket over said legs but once upon a time she'd do everything to avoid any human contact).

Cleo ~ Hey, what's this?

She is still iffy with men. My brother, although old enough to know better often doesn't listen when I say she's not happy being picked up and carted around. Sometimes she'll let you pick her up for a little bit, Sometimes when you pick her up she'll attempt to bite your hand (gently never drawn blood and I call this being a brat more than fear now) and sometimes she'll flatten her ears and nearly resume her previous 'I'll freeze here unhappily until you put me the heck down' I don't like her reaching the point of discomfort with people but even when she is held against her will she hasn't gotten aggressive and attempts to dive out of arms if given the opportunity rather than shredding someone to pieces.

Cleo ~ I'm top kitty in this house

Leo ~ But Mum! She stole my bed!!

Dad is all for an overly confident kitten that will interact well with him and not show fear. While Cleo does have a very cocky and cheeky personality that's coming through she still gets nervous and unsure if someone comes directly at her. Loud, Big, Scary man coming at a still pretty small kitty is often a bit too much for her to handle. Thankfully Dad has toned back and reached Cleo through playing with string toys.

The pictures dont really show how little she is. She isn't a gangly kitten anymore but she's still less than half the size of Leo and most of that is fur.

A few more photos and I'll try to upload some video's tomorrow.

Cleo Mid-wash. I couldn't resist adding it (laughs)

Spread the word, the sooner this kitten has a home the sooner she can settle in to somewhere permanently. I'm quite happy keeping her until said home turns up or until kitten season returns. If kitten season does return and Cleo hasn't got a home she'll have to put on her big fur boots and try sell herself through the sales rooms at the shelter. I feel worst case scenario she'd learn to adjust there but it could take some time and she could take a few steps backwards.

Cleo is such a fitting name, look at those eyes and how on earth has no one called about her?