A Changed Woman

When we picked Athena out of the line up of cats at the SPCA two years ago, it was based on the fact that she seemed mellow and, according to the information card, was good with kids and tolerant of dogs.  When we got her home we discovered she wasn't very interested in people. She didn't particularly enjoy being petted, hated to be held, and pretty much avoided us. Basically, she kept to herself.

Then last year, as you may remember, she took off during a visit to the vet's, got lost, and wandered the streets for a couple of weeks before being rescued by a kind woman, who called us to come pick her up.

Over the past 12 months, I've noticed a very different Athena. It's true she still doesn't particularly enjoy being held, but not only is she all about the petting, she's taken to sleeping in our bed during the day, and at night snuggles up between us. It's like a whole new cat.

You know, her information card also said that she had been turned over to the SPCA because her last humans had moved and couldn't take her with them. Who knows? Maybe she wanted to make sure we were in it for the long term with her before she committed - and finding her after she got lost was the proof she needed.

There are downsides to the new Athena, however. She's started bringing us presents - mostly grasshoppers, but a couple of mice as well - and if I don't make the bed immediately after waking up, it's a lost cause!