The cats were freaked out by moving. We had to bring them in shifts. And none of us were familiar with the terrain, as it were.
Scruffy was one of the most severely traumatized. He disappeared for about a week, even though they were confined to one room, said room had once been a kitchen and he found a way to wiggle into the cabinet below the sink. I was beside myself because if he wouldn't come out, clearly he wasn't eating or getting his asthma medication. AGGHH!!
Notte wasn't too happy either.
The BIG surprise was Calzini. Calzini, the one we weren't going to adopt, but he made himself so at home after he was neutered we decided he would stay. Nevertheless, Zini was somewhat standoffish. He never made a sound and you could not touch him.
Gradually, over the course of some time, he allowed himself to be pet. He snuggled with his buddies in their usual spots. Eventually, he started asking for attention. "Hey! I'd like a scratch, please!!" And after sweet, lopey Lupo came along, he really came out of his shell. They were play buddies. And Lupo is VERY affectionate and vocal. Zini learned.
So, by the time we moved, Zini would sit on the arms of chairs or the sofa and allow himself the attention. But what surprised me was, after the move, HE was the great explorer. Once we were settled in and the cats were given the run of the place, it was Zini who looked in every room, every nook, every corner. He jumped in the windows! "Whats goin on out there?"
Now he talks regularly, DEMANDS affection...by either shoving his face into yours or patting you with his paws. He still hasn't ventured into a lap, but he comes close. He might put one or both front paws down in your lap.
I don't know, but I think the light bulb went on in his little head....and he realized he was not going to be abandoned in the street again, that he was "home" and home was with us and his companions.
