Yesterday Moana marked two weeks living in my office. She's watched me clean out files and use the printer. She's turned down every tasty bribe I've tried...chicken strips, crisp bacon, flaked salmon from Lake Michigan. And she bounces around the room like a ping pong ball if I make a move to touch her.
I've managed a few pets, but strokes are usually met with hisses and growls. It's the streaking away and bouncing off walls and furniture that's really concerning. Usually I just talk to her.
She will only eat plain dry cat food. She's pretty clear on that. An automatic feeder in the corner and a giant water bowl take care of all her needs. What does she need me for?
The first positive sign came a few days ago. When I came in for my morning visit I discovered a yarn ball I left a week before had been politely unraveled, not wrapped around chair legs or strewn from chair to desk but just nicely unrolled in the middle of the room. Yet, this was proof positive. She can play. I rewrapped that one and added two more, which remained untouched on the floor for two days.
Since I can't get her to beg for treats, I decided to go more basic. Yesterday I removed the automatic feeder and left the room without food for a few hours. Then before bed I brought in a small dish of dry food and a new small water dish. Maybe she will start to see me as the good guy.
An hour or so later I heard sounds coming from the office. Maybe she was batting around a plastic cap. And a bit more noise. Maybe the office chair rolling around.
When I went in this morning her food dish was empty. The blue yarn ball was completely undone, wrapped around a
chair leg, through the legs of a stool and wandering under the desk.
I think she's
getting the idea.
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