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Rendell is a fine, handsome, healthy young boy, who has come a long way
since coming to live with me. It's a tribute to him that he has pushed his
boundaries to the point of sharing my space openly with me and becoming my
close companion. He's a formerly feral kitten who still retains his
natural wariness - he doesn't like to be touched and tends to hide when
visitors arrive or hears loud sounds like the intercom buzzer or the
vacuum cleaner.
Initially, Rendell found some hiding places where he could feel secure. At
night, however, he would really cut loose and play boisterously all over
my apartment with the toys I bought him. He was making so much noise
having fun that I realized I would have to tire him out before bedtime,
and it was a real breakthrough in trusting when I enticed him into playing
with me with a leather thong and a feather-stick - he lost all fear of me
when playing. I was also able to get him to come out of his corner by
tossing in treats, then dropping them closer and closer to me until
finally he would come out and eat them out of my fingers.
These days he's a different cat altogether. He will come and lie on my
desk while I'm at the computer and get on my bed with me. He follows me to
the kitchen and bathroom. He loves breakfast time and will corner me in
the kitchen while I'm getting his food ready and mew (otherwise he doesn't
speak). Then he tries to tackle me on my way to his eating area. He'll
coming running up when he hears the treats bag and dance around.
He has his own little couch in the centre of the apartment which he likes
to sleep under, and from where he can observe everything. He likes to dash
out from under it when playing with me and makes every excuse to leap on
it to enhance his play. His other favourite spot is the windowsill where
he lazes for long periods.
In the looks department, he has a beautiful glossy coat (short-hair) which
turns red in certain kinds of light and a fluffy, snowy chest and belly
with some brown spots. He has neat white mittens and boots, although one
toe apparently got dipped in chocolate. He has very regular, classical
orange tabby markings and a long thin body with a deep chest and belly.
Overall he has a sweet, inquisitive demeanour.
Rendell is very well-behaved and sticks to scratching his scratching post.
He does not jump up onto kitchen or bathroom counters. If he gets on
furniture, it's usually a hard, cool surface. He grooms himself thoroughly
and has very tidy litter box habits.
Rendell will make a wonderful companion cat for someone who wants a
low-maintenance, unobtrusive, yet playful feline friend. I'm pretty sure
he will eventually allow petting when he has bonded with his adoptive
human(s).
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"Where'd those feathers go ?"
"The Sphinx !"
"I'd swear those fish moved !"
"I'm just a regular guy !"
"Watch me play !"
"I do enjoy a bit of privacy !" |
