Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Your Moment of Clara

She looks absolutely miserable in her new home, doesn't she? ;)

Received another fabulous update from Heidi. The abridged version follows. Be sure to read until the very end of the post. You might miss something important.

I've attached a few phone pictures... I know they're not the greatest quality but they'll have to do until I can locate the flingin' flangin' USB cable for my camera :D  The ones on my camera are better, but it still a bit hard to get a good clear picture since she's always in motion! And I want in the worst way to get a picture of her on top of the wardrobe in my bedroom (which is, not surprisingly, one of her favorite spots but a c-a-n-n-o-t, because every time she hears me coming, she jumps right on down to say hi and see what I'm up to!! Which is totally sweet, and I can't really complain about that... but it does make it hard to get a picture!

(Note from Kelly: NOW you all know why I used the same pictures of Clara from post to post. I'm not lazy about taking photos. She's just so darn difficult to photograph because she doesn't care whether or not you see pictures of her. She just wants you to pet her, darn it!)

And as I'm sure you know, the camera really doesn't do justice to her gorgeous mix of gray/silver and cream-colored fur... she is just so beautiful!!! Of course I am a bit biased, but really, she is such a beautiful plush, velvety-furred girl. That anyone could fail to see her beauty is beyond me :)

Over the course of the last week or so, I could see her getting more and more comfortable in her new digs. Although overall I'd say that she adjusted to the move very well, initially she did often have that "ears back, eyes very very wide" look quite a lot -- but  now it appears only once in a while, and only for things like unusual noises outside. (She's even gotten used to the noise of the coffee bean grinder!)


She's curious and interested in everything that goes on. When I'm in the kitchen, she hangs out underneath the dining room table, from which vantage point she can oversee all that occurs from behind a concealing fringe. The second I go elsewhere though, she's right on my heels, coming along to see what's happening. She is certainly my little shadow, and I love it. :)

She's continuing to eat well... it makes me so very happy to hear her eating with gusto!!

As last week unfolded, she became more and more acrobatic in her leaps and faster in her pouncing at playtime -- I think that went right along with feeling more and more at home. She never gets tired of pouncing on a particular orange stuffed mouse, and when she's particularly excited, she makes the funniest little squeaking noise!! SO cute!!

Once she's had a good vigorous play session, she's very happy to join me on the couch, and there she sprawls on a big pillow in my lap and just purrs and purrs. She usually starts by folding her paws underneath her sweet self and tucking in under my chin... which I love, but this never lasts long because she very soon starts stretching and rolling, and pretty soon she's lolled across the pillow, head back, and in the crook of my arm... and I love that too! :)


I love how plush and cuddly she is, and I simply cannot refrain from frequently kissing her on top of the head... she doesn't particularly love this, but she tolerates it very well :D

A friend and his 7-year-old son visited last Saturday, and Clara did really well! She was a little bit scared at first, but pretty soon she let the little boy pet her. He was very anxious to play with her, but although she didn't play (or purr) she was pretty relaxed. I'm sure that with subsequent visits, she'll come around and be comfortable enough to play with him.

So there we go... the first 11 days with Clara! :) I'm so happy that she's come to live with me, and I still think that I totally lucked out and got THE best cat in the whole wide world!! She has well and truly put her pawprint on my heart.


Thanks for another brilliant update, Heidi! I think you're BOTH pretty lucky to have found each other. Oh... and try to get her to relax a bit. She looks stressed ;)

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Thank you for reading all of the way to the bottom. Does anyone have a good idea for a kitten naming theme? I'm not saying that we need one or anything, or that yours will necessarily be used. But it's always good to have a theme or two in reserve. You know... just in case we need one.







17 comments:

  1. I say, that sure is a beautiful cat!! Sure wish I had one just like her. Oh wait, I DO!!! :)

    Well, despite her "resistance", I will continue to try to get more clear pictures of dear Clara! (Sometimes I miss the days of good old-fashioned non digital 400 speed film, which I bet would have no trouble capturing her!)

    As for a kitten naming theme (whee!!), I have put on my theoretical thinking cap!

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    1. Heidiiiiiii! Thank you so much for the update on Clara! I am jealous that you get to kiss the sweet spot on her head but SO happy SOMEONE is doing it! :D I'm super happy that she's settling in... and that you two are in love with each other. SO AWESOME!

      ~Chris

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  2. Kelly-my son says LOTR and Star Wars, my daughter says Flowers. I also thought of cereals but that of course is just being silly. WE also thought of movies that are currently out like Turbo and Epic.

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  3. Oh, Heidi made me think of another. Old classic books like Heidi and Pippi Longstockings, Tom Sawyer/Huck Finn, etc.

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  4. Awww what a great update (though I have to admit drawing a blank on the name until I saw the first picture). Goes to shoe that Clara was just waiting around for Heidi.

    As for names....you are on your own.

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  5. I'm going to suggest the naming theme of.... wait for it.... SHERLOCK HOLMES. (Yes, the nerd in me knows no bounds.)

    You get Sherlock of course (for the most investigative kitty) but there's also Watson, Irene, Hudson, Mycroft... and the author's name can be split into three! Arthur, Conan & Doyle! A surname could be Baskerville or Baker!

    So many books, so many options!

    ~Chris

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    1. Also? The minions in the Despicable Me movies are hilarious and they have normal names like Dave, Steve, Kevin, etc. which might be amusing for teenie weenies.

      ~Chris

      (I better stop now... you of all people know how out of control I can get when thinking up kitty names!)

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    2. Love that idea Chris! I had just suggested Arthur when Kelly was singing the other night. What a perfect way to use it along with others -but she has already had a Hudson with the car theme :)

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  6. Happy Days would be a great theme! Fonz and the gang!!

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  7. I'm so happy about Clara!! She looks SOOOOO stressed! LOL! She looks awesome!

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  8. Hoooray for Clara! Aren't those the best emails to receive - when you can rest easy knowing that your little one is being well looked after and will be loved forever!

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  9. I am so enjoying watching this instant friendship develop into deep, permanent love. Thanks for keeping Clara's fans posted, Heidi, and thanks for posting Heidi's updates, Kelly!

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  10. Love hearing about Miss Clara! Keep those updates coming.

    Naming themes...
    The Hunger Games
    True Blood
    Mad Men
    and my favorite even though it shows my age...
    Buffy the Vampire Slayer

    LOL

    ---ibby

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  11. how about a space or astronaut theme, with names like Buzz, Neil, Gemini, Mercury, Sputnik,Apollo ,etc

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  12. About names for that hypothetical kitten litter... how about famous scientists?

    For the boys... Niels (Bohr), Isaac (Newton), Nikola (Tesla), Galileo (Galilei)

    For the girls... Marie (Curie), Rosalind (Franklin), Jane (Goodall), Rachel (Carson)

    Either sex... Francis (Crick)

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  13. I love the scientist idea!!

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  14. This update just makes me so happy! Clara found exactly the perfect home. So happy for her and Heidi.

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