update from "The Lady"

Hello, Millie lovers everywhere!

Since Millie is playing right now, she's not interested in blogging. So I thought I'd take the time to fill you all in on all the goings on.

First, except for the cats, I live alone in a big three bedroom apartment. My son graduated from college two years ago and has moved out. I turned his room into a sewing room, and that's where Millie has been hanging out. One window faces south, and I've installed a cat hammock there. It's Gizzy's favorite spot. Since Gizzy's jumping ability has decreased with his age, I've set up a small stool to help him out. Millie's hiding place is in the closet, under a shelf that's about five inches off the floor. It's about 24" deep, and she hides way at the back, so she's well protected. I've set up a small litterbox under an end table, and a small eating area near the bureau, where she can easily see anybody approaching the room.

Last night, after she bolted out at the aluminum foil ball, I made a few more and tossed them around the room. I also found an empty pill bottle and put a few popcorn kernels in it. Later, while looking for Millie, I found a cat toy with a bell in it. Before bed, I checked on her, and couldn't find her anywhere. I went through the entire apartment, with a flashlight, and found her underneath the treadmill. Somehow she'd managed to go from one end of the place to the other without arousing the big cats.

This morning, while eating breakfast, Jasmine came up on the table to be near me, as she always does. Suddenly she tensed, and looked toward the sewing room. Turning around, I could see Millie lying down on the floor. I stayed where I was, trying not to look at Millie directly. She relaxed a while longer, then moved away.

She spends more time under the bureau than in the closet now. It's cooler, and she has several escape routes. Plus she can see what's coming.

When I got home from work today, I fed the big cats, as I always do, then fed her. I left the closet door open wide, and also left the door to the room open. She has to get used to the rest of us in here, looking at her and making noise. Each of the big cats will, from time to time, go into the room, locate Millie and hiss at her, turn around and leave. While I ate dinner, I could hear the toys bounce around the room. From time to time I'd turn around to look. She always seemed to know when I was watching. She'd look at me, and I'd turn back around and continue eating. She's so funny looking! She has this tiny little body on these really long legs! She kept right on playing, and eating. Later she frolicked around the room. Gizzy checked in on her, but she kept on playing.

This pleases me to no end. If she is comfortable enough to show herself, then she isn't feeling threatened. Which is pretty amazing, since she's only been here three days.

She has a good appetite and eats well. She uses her litterbox, but poops in the big cat litterbox in the bathroom! I know she's explored, because I've found things knocked off shelves. I know she's climbed up into Gizzy's hammock, because I've seen her sitting in the window from outside. And I know she explores at night, because I've heard the sounds of cats (plural) running around at night. Yes, her leg must be healed because she can run like the proverbial bat out of hell.

Obviously I'd love to hold her and pet her (and trim her claws). I'd love to get a good LOOK at her. I'd like to look at her leg to see how her fur is growing. But that will come when she is ready.