A day off today (Sunday) and we're spending it with the pigs. Brady, Nina, Lennon, Turtles, and yes, the newest member of our family...Bella! Our recently adopted 2 yr old shorthair cat has been getting to know the rest of us over the past week and she's really come out of her shell these past few days! She is still quite leary of Brady, having never known a dog before, but she's gotten a little more brave yesterday and today. He doesn't make it easy for newcomers though, as his penchant for intense investigation can often be misread by the new party. At  65 lbs, approaching any smaller creature with anything other than tiptoes, can be rather threatening. He wants to investigate her, she thinks he wants to eat her, she goes on defense, he's too boorish to realize he's scaring her, she swipes, he thinks she's playing, he wants to play, she says "I ain't playing", he says "duhhh, which way did she go, which way did she go..." and we do this little dance for awhile. Just today, however, they were both sitting a few feet away from each other, agreeing to give each other space, so, we're definitely on track for completely successful integration!

 

Nina could care less, as is her M.O. - as long as Bella doesn't sit in the front seat when we travel, there will be no issue.

 

Lennon...Lennon a little upset to say the least. The queen of the castle, sharing cat time!? Absurd! She acts like she's so offended, so distraught but she's really just a big baby. She would never attack the newbie and the newbie loves other cats so we are not even concerned about them hashing things out in that way, but until she figured out that Bella is NOT just passing by, Lennon would conveniently pass through to another room with a few low pitched grumbles in voice of her displeasure.  She's doing much better now. They've even been caught on our bed together...on opposite corners mind you and staring at each other intensely, but a big step nevertheless.

 

Bella is nothing but a perfect sweetheart. A lap cat, a cuddler, a nuzzler, and even a singer...yes, she can be heard early in the morning, walking through the house, singing away in a much more evolved dialect than just simple meowing. It sounds like she's talking! We love her and know that she is going to fit right in with the rest of us and bring a completely different aspect to this kaleidescope of personality we already have!

 

Welcome to the family, Bella!