Gracie to Morgan: So what do you think of Gus?
Morgan: Seems OK. A bit of a scaredy cat, especially with Sasha.
Gracie: Sasha can be a pain. It’s always all about her. She steals food and toys.Sometimes I have to whop her.
Morgan: Yeah but she’s young. Just a kid. Gus is older so I don’t think he wants to get involved in drama. Especially not Sasha drama. He came from a cat room with 20 other cats. Must have been lots of drama there.
Gracie: I was in a cat room too but it was big and there were only six of us. I liked it because I was the youngest. I was only there two months. The others were older cats that had health issues so they probably wouldn’t be adopted.
Morgan: Why did they put you there?
Gracie: I was recovering from my spay surgery and eye removal. The peep said that someone found Gus when he was eight weeks old and he had wounds all over his face. He was in bad shape. He still has scars. We make a great couple. He has battle scars and I’m a one-eyed pirate.
Morgan: That may be why he’s cautious. It was a bad experience for such a little guy. He was lucky.
Gracie: Well, I like him. He’s sweet. He’s got swagger and one day he will bop Sash on the nose. I want to be there!
Morgan: She will roll her puppy dog eyes and everyone will feel sorry for her!
Note from the peep: We continue to focus mostly on Gus. The other cats have learned how to leverage this. Except for Gracie who doesn’t like treats, they have wrangled extra treats out of us. They also got extra catnip toys and extra food. Gus doesn’t play with toys though. He’s not sure what to do with them. I don’t know if he’s outgrown the play stage or if he’s never had toys. Sharing a room with 20 other cats can be a challenge. He got along with everyone but I expect the more outgoing and aggressive cats got the toys. He sure loves his cat grass though. That was a big hit. Sasha is much better. She even presented her head for him to clean but he didn’t know what to do. He is still learning cat cues in this house. Cleaning the diva’s head is a privilege.
PS from peep: I wrote this yesterday. Last night he found a pipe cleaner and though that was the best thing since sliced kibble!
Gus is so handsome! I’m in love!
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He is a very good cat too.
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awwww
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My mom used to say that it’s a waste of money to buy toys for babies and cats. They can make a toy out of any found object and like it better.
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She was right. I don’t buy things anymore. They love the cheap catnip mouse they get from the vet but I make catnip baggies out of old fabric and it works.
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Tickles me that Gus found a pipe cleaner and it makes him a happy boy. Also tickles me that Gus finds himself in the middle of all those girl cats with Sasha being the Diva. You leave me with wanting more stories about Gus and the girl interactions that I know you are seeing, Kate. Sasha is going to be shocked one day when he gives her the paw of nope. He has such a sweet face.
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The weird thing was that the pipe cleaner was under a piece of furniture that he couldn’t get under. He was working to get something out for about 5 minutes. It was the pipe cleaner. The paw of nope! I love that!
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Gus is adorable and I think the rest of the gang are working out their feelings about him – he is fitting right in. Teddy had no idea what toys were either when we adopted him at 11 months from the shelter. He still prefers things like straws, ribbon, wooden spoons to actual cat toys. Since we think he was either a feral or barn cat I guess he was used to finding unconventional “toys” to play with!
Hugs, Pam
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He was only 8 weeks old when he landed at the shelter and they don’t know if he was part of a feral litter. He’s getting more social as time goes on but he still has trouble with steps. Toys he is figuring out.
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Ah Gus, go ahead and kiss the ring. Sasha will be nicer if you do!
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🙂 🙂 🙂
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LOL! This is probably exactly what they sounds like 🙂 Gus is such a sweet looking boy!
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He’s very calm especially in comparison to Sasha.
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🙂
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Yes, we will feel sorry for these glistening eyes!
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Always!
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This is interesting to read the “socialization of Gus” and that toys have no meaning as he likely never had them. He doesn’t know how to act, but I like seeing that he has discovered treats and they provide joy for the time being.
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He is doing well. I would go so far as to say he is happy here.
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Good you have no issues – a contented clan of kitties at the Crimmons household.
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Gus is absolutely adorable and seems to be growing more confident with each passing day. Keep the updates coming!
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He is. Also more “indaway!”
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I am glad Gus is doing well and found a toy 🙂
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It’s a short hop from playing with a pipe cleaner to ripping off my post-its!
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Love these Gus updates! I adopted an adolescent cat of unknown origin and she wasn’t too interested in toys, although she loved being chased around the house. I predict that Gus and Sasha will be – if not besties – at least good buds.
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We’re getting there but Gracie clearly has his heart. At least for now.
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I loved your cat conversation.
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I’m just a reporter! 😉
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I’m sure Gus loves your house over a 20-cat room! Glad he found the toy he likes too.
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I’m glad it wasn’t an expensive one too!
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We had a cat who lived on the streets before she came to us and she never played with toys. She’d walk right by them. Might be the same thing with Gus, who is quite handsome.
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He’s older so he will never be “kittenish.” Maybe he will warm up to toys. For now, it’s pipe cleaners.
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Aww, sweet Gus. It’s always the simplest of toys that seem to capture attention. 😻
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My cats only play with toys that are free. If I buy something they won’t touch it.
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Sounds like you have some discerning kitties!
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Persnickety!
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Cute
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Thanks!
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You are welcome
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Awh! Loved this post! The hearts of your cat’s are just like yours! BIG! And always love the humor. So sad that Gus went through so much at a young age, but so glad he has love now and is adjusting. Hooray for the pipe cleaner!!
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Pipe cleaners are the cheapest cat toys. He also found a piece of elastic I was saving for a possible face mask and it’s all over the house now! Glad he’s finally comfortable enough to play.
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😊
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Hooray for the pipe cleaner! That is awesome and makes my eyes tear up to learn he’s accessing his inner kitten.
I, too, want to be there for the head whomping of Sasha.
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Sasha is a cat and a half. You have to love her because she is so funny and loving but she likes to have her own way. A good whop once in a while is good for her.
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It seems like poor Gus’s background history made him unsure of how to be a cat. So great that the other kitties are showing him the way. Does he allow you to be affectionate with him yet?
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He doesn’t like to be picked up and held but he crawls into my lap at night to watch TV. He loves to be brushed. He has a thick undercoat so I’ve been able to get a lot of hair out of him. My husband swears that there is a naked cat somewhere in our house based on the hair in the trash.
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Yep, I get all that fur. I made 2 scarves out of Max’s fur. I wonder if you can do the same with cat hair?
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Wow!
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Sounds like he’s settling in nicely, and hopefully he will learn to play.
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He’s here 4 weeks now. It took time but he is settling in. I fear Sasha is teaching him bad habits.
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haha. I can see her getting bopped!
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She will. She gets very pesty!
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haha
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I’m behind in the news! You have a new addition to the family!!
My eyes were welling up with your short description of his early struggles. Kate, you are one very special person to share your home with these needy fur children ❤️
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I get more than I give. What’s one more cat? A little more kibble, more astronomic vet bills but other than that, not much more work.
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… and a ton more love comes back in return❤️
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Yay! Learning how to play is a big deal, and it shows how much he feels safe in your home. Great milestone!
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Maybe it’s just finding the right thing. He and Sasha (his nemesis) had a great time playing with it together. Great for bonding!
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That is definitely progress. Gus sounds like a charmer, actually. Sasha will succumb fully in no time!
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He got along very well in his cat room. He would get out of the way if there was anything going on. That was what endeared me to him.
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No fake news here! Love to hear the inside scoop.
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Never an fake news with the cats!
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Charming post, Kate. Your cats are better journalists than journalists! More purrsonality.
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And a lot less politics! 🙂
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we have such a kid to what had to learn a lot… today he is the toy hog… and a pipe cleaner sure is a super thing…and a good start… we ova ya Gus…
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It’s always work training the young’uns.
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So glad things are getting better for all. Gus is one lucky cat, and hooray that he is learning about toys to play with! Great job. Give the diva a pet for me, not that she’d remember my anymore!
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They are still working it out. Last night he climbed on my lap. Sasha was not completely happy about that so she climbed on my lap too. That’s 26 pounds of cat and my lap isn’t that big. Eventually it got too hot for Sasha (and me) and she left to sit on the coffee table. She should be very grateful to you. Without you she wouldn’t be here. She still is terrified of new people but other than that there is not a shy bone in her body. She is the most vocal of all of them. She is teaching Gus to sing for his supper. Oy vay.
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