Thomas is an 11 year old Maine Coon cat that I took home from the shelter. He's not really a difficult child in the sense of bad behaviour, but he's got what I swear is PSTD.
When I first saw him, he was matted solid, filthy, and his rear end and hind legs were matted with his own waste. Two of the volunteers held him down while I shaved him to the skin. His coat came off in a solid piece like a sheep's fleece at shearing.
His teeth are awful, he's underweight (and weighs 20lbs), and is having a hard time adjusting.
Squeaky, all 7.5lbs of her, is determined to be alpha is stressing Thomas out. I got him on Saturday and yesterday was able to lay a hand on him for the first time without him being restrained. He tolerated me stroking his cheek and side for a moment.
He's doing better. He no longer flinches when I move. He's foot and hand-shy and acts like he's been hit and kicked. He's voluntarily come within 3 or so feet of me, and is now cocking his head and flicking his ears in response to my voice.
He's eating like crazy, but I have to soak his Orjen kibble so he can chew it. He's got at least two broken and decayed molars that need to come out once I can handle him enough to get him in a carrier.
For all that he is clean in the house though I had to set up a separate litter pan for him because Squeaky refuses to share and got nasty about things.
We're in it for the long haul, Thomas and I, and it'll be a lot of work. He wanders the house at night calling because the jerks who owned him separated him from another shorthaired cat that he was bonded to.
Like I said, we're making progress and we'll get there. Please send some good vibes for a magnificent cat who has had a very hard life and a lot of heartbreak.
Other than that, he's stiff in back. He's a big enough Coonie that I suspect he has hip dysplaysia. I got some Cosequin powder to add to his food as a joint supplement.
He is a cream tabby with beautiful green eyes and a few freckles on his nose and lips. He's worth the effort though he is the oldest rescue Maine Coon I've tried to rehab. It'll be a journey lasting several months.
Squeaky? Well, as shy and sweet as she's always been, I'm a bit shocked at the sudden transformation into Queen B!tch. My only concern there is that her mouth is gonna write a check her body can't cash, though so far, other than slapping her once, and chasing her under the bed once, Thomas' seems to have the male cat inhibition against hurting a female, which is a good thing.
