Update on Chessie

Last June, we took on a cat that needed a good home. One of our long-time CSA members had passed away, and her shelter rescue cat was looking for a new forever home. Chessie, a tortoise shell with green eyes had been dubbed a loner, unfriendly to other house pets, but Kara was willing to give her a try.

For over a month, Chessie enjoyed her own private suite in the guest bedroom of the farmhouse as she worked through mourning her previous owner and adjusting to life on the farm. The introduction to the household and to our other rescue cat Gypsy (who had been dumped on the farm several years ago with her litter of kittens) went very slowly to allow Chessie to adjust. Gypsy was a star in the process, making it her mission to win the new cat over.

One of the acclimation steps included brushing Gypsy with Chessie’s brush and Chessie with Gypsy’s brush. This way they begin exploring each other’s smell while having a pleasurable experience. Kara also rubbed each cat with a towel and then left the towel in the room with the other cat.

After a time, Kara removed the sweep under the door to the guest bedroom, so the cats could smell each other under the door. Later, Kara installed a gate in the doorway, so that periodically during the day, she would open the door and Chessie could observe the rest of the household while still being safe in her own space. Still later, Chessie would be allowed into parts of the house when Gypsy was kept upstairs and the dogs were outside, so she could acclimate to the space without having to take on the social dynamics of interacting with the other family pets at the same time.

At first, Chessie was edgy, hissing at her housemate and completely avoiding our two herding dogs. But with time and patience, she has warmed to her new world and made it her own. She loves a cozy shelf in a sweater closet as her personal napping penthouse and fixates over when the door to the basement is open so she can explore and look for mice.

One day I was headed to the basement to grab some potatoes and Chessie followed me down. She kept a constant kitty narrative going the whole time, meowing and yowling to herself as if telling a detailed story. It was hilarious! I hadn’t a clue what she was saying, but she seemed intent that I should hear it. Kara admits that when Chessie gets on a narrative role, she’ll often respond, “Oh really, is that so?” to which the cat then carries on with her story.

At first, it was difficult to convince Chessie to come back out of the basement, but after being accidentally locked down there a few times, she’s much more amenable to returning to the kitchen with her humans. She is equally happy to sit at the basement door meowing incessantly, asking to go down. Gypsy is not amused by all the meowing, squinting her face and rushing over to pounce to “make it stop!” and then the two are off on a race, dashing through the rooms and up the stairs.

Chessie loves cat beds but wasn’t as interested in toys, until Kara made the cats some sheepskin balls stuffed with catnip. Gypsy wrestles and tussles them, though just yesterday Chessie decided to attack one herself, sending the ball of wooly floof flying into the air. This of course caught Gypsy’s eye, and off they went on a scramble dash.

Chessie is very curious about all the rooms of the old farmhouse, accompanying Kara into what is now the sewing studio bedroom. There are so many interesting things to see and explore in these places! Kara was working on a project and looked up to see Chessie laying on the ironing board, feet tucked underneath her body.

Cats have an interesting way of expressing their affection through blinking. When a cat maintains eye contact with you and then purposefully blinks, this is “I love you” in cat language. Chessie was giving Kara this message, so Kara blinked back, and Chessie looked very happy and satisfied.

During the holidays, Chessie’s former momma’s son sent us an adorable card, including a picture of the family with Chessie in her momma’s arms. He wrote how sweet it was to hear updates about the beloved cat and that she was doing so well in her new home.

Chessie still loves the guest bedroom as her special space, sleeping on the bed when the western sun comes in through the window. Gypsy is allowed to share the space as well, separate but contend as they snooze in curled cat balls. They’re not cuddle buddies, but the friendship is understood, and they are happy to be together. For some animals, acclimation takes time, and this process is worth respecting and tending. We’re happy that Chessie is doing so well and enjoying her new home, and we’re sure her first momma would be too. Hug your pets today. See you down on the farm sometime.