Panda cattery

My neighbour's cat has been spending an awful lot of time with me, seemingly either being inside my flat or outside and roaming, and the neighbour hadn't been around to check that Panda cat was okay. However, after quite a few weeks my neighbour calls and asks, 'Is my cat... oh, there she is', as Panda is sitting at the top of the stairs with my cat, Kenickie, both curious to see who is at the door. Panda comes downstairs to say hello and wanders outside, although she is quite tentative about heading back in to what should be her home.

I have a bit of a chat with my neighbour. She wonders if everything is okay, if Panda is spending much time in my home and that she is thinking about perhaps relocating Panda to her mum's. From what I can gather she is more concerned that Panda is being a burden rather than wanting to take her away from me and I do my best to assure her that Panda is no trouble and that I quite like her company, as does Kenickie. It seems that Panda really likes Kenickie too, maybe looking up to him as a big brother. The two of them play together and although it looks a bit rough at times neither of them run off and hide but end up sleeping next to each other on the bed once they have worn themselves out. Panda likes to explore places Kenickie goes too, but without displacing him. I think they get on well.

My neighbour has been trying to keep Panda in more but says that she just meows to be let outside, after which she no doubt comes over to sleep on my sofa. My neighbour mentions that she is going on holiday for a week and is thinking about putting Panda in to a cattery for the duration, but I say it would be no problem for me to look after her, if that would be okay. After all, it feels like she is part of the home already. She agrees that I can look after her whilst they are on holiday, which is good. At least she trusts my being responsible and caring.

But I feel a bit guilty. It's clear that Panda goes home occasionally and that they are trying to make a home for her, but perhaps I have the advantage of an excellent kitty that serves as a companion. When my neighbour drops some food off for Panda for the holiday I reassure her that Panda really is no bother and, acknowledging that I was being quite blunt, say that I wouldn't mind keeping her, if it comes to that. I didn't know how else to say it and it may not have come across well, but at least it's an option. We agree to try to work out ways to encourage Panda to spend more time at her home instead of mine, and I really should work towards that, however much I like having her around.

I suppose it's a good thing I didn't end up buying a collar for her, as that would have been difficult to explain. I was also careful not to call her Panda in my neighbour's presence as it's not her given name. But she answers to it.

Posted in Personal |
Tags: kenickie, kitty, panda