Deer Me Comics

• Feb 14 - Deer Me VDSD 2025

Sharpclaw Comics

• Feb 14 - Sharpclaw VDSD 2025

Snuggle Kitty

Do you mind if I discuss something completely off-topic? It is just... I am so excited that, after four years of living together, both cats seem to accept me as one of their humans.

When we got the pair in March 2021, we kept them restricted to Hubby's office. We wanted them to get comfortable with him in particular -- he being the Cat Person -- and to not overwhelm them with a new house, new people, and a new dog. We also wanted to not overwhelm our aging dog with two new cats.

When all three pets had acclimated to the new arrangement, we expanded the cats' access to the rest of the house. By that time, they had formed their bonds with Hubby; they were His Cats. Since then, for the past four years, I have been trying to similarly earn their approval. Apparently, being the one who cleans their litter box, feeds them, and takes them to the veterinarian does nothing to earn me cat affection.

Moving in 2023 unexpectedly helped our bond. For six weeks, our family of five (two humans, two cats, one dog) shared a hotel room. The constant close contact made the cats more comfortable with me.

The fact that our current house is much smaller than our previous house also appears to be helping maintain a frequent contact that increases tolerance. One cat now actually likes me! And the other cat is finally warming up to me, too! Literally!

Our rental house has awful insulation. My side of the bed is next to a window, which was a complete heat-sink during the February cold snap. Hubby and I traded places during that time; our original side selections had been so he could get the air conditioning during the hot weather Texas normally has.

The more hesitant of the two cats has long made a habit of climbing under the covers with Hubby in the middle of cold nights. We figured she would be surprised when she found me in his place. She, however, surprised us by not caring when she discovered it was I, not he; she still snuggled next to me on the nights of the cold snap, despite learning Hubby and I had switched places. She cared more about her routine than about the fact she was cuddling up to awful, scary me.

It took four years to get to our current dynamic, but I am pleased!

Though she still hissed at me for breakfast a couple mornings later.