All Four Paws

We adopted our beautiful black cat Amber from Cats’ Protection when she was eight years old (four years ago – so she is now twelve). She came as part of a package with her “sister” Saphy but we are pretty sure they are not blood relatives because not only is Saphy five years younger, but is also completely different in fur colour, size, bodily shape and personality.

We think that sadly, in her previous life something very bad happened to Amber.  We suspect that she may have been badly mistreated over a period of time and that although Cats’ Protection saved her in time with her body intact, her experiences have left her mentally scarred, with the symptom of this being that she is absolutely terrified of everything.  To this day, any time someone who is not me, R or J enters the house she runs off to hide, emerging only once they have left.  She also absolutely hates being picked up, and won’t sit on anyone’s knee.

But she is not the typical “scaredy cat” – because with people she knows she is the most loving, soft hearted purr-monster you can imagine; she like nothing better than to roll on her back and have huge tickles.  She never bites, or scratches or in any way ill natured.

Anyway, for years now we have been trying to get her to sit on a knee – we know that she would love this, but her fear stops her from putting more than two paws on a human at anyone time.  She will stand purring on the arm of a chair with her fore paws on your leg, but as soon as you try to encourage the back paws to move on as well, or to get her to sit down, she is instantly off.

But at last, R is making some real progress.  He has now got her doing an unrestricted four paw stand, and even an “active assist” knee sit (this means holding her in place).

So maybe soon we will get her to be a laptop.  This would please my Mum who was thrilled to actually get a head butt from Amber the last time she was here (before that she had only seen her as a rapidly retreating tail in the distance).