It has been less than a month since the two kittens decided to make the underside of the bed their security cave.

Although there were times when I just wanted to peer under the bed and scoop these cuties into my lap, I refrained myself. I liken their hiding to how I felt when I was a kid. One of my relatives liked to hide in my bedroom closet and jump out and yell BOO at me when I was just about asleep. To this day, I cannot sleep with a closet door opened in the room and when we built our master closet, I begged Mike not to put doors on it- so he didn’t. We are all victims of our early experiences good or bad. I used to cower under the covers, figuring that if I couldn’t see the boogey man, he wasn’t there. It’s the same with the kittens. They can see the predator (me) at least my feet when I come into the room. They are in a dark place and no one can sneak up on them. I am not about to destroy the illusion. I kept to the schedule of feedings and litter pan scoopings and today both kitties, Scotty and Reese are out from under the bed and playing in the room!

I think the problem comes when people are working with unsocialized kittens that people are impatient. They want instant results. Perhaps they feel because they “saved” this kitten or cat from the “big bad outside,” the cat should be grateful, jump into their lap immediately purring and wanting a cuddle. It doesn’t work that way. Cats aren’t wired like that.

Here is Scotty, sorry about the red background but I only had the night light glowing. He is out from under the bed and enjoying his added space to roam in.