I enter the room and Torah rises from her bed. She greets me for the first time with a welcome headbump on my legs. Marking me by saying; “You are now mine- I trust you.” I smile down at her and greet her with gentle pets. Her fur still feels coarse and unhealthy. I know she has a long way to go yet.

I set down her food. I have pureed for her some fancy feast, fish oil, L-Lysine and Nancy’s yogurt. She takes a few laps and then backs away. That is when the pacing begins.

The room isn’t small by any means. Our bedroom contains three dressers, one California King bed, An end table and a huge closet. She paces the entire room back and forth, much like a lion in a small cage at the zoo. She doesn’t step on the persian rug though. She stops right at the edge and demands my attention (I am making the bed) a loud meow says “Mom look! Pay Attention!” I walk over to her (I am on the rug) That is when I hear the crunch of kibble under my feet. She has overturned her plate of dry food in the night. The kibble blends with the rug so it is not noticeable until you step on it. I find it annoying and I am only barefoot! How she must feel being without any protection on her paws. I quickly sweep it up leaving her a clean path to her bed.

Pace…pace…pace… all around the room yet again. I change the litter pans though they were just changed yesterday. That wasn’t it. I change her bedding…..nope- not that either. This is the most active I have seen Torah and her tail is now switching with anger. I am left wondering- what in the world set this all off?

Then I remember the food. I pureed it because her mouth is riddled with sores and I know it must hurt to chew.

I fetch up the bowl of slop and replace it with just canned food and a bit of water. She goes over to it and bends down to eat. So much for babying this courageous cat!

By the time I am done tidying the room, she has settled in her bed. I stop to pet her and tell her how sorry I am for being such a dunce and not “getting” it right away. She looks up at me and headbumps my arm. For now, all is forgiven and I leave her in peace shutting the door on my way out. She needs no more stress in her life right now and there is a line of curious kitties outside the bedroom door wanting to meet her. That may come in time….