A month ago, my best friend asked me to take in a rescue she had adopted because it turns out her partner is highly allergic to kitties. I've never had cats before, only a dog, but I had meet and interacted with Mochi before. This is going to be a long post, because I love talking about Mochi, and this is all so new to me. There will be lots of pics, and some videos. And please, please share your cat adoption stories!
Mochi was found on the street at three weeks and has had four homes (including ours) in one short year. When I would visit my friend's house, she would hide for hours and only come out if she thought we weren't watching her.
This is her before I even knew I would be taking her in. Luckily, despite her shyness, she decided to sit next to me when we did stuff like watch movies.
Coming Home
When it came time to bring her home, we knew it was going to be tough for her. Unsurprisingly, she ran and hid for the first few hours. But my friend stayed with us for most of the day, and that seemed to give her enough confidence to start exploring! A big step considering she didn't explore my friend's apartment for quite a few days.
Even after my friend went home, Mochi kept exploring, although she did alternate going back into hiding. We gave her space. The breakthrough came when I was on the bed doing laundry. I went out of the room to get something, and came back to see her lounging on the laundry pile. She ran back under once I came in, but soon enough I heard some purring from the laundry pile next to me! I offered her my hand for a sniff and she reacted well, so I got in a pet.
Mochi looking out the bedroom window that first night. (Don't worry, there's a screen.)
Looking out the window on second day once she got comfortable around my partner.
The next day, she was more confident, wanting to explore. I would sit and offer my hand, and she would bunt it with both sides of her face which is now our ritual greeting. She even jumped onto my lap while I was working and napped! One of the best moments of my life. (Unfortunately, she hasn't done it since then, but she will nap under the desk or next to me on her bed. I captured it on camera at least.)
Mochi has come a long way since that first day. She is still very shy with strangers, but I do believe she loves my partner and me and feels at home.
How many toes beans?
You might have noticed in some pictures that she has very large paws! That's because she is polydactyly, which I didn't even know was a thing before meeting her. She has an extra toe on each of her paws. She is decidedly less graceful than other cats, but it doesn't stop her from wanting to climb literally everything she can.
Maaa-reep!
Mochi is very vocal, spending her day chirping and meeping at us. They are very soft, but plentiful. She will announce herself when she walks into a room, when she jumps on a piece of furniture like the bed, ask for closet doors to be opened, greet you at the door, ask to play, etc. If she were a Pokemon, she would be a Mareep because that's one of her calling cards. And if she rubs on the couch while getting pet, she builds up static and shocks you. She also answers to her name and meeps. She doesn't usually come, but if you say "Mochi!" you are likely to hear a corresponding meep coming from a room to let you know where she is, and if you meep at her, she will meep back. I need to catch it on video one day.
Hard to Please Game Critic
Mochi would fit right in on ResetEra. She loves, loves her games, but she is very critical! Playtime is serious business, and if it is not up to her standards, she will not engage. We've watched videos of cats playing with their wand toys, and it looks so easy. Just wave it in front of them, and they'll go wild. Mochi requires a well the3q2ought-out simulation, with realistic and non-repetitive gameplay. (The random keys in "thought" are from Mochi running over my keyboard, trying to get at a disc of cardboard that my partner is throwing around.) The most basic game she enjoys is chasing after balls or her cardboard disc, although typically she doesn't try to "catch" them. She will run after, then meep at us to throw the ball again in a different direction. But beyond that, we need to have her toys run, hide, slither, jump, climb, and so on before she will wiggle her butt and go in for a pounce!
Online, it says cats should play between 20 to 60 minutes a day, in 10-15 minute bursts. Mochi can go for hour-long sessions, and probably averages at 2 hours of playtime a day. Once she is too tired out to run around, she enjoys more cerebral play like hiding behind objects to catch toys or finding them under towels and blankets. If you stop too early, she will go rummage around her toy basket or keep playing by herself.
Of course, nothing beats watching birbs from the window.
The Sink is Her Favorite
Mochi has recently learned that water comes out of sink faucets, and will now sit at the sink at least a half a dozen times a day, contemplating it. Sometimes we will turn it on for her so that she can paw and bite at the water. (And get her cheek super wet in the process.) Before this, the tub was the most exciting thing in the apartment. After every shower, she would come in to inspect what happened. But she's still to scared to come in when the shower is running. I'll leave the door ajar so that she gets used to the sound, and sometimes I'll see her poke her head in. (Speaking of the bathroom, she will meow and wait at the door when I go in by myself.)
Bedtime is My Favorite
Mochi isn't a lap cat, but she does like to go on blankets next to you, knead, and take a nap. At night, once I've settled into bed, she will meep to announce that she is coming up to "tuck me in". She will knead on me (over a blanket, if I'm lucky), cuddle, then jump off. A little bit later, she will come for a final kneading and settle in either at my side or between my legs, and begin her purring. It is literally the highlight of my day. If we stay up too late, she'll start complaining and guiding me to go to bed. She'll sleep through most of the night until dawn, when it's time for breakfast and she will cuddle and meep to get us out of bed.
I could go on forever, but I will spare you all. I've loved my time with Mochi so far and am so excited to spend many years with her. We are also looking to get her a kitty friend, since she has always lived with at least another cat that she enjoyed hanging out and playing with. I'll be sure to post about that if / when we find a good fit for her.
If you've stuck with me to now, please share your cat adoption stories!
Mochi was found on the street at three weeks and has had four homes (including ours) in one short year. When I would visit my friend's house, she would hide for hours and only come out if she thought we weren't watching her.
This is her before I even knew I would be taking her in. Luckily, despite her shyness, she decided to sit next to me when we did stuff like watch movies.
Coming Home
When it came time to bring her home, we knew it was going to be tough for her. Unsurprisingly, she ran and hid for the first few hours. But my friend stayed with us for most of the day, and that seemed to give her enough confidence to start exploring! A big step considering she didn't explore my friend's apartment for quite a few days.
Even after my friend went home, Mochi kept exploring, although she did alternate going back into hiding. We gave her space. The breakthrough came when I was on the bed doing laundry. I went out of the room to get something, and came back to see her lounging on the laundry pile. She ran back under once I came in, but soon enough I heard some purring from the laundry pile next to me! I offered her my hand for a sniff and she reacted well, so I got in a pet.
Mochi looking out the bedroom window that first night. (Don't worry, there's a screen.)
Looking out the window on second day once she got comfortable around my partner.
The next day, she was more confident, wanting to explore. I would sit and offer my hand, and she would bunt it with both sides of her face which is now our ritual greeting. She even jumped onto my lap while I was working and napped! One of the best moments of my life. (Unfortunately, she hasn't done it since then, but she will nap under the desk or next to me on her bed. I captured it on camera at least.)
Mochi has come a long way since that first day. She is still very shy with strangers, but I do believe she loves my partner and me and feels at home.
How many toes beans?
You might have noticed in some pictures that she has very large paws! That's because she is polydactyly, which I didn't even know was a thing before meeting her. She has an extra toe on each of her paws. She is decidedly less graceful than other cats, but it doesn't stop her from wanting to climb literally everything she can.
Maaa-reep!
Mochi is very vocal, spending her day chirping and meeping at us. They are very soft, but plentiful. She will announce herself when she walks into a room, when she jumps on a piece of furniture like the bed, ask for closet doors to be opened, greet you at the door, ask to play, etc. If she were a Pokemon, she would be a Mareep because that's one of her calling cards. And if she rubs on the couch while getting pet, she builds up static and shocks you. She also answers to her name and meeps. She doesn't usually come, but if you say "Mochi!" you are likely to hear a corresponding meep coming from a room to let you know where she is, and if you meep at her, she will meep back. I need to catch it on video one day.
Hard to Please Game Critic
Mochi would fit right in on ResetEra. She loves, loves her games, but she is very critical! Playtime is serious business, and if it is not up to her standards, she will not engage. We've watched videos of cats playing with their wand toys, and it looks so easy. Just wave it in front of them, and they'll go wild. Mochi requires a well the3q2ought-out simulation, with realistic and non-repetitive gameplay. (The random keys in "thought" are from Mochi running over my keyboard, trying to get at a disc of cardboard that my partner is throwing around.) The most basic game she enjoys is chasing after balls or her cardboard disc, although typically she doesn't try to "catch" them. She will run after, then meep at us to throw the ball again in a different direction. But beyond that, we need to have her toys run, hide, slither, jump, climb, and so on before she will wiggle her butt and go in for a pounce!
Online, it says cats should play between 20 to 60 minutes a day, in 10-15 minute bursts. Mochi can go for hour-long sessions, and probably averages at 2 hours of playtime a day. Once she is too tired out to run around, she enjoys more cerebral play like hiding behind objects to catch toys or finding them under towels and blankets. If you stop too early, she will go rummage around her toy basket or keep playing by herself.
Of course, nothing beats watching birbs from the window.
The Sink is Her Favorite
Mochi has recently learned that water comes out of sink faucets, and will now sit at the sink at least a half a dozen times a day, contemplating it. Sometimes we will turn it on for her so that she can paw and bite at the water. (And get her cheek super wet in the process.) Before this, the tub was the most exciting thing in the apartment. After every shower, she would come in to inspect what happened. But she's still to scared to come in when the shower is running. I'll leave the door ajar so that she gets used to the sound, and sometimes I'll see her poke her head in. (Speaking of the bathroom, she will meow and wait at the door when I go in by myself.)
Bedtime is My Favorite
Mochi isn't a lap cat, but she does like to go on blankets next to you, knead, and take a nap. At night, once I've settled into bed, she will meep to announce that she is coming up to "tuck me in". She will knead on me (over a blanket, if I'm lucky), cuddle, then jump off. A little bit later, she will come for a final kneading and settle in either at my side or between my legs, and begin her purring. It is literally the highlight of my day. If we stay up too late, she'll start complaining and guiding me to go to bed. She'll sleep through most of the night until dawn, when it's time for breakfast and she will cuddle and meep to get us out of bed.
I could go on forever, but I will spare you all. I've loved my time with Mochi so far and am so excited to spend many years with her. We are also looking to get her a kitty friend, since she has always lived with at least another cat that she enjoyed hanging out and playing with. I'll be sure to post about that if / when we find a good fit for her.
If you've stuck with me to now, please share your cat adoption stories!
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