One Step At a Time

So, Cami is the new addition to our family.  She is a cat about 2 years old and we have had her for almost one week.  Many thanks to Deb from Mending Heart for matching our family up with the perfect cat for us.  If anyone is looking at get a cat, give Mending Hearts a call.  They can help you find the right one for you. 

Cami came into our lives, and everything changed.  And to be honest change is difficult and scary.  For Cami, she was taken out of her place of comfort and familiarity, transported into a car, and placed into a totally new home, that had new smells, new sounds, new territories.  And what romped around the home was a big 95lb yellow lab named Suzie. 

For Cami to feel safe and comfortable, we took baby steps.  We placed her in a separate room from Suzie.  We basically placed a gate between the living room and dining room.  Suzie had access to the living room and everything upstairs, while Cami, the new kitty, had access to the kitchen and dining room.  The gate allowed both cat and dog to see each other but not be in each other’s faces. 

Cami came home and Suzie was super excited to have a friend.  Cami… not so much.  Cami came to our home scared.  She spent the first few hours hiding in the kitchen, under a shelving unit.  And soon, she moved into a little cubby area in her cat tree, in the dining room and stayed there all evening.  At night she came out, when everyone was upstairs, found her litter box, which she enjoys tossing litter around… yay for me… and used the nighttime and darkness to explore her safe place. 

In the morning, she was meowing and immediately crawled into my lap and started to play with her toys and with the kids.  She learned that she is super gentle and loves to explore.  Then after a couple of days, we would open the gate because we started to notice that Cami was getting more comfortable.  So now the cat and dog will be able to interact without a barrier.  Suzie, excited, but patient, waited for Cami.  Cami cautiously navigated new territories, going around Suzie, avoiding her, and occasionally, hissing at her.  Which was normal, I assume.  I didn’t expect Cami to warm up to Suzie so quickly.  But I was surprised at how well she navigates and explores the house, downstairs and upstairs.  Also impressed, how Suzie just stays calm and watches her. 

When we had to leave the home, we put Cami back into the safe rooms and closed the gate.  But after Sunday, we took away all barriers after I saw how Cami got close to Suzie without any fear.  Cami is still not excited about Suzie, but I think this relationship between the two will warm up at some point. 

But I learned a lot from observing Cami and how she quickly adjusted to change and how she overcomes fear.  Cami came into our home with a lot to fear about.  Every new noise startled her, a big dog is scary, unfamiliar territory is unnerving. 

Cami could live her life always in fear.  Running away and scampering away from all that scares her, but she doesn’t.  One step at a time, she moved forward, towards what gives her fear to learn and adapt and overcome.  Can we all be brave like Cami?  Yes, we can!  We can overcome our fear, one step at a time.  We can have the power to adapt to our environment when it changes.  We can have the power to be active to what gives us fear.  Even if it means we must be a bit brave.  But bravery is about moving forward, making big decisions, and taking the steps necessary to not overcome fear, but defeat fear. 

Sometimes, we must learn to take risks, like Cami.  Risks are costly.  It can cost our lives, time, and money.  But when we face fear, we have to choose.  Run and hide or Move forward and do whatever it takes to live free from fear.  

---