Have Stick Toy - Will Travel

06/03/2024

I would add those vet notes were not without cause. He woke up from surgery blind and terrified. We're so glad he got further evaluation and a second chance which in many shelters he would not have gotten.

20/01/2024

Do not sit down near Chef if you have anything to do soon. We've been like this nearly 30 minutes. Good thing I went to the bathroom before I sat down.

07/12/2023

I'm not sure Chef can be any more relaxed.

30/11/2023

When lap time turns into nap time. 😻

27/11/2023

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

Six months ago Chef was newly blind, thought to be feral, and being considered for euthanasia. After all, what quality of life is a blind feral going to have?

Today he's as affectionate as any animal in our menagerie and recently declared himself a lap cat. He's also, as of today, a PERMANENT resident in Casa Butler Norris.

Please congratulate the newest member of our household, Chef Robert Irvine!

19/11/2023

Up until recently, if I lifted Chef onto my lap, his attitude was, "Thanks, but no thanks." In the last week or so, my butt barely hits the floor before he's climbing aboard.

11/11/2023

I helped him up here and I'm sure he'll need some help down, at least this time, but this is Chef's first time on the couch with us and he sure is comfy. 😻😻

08/11/2023

Since Chef has been in our home, he's only ventured more than a few feet out of his room one time and that was a couple of months ago. I attribute that hesitance to his impaired hearing. He hears fine but I've figured out that he has problems determining the direction of the sound. That has to make exploration feel less secure and I've been pondering ways to integrate him into the rest house.

Tonight, without our intervention, Chef has found his way into the living room where he's spent the last hour or so. I just looked up and there he was. He's met our dog Huck (Chef is still figuring him out but he hasn't been freaked out by the pokey nose), got a good bit of loving, and spent a lot of time play wrestling with other cats.

Age caught up with our 16ish year old senior cat today so it's been a sad day but this feels like such a big step for Chef and has seriously uplifted our spirits tonight.

26/09/2023

Klondike Bar?? What Chef wouldn't do for chin and jaw scratches!

24/09/2023

Chef has a career path as a furry, purry pillow.

12/09/2023

Chef has a playful streak.

01/09/2023

I picked up the purry boy and set him on my lap. He only stayed a couple of minutes but first he settled right in and continued loving the loving.

30/08/2023

30/08/2023

The ever so tentative beginnings of a friendship? 🤞🤞

29/08/2023

Chef: Welcome home Papa Mitch! Rubz my belly!

28/08/2023

Turn up your volume. ❤️

28/08/2023

I get the distinct impression Chef is happy I'm home from work.

27/08/2023

Chef belly. At some point I'll be brave enough to pet it. Tonight is not that night. 🤔

26/08/2023

I can now confirm Chef has a working motor and will run it in my presence.

We. Have. PURRING. 🎉🥳🕺🕺🥳🎉

26/08/2023

Chef has decided he has a future as a cuddly boy. Now I'm just waiting for the first audible purr.

26/08/2023

Chef was pretty congested and feeling bad with a URI for a couple of days this week but the nebulizer and antibiotics are working their magic. Since he didn't eat much for a couple of days, I was able to see how he fared without Gabapentin. He did fine so that hasn't been resumed.

Our gabby-free boy ventured out of his carrier on his own this morning for the first time. Any concern how he would react to that have been dispelled. He's catting with barely a care in the world.

22/08/2023

Chef has decided if forehead, ear, cheek, or chin scratches are involved, I'm not the devil. Tonight was also the first time he was relaxed enough with me to groom like this while being petted. He's starting to cat and it's glorious to see.

More chin scratches in the video in the comments.

14/08/2023

More firsts for Chef last night:

* He really leaned into my hand for scratches. Multiple times over an extended period.
* He welcomed jaw and partial chin scratches.
* At one point he was relaxed enough to stand up and have a good stretch.

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Onward!!!

13/08/2023

Anyone else notice that exposed belly? ❤️❤️

13/08/2023

Chef still has his, "Bad touchie! No touchie!" moments but his posture and positioning is looking so much more relaxed.

11/08/2023

And then Chef hissed at Wilma and the beautiful moment came to an end. 😂

Today marks the first day Chef has shown interest and curiosity in his surroundings and he's becoming more relaxed while being petted. As you can see (and hear... so much purring), Pebbles and Wilma are getting to explore in his crate while I'm there and, while he's not their buddy yet, them and their purring seem to be calming for him.

04/08/2023

Chef's still not sure that he likes it, or if he even should, but we've progressed past the stick toy petting.

03/08/2023

Chef's still a little grumbly (that's kitten purring in the background) but this is as relaxed as he's been with me petting him. He didn't even flinch when there was a sudden noise outside his crate.

Progress. Slow progress but progress nevertheless.

30/07/2023

And so it begins...

Also me telling Wilma that Chef doesn't want kitten visitors right now.

29/07/2023

Please welcome Chef Robert Irvine, our newest APA foster. Chef is two to three years old and recently lost both eyes to an injury. He's still learning his new normal and is a very scared fellow right now. He hasn't realized yet his journey is just beginning and he's going to get some much needed quiet time to start acclimating to a house environment.