Mollie (was Maltie) and Ester's diary

Thursday 1^st: Picked them up from their foster-mum's in the afternoon. Two very frightened little cats who did not want to go into their carry baskets. Not a peep out of them during the drive home – probably too scared. Lots of advice from fosterer, who had put little blankets in their beds which were transferred to the carry baskets, so that they had their smell on them. She also gave us the 'clean' litter out of their trays to put in with our's so that that had the right smell too – very good idea that we would never have thought of.

Took them into the room which we had prepared with a variety of beds, cushions, beanbag, toys, scratching post etc.,where we were going to put them until they got used to us rather than just letting them out with access to everywhere in the house. Mollie shot out of her basket and was off round the room looking for somewhere to hide. Ester stayed in her's. We left them alone for a few moments whilst we got some dry food and water to put in their room. Tried to tempt them with a few prawns, but they weren't having any!

Ester was still in her basket when we returned and Mollie had managed to get behind a piece of furniture, but came out when we spotted at her and shot back into the carry basket. Added 'their' cat litter to the litter tray and left them again for a while to settle in. Went back again a little later and Mollie was still exploring and had found the windowsill, which was good as it will give them something to look at until they brave the rest of the house. Ester was still in the carry basket so took her out and she ran into one of the beds with a hood – but the one with the blanket from Mollie's bed. She stayed there, and Mollie was in her carry basket with the blanket over it. I sat in the room, talking quietly to them. Mollie came out to explore again, but if I moved a finger she shot back into the carry basket again. Ester didn't seem to mind being stroked in her bed, but Mollie shied away from any contact at first, however she did tolerate her neck and ears rubbed later in the evening as long as she was in the carry basket. I or Graham kept going back during the evening to sit with them and talk to them quietly for short periods, then leaving them alone for a while. Took them a variety of food, including some of the chicken we had for tea, and left them alone in the hope they would eat it.

Graham popped in to say goodnight, then I sat with them a little while before going to bed, with only a dim light showing in the room. Talked to them, and fussed Ester in her bed and was rewarded with a purr which was lovely. Also rubbed Mollie's ears and neck whilst she was in the carry basket (which she seemed to have decided was her domain). No purring, but she did respond by closing her eyes and pushing against my hand. Felt we were getting somewhere.

Friday 2^nd: Graham was up first so went in to see the cats and to see whether they had eaten anything. A little of the dry food had gone and they had used their litter trays, and it looked like they had been playing with some of the toys. However, Mollie had lost confidence over night, and shot behind the furniture again. Ester was still in her bed.

I spent some time with them and took them fresh food and water and left it with them, hoping they would eat. When I went back to sort out their litter trays they hadn't shown any interest in the food, which was a bit worrying. Decided to take Ester out of her bed as we hadn't seen her out of it, and also wanted to check her eye as fosterer had told us she had had a blocked tear duct, and I wanted to see if it needed bathing. Thought I might be able to brush her, but she didn't like it and went back to a bed – the other one this time, so brushed her a little in her bed.

Graham was out, so spent lots of time, on and off, with the cats during the day and was rewarded with more purrs from Ester and found that Mollie really likes a fuss too, and got a purr from her as well, and lots of rolling and squirming However, only when she was in her carry basket! Later in the day she would start to come out of the basket when I was stroking her, but then would realise what she had done and go back in again! Was beginning to get a bit concerned that neither had eaten very much so brought them some fresh food which I gave to them in their beds and was relieved that they both ate some. Tried them again with the prawns, hand feeding them. Ester seemed to think they were creatures from another planet and turned her nose up very delicately! Mollie poked at her's, hooked it with her claw and batted it around the basket - quite funny to watch but had to take it out again as she kept hiding it in the bedding, and if we had both lost it there would have been a delightful smell by morning.

I am sitting typing this in the room with them and they are both having a snooze after their little bit of food. Hopefully they will have some more when I leave them alone again.

I really feel we have made lots of progress in 24 hours and they are beginning to trust me. Graham is going to have to work a bit harder tomorrow though, as he has been out all day.

I was particularly worried about Mollie as she seemed at first to be so wild and wary, and thought she might not be a cat who could be fussed – which would have been OK if that was how she was – but now I think she is going to be as soppy as we are! Ester is still keeping to her bed when I am in the room, but she seems much more relaxed now, so hopefully will come out to see me soon. I can't wait for the time when they can explore other bits of the house and chase around like mad things, but we will take it at their pace. However, after only 24 hours I think it will happen. Haven't heard either of them meow yet but hopefully they will start making the little greeting sounds our previous cats used to make once they really make themselves at home.

Saturday 3^rd & Sunday 4^th: Spent lots of time with them on and off, fussing them in their beds and talking to them. Still looking frightened when we go into the room but settle down very quickly. Mollie is much the bolder of the two, coming out of her 'house' to explore whilst we are in the room. Ester keeps to her bed when we are there, but comes out for a little when stroked, then goes back in! However, they do come out to play, particularly late evening and night as we can hear them thundering around the room chasing each other. If we go in whilst they are playing they hide in Mollie's house (still the carry-basket with the blanket over it) and there they are, sitting upright side by side and staring back at you. They do come out again if stroked and fussed.

No worries about going out and leaving them as they sleep mostly during the day. They are now eating enthusiastically.

Monday 5^th: Mollie is beginning to take an interest in what is outside their room – looking through the door with lots of head-bobbing when we go in or out. Bought some more toys for them, and a frame with a base with a hidey-hole and a platform with a dangly ball attached. Their favourite thing is a mouse on a string which squeaks when it is patted or jumped on. I don't leave this with them, but will spend time playing with them each evening

Tuesday 6th: Both getting more trusting every day. Ester now comes out of her bed when stroked and stays out for a fuss. Mollie purrs and rolls over and squirms when stroked. Decided to leave the door open a little so that they could come out if they wanted, but shutting the rest of the house off so that they could only come down into the sitting room. However, only left it open for about an hour, as they hid in Mollie's house and didn't play, and I didn't want to spoil their fun!

Wednesday 7^th: Left their door open wider and for longer, and Mollie came out and halfway down the stairs. Ester was also on the landing, but shot back into the room if we went up the stairs.

Thursday 8^th: Impossible to believe that we have only had them for a week, they are now so much part of our lives. Left the door to their room open all evening and night so that they could explore if they wanted, without us being there. They obviously did as I could hear them chasing each other up and down the stairs. Signs the next morning that they had a good old play - nothing broken or damaged, but things moved a bit.

Friday 9^th: More of the same, except Mollie now comes down the stairs in the evening, particularly to stare at the fish-tank. She can't work out why she can't touch the fish through the glass. It seems they now can't wait for us to go to bed before they are down to play. Came out of the bathroom and couldn't see either of them. Looked down the stairs to find Mollie sprawled out halfway down and Ester at the bottom crouched and wiggling her bottom ready to pounce. Went to bed and left them to it.

Saturday 10^th & Sunday 11^th: Leaving their door open all the time now so they can come down if they want. Mollie comes down when we are there in the evening, but Ester only ventures as far as the stairs. Back to work tomorrow but not worried about leaving them as I work at home for part of the day, so only out for a few hours, when they snooze.

Monday 11^th: Had to get up early to give time to feed the cats and attend to their litter trays before work. They seem to find this fascinating and sit watching me with their paws tucked under – supervising the servants! Mollie is now taking a great interest in the rooms which are behind closed doors. She often follows me downstairs when I take their dishes down to wash, and tries to follow me into the kitchen. However, trying to keep her out as I don't want to force the pace with Ester. Showing a similar interest in getting into our bedroom, which I am trying to keep them out of!

Tuesday 12^th: Had a 30 second cuddle with each of them today. Although they both love a fuss, they have not been keen on being picked up. They didn't struggle as much this time and allowed a little fuss but I didn't push it. Will continue to do this for gradually increasing times so they get used to being handled.

Mollie now coming down to the sitting room quite frequently when we are there, to inspect the fish-tank and the TV. Even sits down and tucks her paws under for a while. Ester still doesn't come further than the top of the stairs whilst we are there, although she is off down the stairs with Mollie when we go to bed.

Wednesday 13^th: Mollie shot into the bedroom when I was coming out tonight. Had to chase her round the room and out, but she got a good look around, which was what she seemed to want. She is a very nosey little cat!

Played with them with squeaky mouse on the landing and stairs to try to encourage Ester to venture further. She is always a little behind Mollie in being bold and confident, although when they play she is very able to hold her own against Mollie in the rough and tumble, even though Mollie is much bigger and heavier.

Thursday 14^th: Graham up first today as I am not at work and Mollie obviously tried to get into the bedroom again as I heard him saying 'No, go on' as he went through the door. Mollie followed me downstairs when I got up to feed them, and dashed through into the kitchen when I came back through the door with their dishes. Had a good look round and then came out and followed me upstairs, probably because she could smell the food.

Glad I had taped up the switch on the catflap to the garden. There is one which doesn't lock from the kitchen into the conservatory, and Mollie had a good sniff at that, so it probably won't be long before she hops through it. The one in the conservatory is locked, but when my old cat was quite ill a while back, we locked it and left him a litter tray as I didn't want him to go out at night. However when I got up the next morning I couldn't find him, and found that he had managed to flick the switch on the catflap so that he could get out. Unfortunately he had flicked it so that it locked from the outside, and he then couldn't get back in. There I was, dashing around the neighbourhood in my nightie trying to find him! He came back quite soon, and recovered quickly, but I wouldn't like Mollie or Ester to escape and not be able to get back in as they might panic and run away, so the catflap will be firmly taped up for the moment. I am sure it won't be long before they will be exploring the garden, and then the neighbourhood, but I need to be sure that they know where home is first.

Some of the advantages of getting adult cats from Cat's Protection:

1. They are trained to use a litter tray! BIG plus. When we had our previous cats as kittens, they pee'd everywhere at first. I bought one of those sprays to try to deter them, but they seemed to like it and pee'd more!

2. Both Mollie and Ester had been neutered, chipped, blood-tested, and had all their innoculations before they came to us. Although we made a donation which hopefully covered at least some of the cost, it means we don't have to disturb them and interrupt their settling in by putting them back into boxes and taking them to the Vet. By the time we have to do that they should be well settled in and trusting us, so it will be less traumatic for them, and us.

3. Lots of advice about how best to settle them in and let them acclimatise at their own pace. It is quite difficult to have patience and just let them come to you when they are ready, but once they start doing this it feels such a privilege and an honour that it is worth it. It is also such a joy to watch them become more trusting and confident, and they provide endless entertainment.

I am sure there are lots more advantages, but this is what we have found in just 2 weeks.

Although our previous kittens were born wild on a farm, we still needed lots of advice to settle adult cats into our home, which Cat's Protection provided, and we haven't had to search the house for them as we did with the kittens for the first week or so. Because they were kittens they could also squeeze into much smaller spaces, making them difficult to find - and get out again. We loved them to bits though, and lost the last one just before Christmas at the grand old age of seventeen and a half. It didn't seem right to immediately replace him, but it was pretty strange not having a cat about the place. But now we have, and two little sweethearts who hopefully will have a long and happy life with us.

Mollie and Ester's new mum