Simon is the older Siamese I adopted a week ago Friday, and his first
few days were a litle ragged tho he appeared to want to trust me.
Contacts with the other cats were tentative at best;  disappointing
since he was supposed to used to others.  And he would run some when I
approached and cringe when I reached to pet him.  That's the bad news.

Last Tuesday I inadvertantly left the front door open and discovered him
out on the deck.  He came when I called him and I rewarded him with some
food.  That's good, because I wanted him to be able to go in and out by
the time I left for the weekend.  He did enjoy being outside but didn't
learn the catdoor by Friday.  He was still shy with me but purring a lot
and seemed to be on the bonding path.  The other cats did some warning
hisses but no troubles.

So.  My neighbor was going to look in Saturday and gladly no calls from
him;  we got back late Sunday - no Simon.  No signs, no cries - just
what I feared.  At 11 we were just sitting around tho I was really short
on sleep and would rather have been in bed - when from the deck there
rose such a clatter I sprang to my feet to find was the matter.

Simon of course.  He tried to jump through the barely-open living room
window and he started talking as soon as I opened the door and he ran
in.  He had found how to go out the catdoor but not in!  He was really
happy to be inside and that I hadn't run off and deserted him!  Since
then he's been doting on me, no cringeing and he even accepted the
sheets pulled over him and lots of noises being made in his ears.  Many
headbutts to my face and even a nose nip.  He went out yesterday with no
fear and when he walked round to the front I greeted him with some
wadded up catnip leaves.  Which he loved, with Willie on the other end
of the step doing the same.  So his adventure resulted in, apparently,
acceptance of his home and hoomin.  I even was able to feed him near
the others breakfasting.  Today, if the opportunity presents, I'll let
him see them playing with the wand and see if Play is understood.  Norm

--
"In 2005, the refining margin...has exceeded $20 per barrel, far above
the long-term average of $6.  That has meant record profits for oil
companies and refiners"  NYT 2005/09/11