I love writing about my baby cat Gracie, not a baby at all but now about 7-8
years old. I adopted her when she was 1-2 years old, so she has been here a
while. She was a pregnant young adult who had her kittens in the summer of
2001 and had been at the shelter for four months when I adopted her.

At first, would accept petting, and was very friendly and inquisitive, but
never sought us out for affection.

After about a year here, she began coming to me when I was in bed,
approaching me with a series of little questioning meows. She'd get up on
the bed down at my feet and slowly approach my head, pausing until I
responded, giving her a sign that I wanted her to come up and lie down next
to me. If I did not, or just pretended to keep sleeping, she would peer at
me for a minute, make another little chirp, and move away.

Just this past year, after being here for five years, she stopped asking
permission and now approaches with a different tone, like an "Okay, here I
am, let the petting begin!" She just marches right up, plops down beside me
and headbutts my hand until I pet her. If I stop and start to fall asleeep
she headbutts me again.

I get less sleep but I love that she is this comfortable. :) I have
convinced her that she is mine and I am hers, and she has a right to me.

Something about the way trust builds over time makes these adult adoptees
very special, and every step closer even more cherished.