It is just three weeks since Gizmo arrived in our home......and it feels like he has been here forever.
I wasn't sure how he would be when we left him for a while on Christmas Eve....just while we did a present run and some last minute shopping (not for us - for a couple of pensioners who live in our street).
If I am honest, I have to say I wanted to get back to the house as soon as possible......just to make sure that a) he hadn't sunk his teeth into the leather of the sofa, and b) that Pasha hadn't attacked him and got his eye out on one of her claws.
I know we had been reassured that he had a very placid temperament, but having been on his own and then having had a night of company and cuddles I thought he might get a bit anxious or lonely.
I was pleased to find that when we got back home he was sprawled out on the sofa....and that as we made our way up the yard he gave a very masculine bark.
He greeted us like we had been away for a week rather than the 90 minutes or so......and more so when he realised we had gifts for him......biscuits, a hide chewy bone.....and a squeaky toy(which he tore into bits in two shakes).
In the first couple of days he was with us he fell down the last three steps of the stairs....and developed a phobia for coming down......going up was no problem, but coming down - he really didn't want to know.
I carried him down a couple of times but he is a heavy lump so I told him he would have to get used to our steep stairs.
He liked going to bed......and if we weren't there he would burrow under the bedclothes.
In the first few days I made the bed a few times to later find that it was just like someone had slept in it a couple of hours later...well, they had....it was Gizmo!
Hubby took the lad out on long walks and was asked Gizmo's name a few times...he couldn't remember Gizmo....and called him names like Cosmo, Bisto, Rosco and others which I can't now bring to mind.
He talked about changing Gizmo's name, but I said it would not be fair...he had lived with that name for 6 years he should keep his name........I think he has just about got to grips with it now.
And the cats....well, today for the first time we left the white cat and Gizmo in the living room together while we went out....and there were no mishaps....the white cat has started coming to the door first thing in a morning to be fed and he will come in even if he can see Gizmo.
Pasha still looks at Gizmo with ill concealed disdain....and will still take a swipe at him if she thinks she can get away with it....and Gizmo has a scab on his nose to prove it.
Pasha Gizmo and hubby were all asleep on the sofa last night...and if the batteries in my camera had had some life in them, there would be a picture on here to prove it.
We know that Gizmo will sit up and beg....he will 'ask' for a biscuit....and he is an inveterate scrounger. He sits there while we are having dinner with saliva dribbling off his chin....so much so, that tonight he was given his own roast beef dinner......and is now lying contentedly with his legs up in the air, on the sofa.
Three weeks...that is all it has taken for this little chap to worm his way into our hearts.
I wasn't sure how he would be when we left him for a while on Christmas Eve....just while we did a present run and some last minute shopping (not for us - for a couple of pensioners who live in our street).
If I am honest, I have to say I wanted to get back to the house as soon as possible......just to make sure that a) he hadn't sunk his teeth into the leather of the sofa, and b) that Pasha hadn't attacked him and got his eye out on one of her claws.
I know we had been reassured that he had a very placid temperament, but having been on his own and then having had a night of company and cuddles I thought he might get a bit anxious or lonely.
I was pleased to find that when we got back home he was sprawled out on the sofa....and that as we made our way up the yard he gave a very masculine bark.
He greeted us like we had been away for a week rather than the 90 minutes or so......and more so when he realised we had gifts for him......biscuits, a hide chewy bone.....and a squeaky toy(which he tore into bits in two shakes).
In the first couple of days he was with us he fell down the last three steps of the stairs....and developed a phobia for coming down......going up was no problem, but coming down - he really didn't want to know.
I carried him down a couple of times but he is a heavy lump so I told him he would have to get used to our steep stairs.
He liked going to bed......and if we weren't there he would burrow under the bedclothes.
In the first few days I made the bed a few times to later find that it was just like someone had slept in it a couple of hours later...well, they had....it was Gizmo!
Hubby took the lad out on long walks and was asked Gizmo's name a few times...he couldn't remember Gizmo....and called him names like Cosmo, Bisto, Rosco and others which I can't now bring to mind.
He talked about changing Gizmo's name, but I said it would not be fair...he had lived with that name for 6 years he should keep his name........I think he has just about got to grips with it now.
And the cats....well, today for the first time we left the white cat and Gizmo in the living room together while we went out....and there were no mishaps....the white cat has started coming to the door first thing in a morning to be fed and he will come in even if he can see Gizmo.
Pasha still looks at Gizmo with ill concealed disdain....and will still take a swipe at him if she thinks she can get away with it....and Gizmo has a scab on his nose to prove it.
Pasha Gizmo and hubby were all asleep on the sofa last night...and if the batteries in my camera had had some life in them, there would be a picture on here to prove it.
We know that Gizmo will sit up and beg....he will 'ask' for a biscuit....and he is an inveterate scrounger. He sits there while we are having dinner with saliva dribbling off his chin....so much so, that tonight he was given his own roast beef dinner......and is now lying contentedly with his legs up in the air, on the sofa.
Three weeks...that is all it has taken for this little chap to worm his way into our hearts.
