The 3-3-3 Timeline...

 

• First 3 Days: Decompression & Shock
  • Your cat may be scared, overwhelmed, and hide.
  • They are getting used to new sights, sounds, and smells.
  • How to help: Set up a small, safe room with essentials (food, water, litter box, bed) and let them come to you.
• First 3 Weeks: Settling In & Routine
  • They begin to explore their safe space and learn the household routine.
  • Their true personality starts to emerge, but they might still test boundaries.
  • How to help: Establish consistent feeding and playtimes; gradually introduce them to more of the house.
• First 3 Months: Fully Home & Bonded
  • They feel secure, confident, and comfortable in their environment.
  • A strong bond and trusting relationship should be forming.
  • How to help: Continue providing enrichment and affection; this is when they truly settle in and claim the home as their own.
    
     

I think we are ahead of schedule.  Stella has explored the living room.  The catio is her safe space, and she seems quite content to eat, use the litter box, and sleep overnight in there.  She lets us reach in to pet her (that didn't happen right away).

She still growls when you hold her in your arms, wrapped in a soft blanket.  It's quite cute.  I like to call it "aggressive purring."  ;-)

Sitting on the racetrack...

 She doesn't have the strong, confident cat posture, yet.  Sleeping in the toy basket...

 It makes my heart happy to see her sleep like this.  I have to think that restful sleep was tough to come by in her former life.  When awake, she is very playful, trying out all the cat toys.

We are letting Stella and Murphy be together, under our watchful eye.  Murphy will on occasion "stalk" her.  But, if he gets too close when he's in that mode, Stella will puff up and growl.  She has a big voice for being a tiny cat.

Detente... Murphy was in Stella's face a time or twelve this morning.  We separated them for a while, then let them get back together again.  With some space...

 Murphy wants to play.  Stella isn't sure, yet, when that BIG cat gets close to her.  Then, she will turn around and run up towards him.  It's a process.