A Major Announcement

My little funny face.

When I adopted Betsy she was three years old and had lived with the same people her entire life. I re-named her Betsy. Betsy never learned to respond to her new name. There was a broken bridge between us that I couldn't find a way to mend. She is sweet, playful and responsive; but there has always been a distance that I didn't understand. She knows the routines of the house and races me up to bed every night but never stayed. 

I have always cracked up with her funny faces that change literally from second to second.
These two photos were actually one second apart. 

Four nights ago I spent some time with Betsy and, messing with her, called her Poppy — her first given name — and 

BOOM! 

She became alert, gave me eye contact, relaxed and opened up. I continued to talk to her with that name, and everything has changed. She takes no guff from Nell anymore (who can be a bully occasionally) and even inspects Lucy for smells from the outside and for doggie dirt on her face; just like Nell does. She comes to me when I call her by name; and comes quickly!

I have a new cat living with me.

When she came to bed that night, she slept closer to me and stayed longer. She now stays the night. She reaches for my hand for rubs and pets. She purrs more. She has chirped at me!

I swear that she felt invisible before and now feels seen. Can this even be true? Have any of you had this experience?

So Betsy is now officially Poppy. Again. 

Feline Friday at
Comedy Plus

_/\_/\_