Romeo

I’ve been trying to look after Romeo – but it’s not very easy. For love of Snoopy, Romeo has developed some habits, which humans find obnoxious. For example: His habit of spraying everything every few steps was his way of marking ‘safe’ places where Snoopy could go – and making it possible for Snoopy to follow him. The sentiment behind it is as endearing as the result is disgusting – for us humans.

Rose and I thought this was his reason for spraying for a long time – but since Snoopy’s death, Romeo is spraying less … proving our theory. But it’s a bit like a human trying to quit biting their nails: a hard habit to break! He’s doing much better, though – quite often, you can see him lifting his tail against a wall and twitching his tail, as if he’s spraying – but nothing comes out. I believe that he understands how much I dislike the spray and he’s trying to break his habit. He isn’t, yet, always successful, though.

And, of course, he also feels the need to spray inside my home to mark it as his territory – to Mewthos, in particular. Mewthos now started swatting at Romeo every now and then – and now Romeo backs down, like Snoopy used to! He understands that this is not his home – however much he’d like it to be – but it is Mewthos’ home.

Another issue is his caterwauling. He used to use it as a means of calling Snoopy to follow him … of course, it is also his natural ‘mating’ call – though I’ve come to realise that it can also simply mean that he wants love. He is as starved for love and cuddles as Snoopy – except that he strongly dislikes being picked up.

It is so heartbreaking to see him come running when I call and snuggle as much as he can! When he comes around, and the food bowl is empty, I fill it – but he’s more interested in getting stroked than he is in the food. One time I was sitting in the garden, weeding, and he came running and crawled under my arms – being held!

After Snoopy’s death, when he showed up, he needed loads and loads of catnip to take the pain away – I went through a whole shaker of catnip just on him! He would just lick it up and roll around in the spot, drooling. And caterwaul – it was heartbreaking!

I try not to think about it, but considering everything Romeo did to keep Snoopy safe – I can only think that someone walked their dog without a leash! I can’t imagine Snoopy wandering into a yard with dogs – Romeo would never have marked that as a safe way. Also, Romeo was missing quite a chunk out of his tail – I fear he was there and tried to protect Snoopy. Snoopy, though, was not at all a fighter … and now I’m about to cry again. Which is why I try not to think about it.

I don’t know Romeo’s story, but I do think it must be a hard one. He is so … almost feral? Yet at the same time he craves loving attention. Until very recently, I have never seen his tail still – it is always twitching.

One time, he happened to be here when I used treats to shut the Mips inside, so I could go shopping. I left he window open, though – and Romeo went out as soon as he had finished his food!

He is slowly, slowly calming down in my home; he even naps here sometimes – rather than just walking around restlessly, caterwauling and spraying. He does let me pick him up some times, but it never takes long before he starts screaming to be let down. It’s the kind of screaming you would associate with claws and fight – yet he never, ever scratches me. Not even a little! Of course, in return, I never, ever touch his tummy – even when he rolls on his back!

If I don’t make enough time for him, he starts chasing Shadow and Ziva again. One time, he chased Ziva so far out on a limb, she was scared to come back down even after I had chased Romeo away! Rose tells me he was himself hanging by his paws off the branch earlier and nearly fell! Yet he never chases Lady Jane.

Some times they all tolerate each other nicely – even nap near each other, though Romeo won’t get on the chair; not even onto the sleeper couch! He’d rather sit on the chair-side table or on the window sill – though he prefers the flower pot base to the cold sill. He has even taken a relatively long nap there, with even his tail still!

Other times, Mewthos simply won’t tolerate Romeo inside – he will swat at him and hiss at him, like he used to do with Snoopy. And, strangely enough, Romeo backs off – even though he is stronger and a more experienced fighter than Mewthos.

He really needs to be neutered, but I just don’t know how! He barely tolerates being held. He doesn’t like being indoors – he often stays outside on the mat waiting for me to come out, rather than coming inside for attention; yet other times he’ll stroll right in to eat and even explore my bedroom. But I can’t see myself getting him into the cat carrier, let alone carrying him in it! On the one hand, he really needs to be neutered – but on the other hand, being shut in will be quite a traumatic experience. AND I’ll probably loose all the trust I’ve earned – and then where will he go?

And that’s another question: where DOES he go when he isn’t here? And where does he sleep?

But what worries me the most is: What will happen to Romeo when I have to move? Oh, I know he’ll find food and will survive – but how will he feel? He is so sensitive. He really worries me, he’s so un-adoptable – and at the same time such a dear darling … right up to the point where he goes nuts and starts chasing Ziva! I sometimes have to rescue her now INSIDE my home! From Romeo!

I can only hope that time will tell.

Romeo still ogles Ziva - which still makes her uncomfortable.
She's always wary when Romeo is near

Isn't he such a beauty?

This is another wound Romeo showed up with - I cleaned it as well.
The chunk out of his tail has healed up nicely - even though it looked worse,
and his fur is growing back over that wound.

He is so cute when he isn't spraying or caterwauling!

Poor Frankie (on the right) is afraid of Romeo, though in my home, Romeo knows better than to fight.
Mewthos is in one of his moods, and won't let Romeo in.

Adorable, right? lol until he dropped the egg-carton :)

I think I need to get a bigger flower pot tray?
But you see his tail? It's not twitching!