Miracles happen quietly

Finally yesterday, at the osteopath, Tanaka came close to Akira's carrier and gently hopped in. I was flabbergasted! Adrian was surprised. But we both acted as though nothing had happened and Adrian continued with both their treatments while talking to me quietly.

 Tanaka and Akira both in the same carrier and Akira actually made space for him. Neither was  yelling or scratching.

 Tanaka put his head on Akira's back and she allowed him to do it!

 Adrian, their osteopath continued to give them both the same treatment and they both relaxed.

Tanaka when he first came 10 years ago.

For as long as I can remember these two can't get along for many years. Tanaka thinks Akira is a cry-baby and Akira thinks Tanaka is a pest.  In the last 2 years, after many tries and experiments with Fern's help, Tanaka was much more relaxed around Akira and she with him. Of course there were some spats but not serious ones. Then yesterday it happened when I was least expecting it.

I managed to get them both in the same carrier on the way home but a quarter way in the journey home, Tanaka decided he wanted to see the view and so he hopped out of the carrier to do just that. However, this did not continue at home and they were not suddenly cuddly :) So we will try to see if they would eat closer together and sit closer together as well, if not next to each other. We will see if Tanaka will get into the same carrier next month as well when  they both go to see Adrian.

Saturday Easy

Today is acupuncture day for both Bujang and I. Eventhough the post is for Saturday Easy, I am not making it easy for san to get me. Hiding under grandma's bed is one of the safest places to be and I plan to be under there until the time for the appointment to the needle doctor. Wish me luck everyone. 

Saturday Easy will be for me as I will not be going to any doctor. I plan to catch more sunpuddles later on. I managed to touch Akira's butt yesterday and got time-out here. So it wasn't such a bad time-out. She screamed at me and san told me to behave. It was not my fault if she was not looking out for herself! The time-out was worth the shenanigan as I had never been able to do that!! It was so worth 2 exclamation marks. 

Ms Akira's Two Cents

So we continue with Akira's and Tanaka's stories and why they think they are having such troubles.

Akira: I need to tell you that I am thinking a lot about what Bujang said and mom's calming signals (licking the lips, yawning, looking at and looking away, stretching when they feel stressed) would help me to be more calm. Is there a calming herb? Like something I can eat that makes my body less reactive. I feel like my body reacts before my mind does. I need to know if I am safe and sometimes I don't know for a while. Tell Tanaka , "If you try harder, I will try harder." My eyes and his will sometimes make it worse. I have noticed that.If my eye shift too much he gets worse. I shift because I am scared.

san: Its true that Akira's eyes take a large part of her face :) In our last conversation, my cat Megat (who is now at the bridge) told Laura that he can feel Akira's eyes in the dark and they scare him. That was also the reason why Megat used to chase her as well.

Akira: I think he has the potential to be nice to me cause we have moments where he is kind and just sits near me and my fear drifts. yes my fear drifts. (I asked Laura to ask her when these moments are as I thought I could try to make sure that they both get more of these moments) 

Akira: We are separate.  It is either one - me outside 

or him outside

and even when mom does leash work I feel better. I like leash work cause I feel like he is enjoying my presence and that makes me feel good.

(At this point, Laura decided to tell Tanaka to just try to let it go and stop chasing her. Just release everything.)

Tanaka: The idea is good and I think maybe I won't chase her. maybe I won't chase her anymore and I have to say "Bujang, I get it that you are calmer than her. I understand." So I should follow him. I should follow him.

(I also told Laura at this time that I had been thinking of just taking him off his leash and harness and allow them both outside just to see what he would do as he has been doing very well with the leash training. Akira started to meow very loudly and Laura asked who it was that was meowing so much. She decided to ask Akira why she was meowing) 

Akira: This is too much about him and too little about me. I want to say that no way! Do not let him off the leash and also I want to say I am not skittish and really scaredy. I am smart and my body knows how to move. I stretch too. I need to tell you that I need love time.

The time where my body and soul have this refreshing breath of fresh air. I need to do this with my mom everyday.

I like to sleep with my mom and have love refreshing time. I love that time.

(She will only sit on my lap if when I am at the computer and it could be like this for quite some time. So now I am smarter and I have put both chairs closer so there is no gap under my knees. Its much better that way. I have not done this for some time as I try to play with her so she could do more stretching but after this I will do this a lot more and see how she could get some play time as well. I asked her how her body feels and whether she enjoys going to see Adrian, our osteopath)

Akira: My body does feel better. I stretch better and when he massages me I feel a release of everything. I am much happier and more confident and I want to say something mom. Mommy you are the best mommy ever :)). I feel like you do a lot for us and I understand it when you talk to me and it helps me. My doctor (Adrian Lalani) said I am a nice cat. (which he does every time he sees her).

Akira: Can I have treat training? I want treat training for the calming signals and also for jumping on things. Tell me to jump and then I jump. My paws are sometimes sensitive. And my food sometimes make s me more anxious after I eat. I hate that. I like to have treats. My wish for our family is that we all get along and mom feels good about our relationships and she feels that harmony is something she created.

Akira: Tanaka is not all that bad. He just has a problem that he needs to work out.

san: I think it was a good session for both Tanaka and Akira to talk and for me to know what is happening with them  Apart from their troubles, I was also wondering how the osteopath treatments are going for them and indeed Akira is more confident and more assertive. She behaves very differently from 2 years ago and she has made great strides in this. She sees Adrian, our osteopath now 4 times a year only. She had also given Bujang advice about Adrian and I would post that later on.

I had discussed with Laura how I needed to go on with the leash training and she advised me that just like Akira said, I should not release Tanaka from his harness and leash outside with Akira before doing more exercises. We discussed the exercises, like walking around the house with her outside or walking up and down. Now I also have to train Ms Akira :)) Thank goodness Bujang did not ask for any training. he just wanted me to sing more:)) They are very funny kitties! 

But tomorrow being Christmas, I would post about our precious Rainbow bridge brothers and what the cats say about family :))