Chubby will forgive you eventually
Well, I don't know how you knew this, Liz, but he HAS forgiven me.
Chubby has relented. After almost two years his campaign of mild hatred mixed with disdain is over
Today he was asleep on the bedding box at the bottom of my bed and I steeled myself, crept up on him and offered him a wiggly finger on da nose. He blinked those big feral eyes at me, just once, and let me tickle his forehead.
Half an hour later I've got cramp and my left arm has gone dead but I daren't stop in case I disturb his happiness. Chubby is butting and purring and rolling over like a kitten. I can now get the mikki matt breaker down as far as his shoulders before I get that "back off" look, but one wiggle of my finger on his nose and he's on his back again with his fluffy orange tummy exposed for tickles.
This is the first contact I've had with him on my own since he was here at first: a spitting, swiping, stinking prisoner in my bathroom, desperate to escape and nothing but sheer hatred in his eyes for me. I had his rotten teeth removed and his peas podded, took him away from the outdoor freedom he loved and consigned him to a life trapped in one house, one garden. No wonder.
One vet advised he be PTS, the state he was in, and even the council animal warden said he was untamable and I was wasting my time. But I knew there was a lovely cat deep down inside there, I could just feel it, and wanted to give him the chance to be a pet cat.
So tonight, ladies and gentlemen, the toast is to Chubby, my new /old /new pet cat
I'm the happiest woman alive