July 2011 Update

Kayden is doing remarkably in his 14th month. We think he has finally stopped growing. He did grow a bit into this second year, but he is not going to be a huge cat, just perfectly average-sized. His markings are so beautiful, and his coat is about the softest I've ever felt on a cat.

We moved to a new apartment in May, and after a week or so he adjusted well. He got nervous about new sounds outside, but loved exploring the house. He has never been the kind of cat to hide under the bed. We are fortunate to now live in a more peaceful neighbourhood, away from the traffic on Alder. Because it's a complex of townhouses, there are more people walking by (which Kayden is still getting used to), but we have a stretch of lawn and trees out back which Kayden LOVES!

We had tried and tried to get him used to his harness and leash back at the other place, but he never seemed to like it until that last month or so when we started taking him down in the grass in the front yard. Now, whenever we say to him "go for a walk?" he perks up and runs excitedly to the door, eager for us to strap it on. Every evening about 10pm he starts meowing for a walk. At that time, our little townhouse community has gotten quiet enough that he feels safer. I'm actually kind of glad he's scared of strangers. He quickly warms up to friends and family, though.

He still loves his toy mice, feathers, plastic bags, and anything that looks like it's crawling, crunching or slithering. He's really a hunter. Outside I sometimes drag a little stick through the grass for him to chase, and he goes after it like a tiger. When he sees other cats, through the sliding glass door or on our walks, he runs at them defensively, so we can see that he will always be best as an "only cat". However, our next door neighbours have a quiet little dog about his size who he likes a lot. Go figure. Well, more soon...