New Kitty in my Family
      

Also from Bolivar was "Stitch" ((think "Stitch and Lilo"))  -- a  large, aggressive, black cat with a very willful personality.

Several years ago I had promised my Bolivar neighbor that I would take Stitch if they ever needed a home for her.

Well, Stitch kept attacking their other 2 cats - to the point of being a real terror in the house.  My neighbor wouldn't let Stitch outside to let off steam.  Consequently, there was a real problem in their house.

So, to live up to my promise, I brought Stitch back to Possum Hollow with me.

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Then, CRISIS -- Stitch snuck out the door the 1st night  she was here - her black coat turned into a very effective cloak-of-invisibility as she disappeared into the woods.

I spent many long hours out looking for her.  I was really concerned since she had never been outside before -- there are Great Horned Owls here - they hunt rabbits and cats ......

After 8 days/9 nights, I found her living in an old shed about a half mile from my house!!  She was quite okay.

I was able to get her into a cage and thus home.

Obviously, she could (and would) go feral very quickly.

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Thus began a period where she was not  let outside.  My very best animal behavior modification skills were applied!!  These included a lot of affectionate attention and a water pistol with a 30 ft. range when she went into attack mode against the other 2 cats.

She would go after my dogs as quickly as she would any of my cats !!

But persistence did prevail!!

After she bonded to me and accepted me as her "human", I began to let her outdoors.

That was the magic item.  She spends most of her time now out under the shade of the oak tree, a much better behaved pussy-cat.   She has made friends with the dogs but will still go after the cats - I have to keep an eye on her ......