THE SOCIALIZATION OF DANI (PLUS THANKS FOR THE INTERNET)

 While Dani was still a kitten, I wanted her to become accustomed to people other than her Dada and I.

So, since we usually did our visiting on the front porch in good weather, Dani was exposed to a number of strangers.  Most of them became even stranger with subsequent visits. 

Witness, Dani's Auntie Renate, below.  Each of my lady friends was dubbed Auntie when Dani was still tiny.  I would reinforce it by telling young Dani ahead of time that Auntie Susan, Auntie Val or Auntie Renate (sometimes all three at once) was/were coming over.  My voice was enthusiastic and upbeat.  The same voice I use when giving her treats.

Now imagine from Dani's point of view how it then felt to be betrayed by her Mama only to experience the horrors of stranger strangulation.  Talk about disappointment!

Once Renate grabbed Dani by her throat, Dani was at her efurry whim.  My kitty was still breathing so I assumed this was Auntie R's unique way of expressing affection.  Auntie R is a cat purrson after all.

  

And this is what happened next.  Or should I say NECKst?

Now Auntie R had kitties all her life, but the last one had passed not long before (little wonder, really). So she used friends' cats for PURRactice.  She wouldn't want to forget her technique after all.

Auntie R said her cat used to love to smell her breath.  So without further warning, Dani was exposed to this gaping maw, and to make it worse it had turned into a regular wind tunnel.  Dani struggled to stay in place in spite of what may beFALL her.

But to Dani's ultimate relief, even though Auntie R still had her around the neck, efurrything including Auntie R had relaxed.

Dani still had the taste of raw avoCAToe in her mouth, but the outcome of this encounter was looking more promising.  This is what she had to say:  

"If dis is wot soshulizin' is all about, you kin count me OUT!"

Who can blame her?  If this was her First Encounter of the Stranger Kind, what would the second or third kind actually be?

Dani took no more chances, so she took a LEFT!

After many years inside Dani is still trying to recover her SHELF-ESTEEM.

IT'S THURSDAY AND I'M THANKFUL FOR THE INTERNET.

AFTER SIX DAYS WITHOUT IT I APPRECIATE IT EVEN MORE.

FINALLY I CAN MAKE THIS POST WHICH I WROTE LAST THURSDAY.