JUNE, 2005

Domino is growing into a handsome young man.  He still will not let me pet him or hold him.  He can become rather aggressive if I try.  He has been this way since I took him for his first shots.  He will play with me, sniff my finger and let me touch his nose.  He will brush up against me and is right there to help me clean the litter boxes and sweep the floor.  You would think he was very tame, but as soon as he senses I am trying to pet him, he runs.

I don't think either he or Blaze were well socialized with humans before arriving.  They definitely were not feral, but were either very unwanted or perhaps barn cats.  Also, When they first came Splash was very skittish.  That is what they learned from him.  Domino must have been very traumatized by the entire experience of getting his shots as well.  Hopefully, he will tame down more and more with time.

Initially he did not like Grayson.  I think he was jealous of the time Splash gave Grayson as Domino and Splash still play together most of the time.  Now he has become Grayson's big brother.  I think the association with the very tame Grayson will be very good for Domino.

UPDATED OCTOBER, 2006 

Domino is my other enigma.  He has calmed down a lot and loves to be petted and have his tummy rubbed every night.  He will even hop up on the sofa to lay with me.  He is fine until I try to pick him up.  Then he becomes totally wild; biting and clawing like a wild cat. We are several months late for his yearly veterinairian check and booster shots as he gets so violent when I try to get him in a carrier.  Since all the other cats are up to date on shots and Domino never runs loose, I am not too worried about his being late.  I will keep working with him until he builds enough trust that I can calmly get him in.  I don't want to hurt all the progress made so far.

Domino, Splash, and Grayson remain good friends.  They will play all day long.  Starburst and Domino have been a bit on the outs.  I think it is because Starburst loves to tease Splash and Domino is very protective of his adoptive father.