Happy New Year, beloved fans of Rocky!
It is with a bit of awe that 2025 has now ushered in; I hope the slingshot through the holidays and the wide turn of the calendar year was fruitful, enjoyable, and warm!
To my great astonishment, our tree—something that encompasses the sweet warmth and dazzling colors of the holiday season—was upgraded for 2024; our new space allows for a full-size tree. Situated beside one of Rocky’s favorite napping spots – it was a matter of curiosity if he would find it a matter of curiosity. To my great relief, Rocky decided the tree was not a point of fascination. To my even greater astonishment, he barely acknowledged it – even going as far as ignoring the gifts beneath entirely.
I know. Take a breath. It’s true. As a rule, I generally keep ribbon away from cat access. Ribbon, particularly the thinner type for curling used on gifts, can be a danger to cats prone to the urge to chew such springy, curly things, potentially ingesting them. Not one gift, not a single bow, was tampered with by little mauve-ish taupe toe beans or swept over by bicolor whiskers. Rocky seemed to have little to no idea that the living room looked different.
It’s a moment of curiosity to me as to why; in reconciling this as I pondered how his behavior has evolved, I realized that it was—in all likelihood—a sign that Rocky has moved on from kittenish shenanigans to more adult cattish shenanigans. He is three and a half years old, with his birthday approaching toward the end of June; his routines have shifted over the last year.
More time has been appropriated for naps, less time has been appropriated for Climbing Onto Things That Should Not Be Climbed. When he’s not roaming between rooms or looking out the windows as part of Neighborhood Watch Duty, Rocky naps. He reclines, stretches, snoozes, cuddles, steeps in the bliss of relaxed ears, shut eyes, and a mouth curled just enough at the sides to appear as if he’s smiling. I liken it to the way the first few minutes in a hot tub feel, when the hot water jets hit that tight back muscle and tension ebbs away.
Fabulously grown-up Rocky: now no longer a kitten but an actual Certified Adult.
Heading into 2025 with that in mind for him is a wonderful thing – would he have made it this far without Tabby’s Place? Without the incredible generosity of sponsors like you and the dedication of the staff and volunteers? Seeing him mature is joyful and relieving, just as the bodily tension ebbs away in a hot tub. The thought of his condition remains, of course; vigilance remains—for those of us who provide his care, as it has and will for his entire life.
As I consider the past year, I can see that Rocky isn’t just surviving; he is thriving in full force. Gleefully, he has discovered the padded, heated cat bed situated beneath my own bed. If I cannot find him napping elsewhere, that is where he is – and where he has chosen to spend a great deal of these chilly weeks and likely the next several weeks as winter blows that chill toward us with determined relentlessness. As I’ve noted before, spending a day with Rocky is a showcase of his version of thriving, between naps, treats, playing with Zelda as if they were littermates, and ensuring every room has at least two cat toys scattered about.
Routines such as medication, grooming, nail clipping—they come easily for Rocky. What better way to step into this new year with Rocky than seeing him mature into a handsomely dapper adult cat?
If Rocky were to make resolutions for 2025, I would imagine they would involve more little gravy snacks. Daily, preferably. Multiple times daily, as an even greater preference.
With immense gratitude to you for your support for No-Longer-A-Kitten-(Huzzah!)-Rocky, I wish a safe, prosperous, healthy, and mirthful 2025 for you. Thank you for loving this giraffe-legged, lemur-footed, owl-eyed, ferret-torso-long-bodied, smoke-hued tabby of a Now-Adult cat. He is truly one in a million, as are you.
Fondly, your correspondent,
Carrie
P.S. – Zelda is doing well, too; now four years old. While these updates are for Rocky and only Rocky, Zelda is a part of his world. From the three of us: a very Happy New Year!
