#operagoose

CW: Suspected Animal Abuse, Heartbreaking

This is Raoul, the absolute baby fool. I love him so very much.

This little guy really breaks my heart sometimes-- he was born just before christmas, and was given to the shelter when he was just under ten months of age. When I first met him, he was all over me within minutes, and the foster said he pined for me -- I didn’t believe her, but I think maybe I do now -- he’s scared of strangers, you can’t raise your voice around him, he’s scared to go to the bathroom, the only way he knew to get set down was to nip. When I first brought him home he was underweight and malnourished. 

A few blinks, a little space and letting him meet me on his own terms was all he needed to adore myself and my housemates, @operagoose and @arakai. And he does! When my housemates and I go to pick him up, he rocks back on his back legs and stretches his front legs up for pick ups.

He’s full of personality, he’s funny and sweet, he curls up as close as he can to you and nuzzles you. He’s a terrible smoocher, kneads like it’s going out of style, and all  he wants in the world is to listen to your heartbeat. Someone tried to clip his claws at the root and he wails if he thinks you’re going to hurt him.

I’m pretty sure it’s an age-old story. Christmas kitten taken from mother a bit too soon, taught a wealth of adorably bad habits, coddled like a dolly, and then surrendered once he got bigger. 

He’s still got heaps of bad habits. We’re teaching him not to mouth at people, and the bin fishing isn’t something he can help, just gonna get a better bin. We’re careful raising our voices around him. Give lots of encouragement when he goes to the bathroom. He lets us clip his claws now, so long as we make sure to stroke his paws between each one.

Look at you! Glowing like a solar fire. You're something special, Jou. You're gonna rattle the stars, you are!