A Grande Duchess Finds a New Manor

Lisa is a beautiful Maine Coon who captured the heart of her person, Marsha. Lisa, now named Duchess, took her time in letting her people know how she liked her manor and staff. She sent us this lovely update:

Dear Friends at AdvoCats,

Hello to all two and four legged ones from the one you knew as Lisa.
It has been almost two years since I left AdvoCats and all my fellow cats at the Playroom. I would like to let you know my adventures and how Marsha and Stella are doing with providing me the attention I so rightly deserve by benefit of being the descendant of a Goddess.

When we arrived home, Stella opened my travel box
and let me go into the large room which I later found out is called Her Bedroom. I spent the first two weeks under the bed and crying. Marsha would curl up just outside the bedroom and sit on the floor and howl
(Note to AdvoCats: actually I was singing nonsense verses with Duchess's name so she'd get accustomed to my voice. Howling indeed. Marsha).

Eventually I did get comfortable enough to slink out. I found I had my very own Necessary and my very own food and water bowl. I missed my kittens but I knew AdvoCats had found them good homes. When I realized there were no predators to harm me or eat me, I no longer slinked along the carpet. I began to do something Stella calls "sashay" and my tail went up into the flag position.

After adopting me one of the first things I did was mental telepathy to reveal my real name was Duchess. Lisa is a nice name, but after being incognito for my stay at AdvoCats, I decided to let them know what I really call
myself.

I am still not a lap cat, but Marsha found information on Maine Coon cats and was reassured that can be common amongst those of us fortunate enough to be part Mainey. I still don't like to be held or cuddled but I no longer scream when Marsha or Stella pick me up and sometimes I even tolerate it for a short nuzzle. The first time Stella picked me up I screamed and wiggled with such force she lost her balance and fell against a table and got really bruised. Marsha almost took me back to AdvoCats but Stella asked her not to as it wasn't really my fault. Honest it wasn't, I am so afraid of being hurt myself that I cannot let myself be held. (Note: I try not to pick her up unless I really have to! Marsha). I like to "hang out" with Stella especially when the Magic Box has little moving things in it.

Only recently I discovered that where Marsha goes when it gets dark there is a wonderful fuzzy cave she burrows under. So sometimes I share it with her now. If I jump up and knead the fuzzy and make purr, Marsha makes funny noises and strokes me and it's nice.
I now have two baskets and a number of favorite spots. Under the fancy chair in the living room is what Stella calls "My Boodwar" or something like that. Under the bed is "My Lair" and the basket under the low cave (Note: under the coffee table. Marsha) is nice for a mid-morning snooze and in the living room is "My TV Basket" where I can sprawl and watch the moving objects. My favorite moving objects are something called The Cartoon Network and Video Catnip. I did enjoy seeing my friends at AdvoCats again, Marsha used something she called a DVD to make them move around in the Magic Box. I had lots of scratching places but they have mysteriously become sticky and so I am using a special mat Stella bought just for me and on the floor below the Magic Box.

Sometimes my Sunshine comes to one of the places that is clear and yet not open and it becomes my extra special favorite place and I can worship AtenRa and AtenRa
can worship me, just like in the Olden Days.

Doctor Flo comes and visits me and clips my nails and cleans what Marsha calls my hairy ears and poor little teeth. I meow and cry and get something called Baby Food after all the fuss. Hee Hee Hee. Dr. Flo is very nice and gentle and doesn't take offense when I spend the next hour washing up.

Please give my love to everyone at AdvoCats. Sometimes Marsha goes hunting and comes back smelling like Virginia and others I remember from long ago.

Please let everyone know I am taking very seriously my responsibilities and training the two humans as best as I can. It can be a real challenge but I will not fail you!

With much love,

The Grande Duchess Olga Petrovna
aka Lisa
Princess Pretty Paws
Little Girl
Pussy Willow
Puff Ball
Fuzz Bunny