Frank update

I feel like Frank needs an introduction- now that he has come out of hiding, we are seeing lots of his personality.

This is Frank. As previously mentioned, he is huge. His mom is Maine Coon (though when doing some research I found that purebred Main Coon owners are kind of snotty about people using the name- that true Maine Coons are very rare, and how dare you think that your simple large tabby cat is one of these greats...so, I am ignorantly claiming the name). Maine Coons are known as 'gentle giants', are very smart and rainable- they can be taught tricks. They are supposed to be very loyal and great companion cats.

Frank is cautious- still a little skittish. He prefers me to Brian right now, mostly because Brian tends to make quick or abrupt movement...I'm slower when Frank is around, so he trusts me a little more, plus Brian vacuums. But he loves playing with Brian- they play with a baseball, a laser pointer (Frank goes crazy for that). He licks our hands and fingers all the time. He also nips and bats at our hands- his bites are always gentle, and he never scratches us. I read that the licking and gentle biting is what mom cats do to their kittens, and is how he learned to show care- and that he is claiming us. Sounds so sweet...we are probably creating bad habits. He doesn't like being picked up, but he does love to sprawl out on our laps. He 'holds' things with his paws, like our arm when he wants us to pet him. He has round eyes, which I have never noticed on a cat before...it gives his face a very innocent look. He has a big raccoon tail...when you only see him from behind, you could mistake him for a small raccoon.

He is teaching Millie some habits. Here, Millie is watching Frank eat out of the bowl...she just sat there and

watched. Millie has been much better with the litter boxes. She also doesn't use her claws hardly at all anymore...that might have just been her figuring it out, but I like to think Frank helped her. Millie has also started biting a little bit- she isn't as gentle with her teeth as Frank, but it seems like she is trying to do it like Frank does. The two of them play together now- though sometimes I worry about Millie because Frank is SO much bigger, and seems like he is a little bit rougher when they play...Millie meows sometimes, but there isn't any hissing...that means she is okay, right? We are also a little worried that maybe Frank is a bit

of a bully. Whenever Millie is sitting on one of our laps, Frank squeezes his way in between, and gives Millie a little shoulder push away. When Millie starts eating, Frank will start eating out of her bowl, even though he was just eating out of his own bowl. Normal or concern?

They are no longer locked into rooms when we leave...they have free reign of the downstairs- they aren't allowed upstairs at night or during the day when we aren't here. They are much happier being free (obviously), and it makes me feel better when we are gone for a long time. 

I have to say, they are REALLY good kittens- very sweet and easy. They are super distracting to my studying!