Cats

The first cat I house sat with was rotund, bob-tailed and looked like a furry manatee.  Adorable, but no-touch! 

She was very shy around humans, with a tendancy to get into fights with other cats (she loved going outdoors - a very independent creature, even for a cat!). 

This resulted in an abcess where no one - two-legged or four-legged - would want to get one.  With the help of a neighbor (and her former house provider - the independent creature had moved out and adopted the human she was living with and I was house/cat sitting for), we got her in a carrier and I took her to the vet.  They treated her and gave me medication to give her, with instructions to bring her back if it didn't work.

She didn't take kindly to getting a pet collar (the big pilgrim variety that would prevent licking her wound).

Fortunately she loved the pill pockets I sneaked into her food dish and she healed without a return visit to the vet.

She would even sleep on the foot of the bed and allow herself to be petted - a little.  We parted friends and I even missed her!

Why are some cats so shy?  I've had friendly ones that wanted to be the center of attention and shy ones that hid when company came.

Right now, where I'm house sitting, there's one hiding under the bed (she's started coming out to visit and rub noses with me) and another (called Cookie.  Muffin or Cupcake would be more appropriate for her shape!) is hiding.  But her food dish empties out fast when I'm not looking!

I'm just glad they can stay here, home, with an opportunity to look out the open windows and keep their regular routine.