A little Roxy background...
When she joined the family, she wasn't exactly thrilled with us. She would take swipes at us, when we pet her. Picking her up was totally out of the question. We could if we needed to for some reason, but not just pick her up to pick her up... she would slice us and dice us in a nano second. And growl... gosh she could growl!
We respected her boundaries... to a point.
We would give her short quick pets and talk to her every day. Eventually, she tolerated us. Once in a blue moon, she would sit in hubby's lap. Very rare.
Time moved on and things got better. Never lovey dovey, but better.
Recently she has changed a lot. She joins us OFTEN in whatever room we are in. She talks to us, instead of yelling.
She even came around when we had company the other day. She has been enjoying the outside enclosure... even while other cats are out there. She rarely went out before. BUT...The biggie....drumroll.... she head-butted me the other day
and head-butted hubby this morning!
Today it "hit" me... I bet she FEELS better! Was it her teeth?
No, I am not going to beat myself up for having a cat for so long that likely had issues. In my defense (if there is one), we were told she was never a friendly cat. We ASSuMEd her behavior was normal for her.
Yes, I did take her to the vet (not one we ever see now) when we got her....but not again until recently. You can hate me for that.