Everyone has stories of being 'punished' by their cat after they've been away from home for a while. By all accounts this passes quite quickly.
But Raymi has never, ever done this to me. In the past we've been away for up to seven weeks at a time and he's always been loving on my return (he doesn't care too much for the other members of my family, but he adores me. Or did.).
He's always stayed in our home while we're away and is looked after by kind and caring neighbours.
This is how cute and adoring he was just before we went away, curled up beside me on my desk:
However, this time I returned home to a note from our neighbours that they hadn't seen Raymi at all, although his food was being eaten each night so they weren't too worried.
We arrived home on 1st August and I didn't see him at all for a couple of days. Yes, his food was being eaten, but he seemed to be living outside permanently.
A couple of days later he did grace me with his presence for a few moments and a day later I was allowed to cuddle him for a short while. I thought the issue had passed. But I was wrong.
We've been back for nearly a month now and he's pretty much refusing to acknowledge me at all. He comes in during the early hours for his food - and as I generally stay up late I have seen him come in - but as soon as he spots me he turns tail and disappears out of the catflap.
He's found a hidey hole in 'his' bedroom where he sleeps during the day. I leave him be as I don't want to disturb him.More often though, he's left before we get up or has found somewhere else to sleep that I haven't discovered yet.
At least someone else isn't trying to take him in - he comes home to eat and mostly to sleep.
We've progressed to him allowing me to stroke his head while he gobbles up his food, but as soon as I try to pick him up, the claws come out and he struggles free.
I've fed him fillet steak and tuna, his favourite treats and put catnip down. He takes it and buggers off again!
I haven't heard him purr for ages.
I thought there was a breakthrough a couple of nights ago. He actually came into the living room while everyone but me was in bed. He sat on the table staring at me. He wasn't relaxed, and if I looked at him he turned away! But before long, he'd disappeared again.
Surely this is taking my 'punishment' much too far?
Does anyone have any suggestions how I can repair my relationship with my cat?