Topic: The General - a progress report (Read 69184 times)

JackSpratt · « **Reply #149 on:** September 14, 2012, 19:07:49 PM »

Just coming on to update. General didn't seem to relax any, and it was felt he may have a bit of an infection - unfortunately, pilling him proved difficult until his secret sponsor sent some pill pockets.

He's actually been let out. It was felt that it may be that being confined wasn't really helping matters in terms of his mental wellbeing and with him having been there about a month and a half now his new mum figured she had to try and see how things went. I support her wholeheartedly and hope that he remembers his food base so they can build up a mutual trust on his terms.

Sue P (Paddysmum) · « **Reply #148 on:** September 14, 2012, 08:01:53 AM »

What news on The General JS? Is he beginning to relax a bit more?

JackSpratt · « **Reply #147 on:** September 05, 2012, 21:30:22 PM »

Not yet. I think her week away set them back a little. (The poor girl felt awful and said she didn't want to go, she wanted to stay with him. But there's an eight year old daughter to consider....

)

I think he'll get there. It'll just take time.

sheilarose · « **Reply #146 on:** September 05, 2012, 20:42:36 PM »

He looks young and spry, JS, I'm convinced he will make a fist of this and eventually turn into the lovable funny pusscat we all hope is in there somewhere. Is she any closer to combing/touching him?

JackSpratt · « **Reply #145 on:** September 05, 2012, 20:14:24 PM »

He's still a bit grumpy. Seems the poor lad's a bit under the weather, but he seems to be improving. His new mum popped and got him some synulox to put in his food.

This is the most recent photo.

Sue P (Paddysmum) · « **Reply #144 on:** September 03, 2012, 08:17:33 AM »

Hoping he doesn't keep up the strong silent treatment too long.

Tigerlily (Allison) · « **Reply #143 on:** September 03, 2012, 08:05:13 AM »

I'm sure they will be back in his good books again soon

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #142 on:** August 31, 2012, 12:06:27 PM »

Well he obviously knows how to punish his slaves which is good cos he obviously has a hidden love for them

JackSpratt · « **Reply #141 on:** August 31, 2012, 10:57:55 AM »

Oops! Apologies - The Generals new family actually went on hols for a week. Apparently, they got back to a somewhat rounder, healthier looking General; who was sulking with them and refuses to blink at them at the moment.

Sue P (Paddysmum) · « **Reply #140 on:** August 29, 2012, 13:33:23 PM »

What news of The General, JS? Hoping he's starting to relax a bit more.

JackSpratt · « **Reply #139 on:** August 22, 2012, 10:30:57 AM »

Apparently, he had a "hissy" day yesterday....

Thanks Sheila, will pass that on.

And Sue, that's how my lot are with combs too....clearly, they're for them to try and steal off me.

Sue P (Paddysmum) · « **Reply #138 on:** August 21, 2012, 13:55:46 PM »

Great progress, and good idea from Sheila too.

We bought Ross a little pack of grooming tools - a rough comb (apparently mimics a Mother's tongue) a small metal comb and a flea comb. We had great fun with him with it, but of course in the main, he stole them from us and secreted them about the house - as toys there were perfick - as grooming and socialising tools they were virtually useless!

sheilarose · « **Reply #137 on:** August 21, 2012, 10:44:04 AM »

JS, could you ask her to try combing his head?

It was this tip from my cat rescue friend Anna that got me and Chubby on friendlier terms, as he utterly adores the feeling of being groomed, and the length of the comb offers a bit of protection from swipey claws. I started with a human comb with a longish handle to get him used to the feeling of being touched.

I wore a gardening glove for the first few times so I could (with nerves of steel) totally ignore any meaningful swipes and just carry on gently combing and coaxing, and before long he stopped swiping and started responding to the comb. After a few sessions over a few days I felt confident to remove the glove whilst combing, then progressed to fingers rubbing his head and face (that snoogly bit above his nose is his real weak spot

.

)

He's still wary, but a fistful of dreamies at the appropriate moment helps take his mind off being feral, so now when the dreamies packet comes out he wobbles over for his treat which he now expects to include a lovely grooming session

JackSpratt · « **Reply #136 on:** August 20, 2012, 15:26:21 PM »

He has let his mum touch his ear and his back foot. Just once on both occasions; when she tried a second time he hissed on both scores.

But yes, he's letting her sit in the run with him and this is his posture. He blinks at her like a man demented which is reassuring. (He did with me until I trapped him and took him to the vets. He initially was not happy to see me when I popped up to see how he was settling the other day, but he calmed down.)

I feel his body language towards her is massively positive.

Tigerlily (Allison) · « **Reply #135 on:** August 20, 2012, 08:13:27 AM »

Great pics JS

Sue P (Paddysmum) · « **Reply #134 on:** August 20, 2012, 07:08:10 AM »

He looks a visible amount more relaxed in those photos. Bless him, he's a darling, isn't he?

sheilarose · « **Reply #133 on:** August 19, 2012, 16:39:09 PM »

I assume from these lovely close-ups TG is allowing his new meowmi toget up close and personal?

How long before his first tickle I wonder?

JackSpratt · « **Reply #132 on:** August 19, 2012, 16:30:24 PM »

And another...

JackSpratt · « **Reply #131 on:** August 19, 2012, 15:45:03 PM »

And another....

EDIT: Whoops...that's fish.

clarenmax · « **Reply #130 on:** August 17, 2012, 11:20:43 AM »

Loving his new pic, such a handsome lad

Tigerlily (Allison) · « **Reply #129 on:** August 17, 2012, 08:02:31 AM »

Lovely pic JS

It's so good to see him in a safe environment where he's going to be well cared for

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #128 on:** August 16, 2012, 21:14:36 PM »

Lovely boy

cazzer · « **Reply #127 on:** August 16, 2012, 20:30:36 PM »

bless him I'm not sure he is too happy about having his snooze in the sun disturbed judging by the look on his face!

JackSpratt · « **Reply #126 on:** August 16, 2012, 20:18:02 PM »

Newest picture....

Tigerlily (Allison) · « **Reply #125 on:** August 15, 2012, 08:02:22 AM »

JS, wow! It sounds like the General's new meowmy is just fantastic. He couldn't have ended up in a better situation.

JackSpratt · « **Reply #124 on:** August 14, 2012, 23:26:41 PM »

Sheila, ours have a blanket on the balcony too....and they get your "secret weapon" for tea twice a week without fail.

Sue, time is definitely the catalyst....seems Generals new mum was allowed to sit next to him on his balcony today. He even let her touch his back foot which, lets face it, a lot of cats would take exception to.

Gill, She really does. She's brilliant with him, pops and takes him food and talks to him....She did sit with him for quite substantial blocks of time but realised he was finding it a bit full on, so she took it down a notch.

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #123 on:** August 14, 2012, 19:37:47 PM »

I am sure he will settle in time, its an almighty change for him.

I found that Lupin was terrified of a very noisy skimmer and lawn mower over the last two day and he rushed for the house pulling me along.

So pleased he has a caring owner and she will need to have the patience of a saint

sheilarose · « **Reply #122 on:** August 14, 2012, 10:16:55 AM »

My lot all prefer the balcony too. I've put a layer of vet bed on the wooden surface which keeps them warm and stays dry. Sam sleeps there all night regardless of the weather, as he's sheltered from the rain and has 360 degree view. I imagine TG has the same thoughts.

Only Sly ventures inside the box - but he's a bit braver than most and likes to ambush passers by with a swipe

This is our secret weapon in the war against mistrust...

Sue P (Paddysmum) · « **Reply #121 on:** August 14, 2012, 09:55:00 AM »

Well, he can't stay on the roof forever. And at least he's eating and using his tray. Time is the catalyst here it seems.

JackSpratt · « **Reply #120 on:** August 14, 2012, 09:49:41 AM »

I took the door off entirely on ours. None of my lot like doors on litter trays either so I knew there was no point even trying!

I did mention it but new mum is worried about getting his super duper deluxe reflective bed wet that's inside! Bless her, she wants him to have a snug...but I'll be honest, I don't think he's ever even been inside it! I think he just likes the balcony because it's where he was fed here. To be honest, he could've bolted into the shed but chose the balcony bit. He's a stubborn fella.

Sue P (Paddysmum) · « **Reply #119 on:** August 14, 2012, 06:43:26 AM »

Good idea Sheila - especially cos he won't be used to flaps I imagine.

Poor General. There's an awful lot has changed in his world. I hope he will begin to settle.

sheilarose · « **Reply #118 on:** August 13, 2012, 16:45:54 PM »

JS

I've got this same shelter (we call it Sly's mansion) and the only way we were able to get the cats to go inside the box bit was to clip the middle bit of the plastic door flap up with a clothes peg. It might give him an extra bit of privacy for mowing moments in the future if New Mum tries the same thing?

JackSpratt · « **Reply #117 on:** August 13, 2012, 16:12:31 PM »

New experience for him today....you see the size of the lawns? The gardener guy came round to mow them (apparently it had been put off last time and the lady felt she couldn't leave it any longer.....) and poor General apparently did his "monkey impression" around the run. So his new mum went and talked to him, which resulted in him taking up residence in....yup, you've guessed it, the balcony part of his shelter and scowling at everyone.

New mum has promised him the wing of her chicken that's to be cooked up for tea to apologise.

Sue P (Paddysmum) · « **Reply #116 on:** August 13, 2012, 06:43:34 AM »

Is he still stuck to the roof of his shelter, JS?

Sue P (Paddysmum) · « **Reply #115 on:** August 11, 2012, 14:06:33 PM »

Aw bless him. It's a bit disconcerting - having loving care forced on to you

but how cool that he's using the tray.

And eating at night...

JackSpratt · « **Reply #114 on:** August 11, 2012, 10:30:03 AM »

He's giving her conniptions...keeps supergluing himself to the shelter (I assume because it's familiar) and not moving for hours at a time. But he does eat during the night....

Still using the tray as he did straight away.

sheilarose · « **Reply #113 on:** August 11, 2012, 08:34:00 AM »

Funny thing, my 3 strays started to be nice when their bodies got used to good food at regular intervals.

I think spitty is a natural state they get into when they're hungry and this takes a few days to shake off. Once he's started associating your friend with his dinner she'll have cracked it.

I also found that food containing lower cereal/grains achieves better behaviour (I like James Wellbeloved Turkey and Rice from Zooplus) whereas Go-Cat or Whiskas Complete or similar high cereal brands make all my cats naughty/hyper, especially Sam who becomes aggressive, and have been banned from the house as contraband.

TG's sunny side will shine through soon, I'm sure.

Sue P (Paddysmum) · « **Reply #112 on:** August 11, 2012, 07:05:38 AM »

Oh JS - the poor woman - does she not realise we all want to know how The General is doing...?

Am pleased he's eaten.

mad_lilli · « **Reply #111 on:** August 10, 2012, 22:14:58 PM »

He sounds like he's well on the way to being a big soppy kitty!!!!

JackSpratt · « **Reply #110 on:** August 10, 2012, 12:18:22 PM »

He's eaten.

His mum is most definitely patient - but she's also a worrier, like myself. She worries about The General, then she worries she's bothering me and the other lady giving her moral support too much by messaging us as regularly as she does. She's a sweetheart, bless her!

He's doing OK. A bit of hissing, but other than that no outbursts...and he even meowed this morning apparently!

Author Topic: The General - a progress report (Read 69184 times)