Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK
Cat Health & Behaviour => Health & Behaviour General => Topic started by: andyturner on October 01, 2008, 22:01:27 PM
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Hi, my cat Gizmo went missing 2.5 months ago, see post : http://www.purrsinourhearts.co.uk/index.php/topic,17955.0.html
During my search for Giz in some nearby woods, I happened across 5 houses. 2 of these houses informed me that a 3-month-old kitten was in need of home. 1st house mentioned it but the 2nd house was extremely insistent. After initial resistance, on Sunday we brought home a 2.5-month-old wild child that reminded me of Damian!
I refer to Judo as "it" because it will not be handled yet so we cannot determine sex. Judo is confined to the spare room.
Today is Wednesday & Judo, I think, is making good progress. Today judo will...
a. Eat in my presence, i.e. less than 2ft away.
b. Does not hide in its safe cage when I enter/leave the room.
c. Play with toys independently - happily
d. Play with toys with me, no contact, - happily
e. Play with toys with me, light contact - i.e. me patting it gently, - reasonably happily though still a little jittery.
f. Climbs over me to get to my dinner!
In summary, please can anyone provide any suggestions or advice with these questions? (or any other advice???)
1. I think Judo is gaining confidence and trust in me & my wife, though we both feel that "it" just needs an assuring stroke & a cuddle to completely transform it into properly domesticated cat who trusts in humans - that said we don't want to rush things and undermine all the good work done so far.
2. Judo has a vet appointment on Friday - what can I do to improve the chances of this going quietly & smoothly?
Many thanks & best regards
Andy
PS. Should she return, Gizmo still has full access to the house except for Judo's room that is kitty proof & locked.
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Hi Andy,
Sorry to hear Gizmo is still AWOL ... but congrats on Jubo. I moved your thread to this section so more members will hopefully see it and respond.
It sounds like you are doing everything right with your new addition and by the sounds of things this little tearaway just needs a bit of socialisation.
The fact that s/he is eating and playing etc in your presence and doesn't seem to mind you being in the room are all good signs that with a bit of patience and lots of TLC s/he will come round and accept you fully. I would suggest just spending as much time in the room with Jubo as possible and let him/her get used to you. You don't need to interact just sit in the room and listen to music, read a book, do something interesting and over time curiosity will take over and Jubo will simply have to come and investigate to see what you are doing that is so much more interesting than him/her! :evillaugh:
With regards to the vet visit .... I would try leaving the carrier in the room until Friday so Jubo get used to it. Just put an old towel in it and you'll probably find s/he will sneak in and play/sleep in it.
It might be worth investing in a feliway diffuser as this will also help to calm over time. But in the meantime a couple of drops of Bachs rescue rememdy (available for all good healthfood shops and most supermarkets) in the drinking water or if you can get close enough try rubbing on the back of his/her ears as this has bseen proven to help calm stressed kitties.
u.
I'm sure the vets visit will go OK and just keep doing what you are doing and your little one will soon learn to trust and love you.
Good luck
Sam
P.S. You know the rules ... where's the pics?????
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I agree with Sam ;D
One other thing is that as Judo is climbing over you to get your food you could try putting some cat food in your hand and see if he will come and eat from your hand.
Also then sorta leave your hand dangly, by a toy maybe, and hopefully he will come to you and start to rub your hand. Dont move it and dont try to stroke until he is confident and sorta pushing for a stroke ;D
If you sit on the floor while doing this he may get brave enough to try walking on you.
For the vet visit leave some treats or a toy in the carrier and that may tempt him to go in and play or eat.
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Hi thanks for the advice.
Judo did not quite manage hand feeding today, & I thawted several attempts to creep around me and pinch directly fom the bowl :evillaugh:, that said we comprimised - she got fed and a gentle stroke between the ears. Her comfort zone is down to around 1 ft. I think she has made good progress since being a wild kitty on Sunday night.
I have not got any usabe photos because I dont want to spook her with the flash. I promice to update when I do. In the mean time I will post some pics of Gizmo who is still AWOL.
best regards
Andy
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Giz Pic 2
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Giz Pic 3. Please note - appologies about dodgey colar editing but these pics are used for her poster. Today she has a yellow colar - in the original pics it was blue and everyone seemed to get confused about it despite the text of the poster saying yellow!
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Ahhhh Giz is a little stunner isn't she .... sending lots of positive vibes that she will be home soon and she can teach Jubo how to be a "good kitty" ;)
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IT’S A BOY!!!A SAVAGE on Sunday…
Since then, I’ve spent days rolling on my back, peering through slitty eyes & purring, trying to hand feed, playing with him, talking softly, reading in the room etc etc. The best I got was the odd paw pat when playing with his favourite toy – a toy mouse on a string.
Today, Friday, we visited the vet. We have been dreading this.
There I was with big motorbike gloves donned facing certain battle, hissing, biting, scratching etc. Then two very pretty loving girls, vet & nurse, no gloves, one handed pulled said SAVAGE out of his cage by the scruff of his neck and gave him some serious tactile loving. Spitting and hissing? No. Lots of purring? Yes.
THE BLOODY TRAITOROUS CHARLATAN!!! - Do you detect any tones of jealously? :evillaugh: They said that he was going to be a very loving and tactile kitty.
The test shows he’s HIV negative. He now has all the required jabs, microchip & passport.
Judo is due his booster jabs & Rabies Pre-inoculations check next month, I will update you on his progress.
In the meantime, 1. Who provides the best Pet insurance? 2. Does anyone have any bad experiences with any particular insurance companies?
Thank you, Best regards and wish’sAndyPS. Pics attached as a bribe for info!(http://)
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He is gorgeous and you will find insuarnce info on a thread currently running called the usual insurance................something lol.
If you click on all unread posts at top left, you will prob get a shock but this thread has been active in the last few mins so should be at top or botto depending which way you see Purrs ;D
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If you have had to have Rabies jabs, then you must be in the US, whcih means our insurance advice wont be much good to you - from what I have read on US forums, insurance isn't that good over there unfortunately
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Actually we are in South of France but we will be returning to the UK next spring so need Rabies jab to get him back to the UK on a pet passport.
I have a sneaking suspicion he is not going to approve of the weather >:(
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Ahhhhh he is gorgeous :Luv2: :Luv2:
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Ah right - not sure if insurance would be worth it at the moment then, dont know what the French system is like.
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Hes gorgeous, and good to see he knows when calm it :evillaugh:
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Day 10 update:
1. Judo has been allowed full access to the house now. I've seen him downstairs twice briefly before scurrying back upstairs! His favorite hang out is either his room or ours. At night he plays loudly, darting between the rooms, purring his head off, throwing mice about and jumping all over our bed. Pretty sure the little lump is sleeping with us as well.
2. He's developed this loud sort of high pitched sheel when he get excited playing. It's like a cross between a Meow & Pur. I've never heard any other cat doing this. Is this common to kittens?
3. Food he darts to the food bowl & intercepts it before I have actually put it down.
4. He still has a problem with being stroked. After I put the food down and he is scoffing his head off, I stroke his back & between his ears. He gets a bit grumpy/nevious but is getting better. After he has scoffed half his food I leave him in peace to finish off. Actually once, he seemed to prefer the stroke to food so I picked him up & held him for about 5 minutes. He didn't struggle & seemed to enjoy it but hasn't done it since. Is this being a bit pushy or should I keep it up?
thanks & regards
Andy
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sounds like its going well
all four of mine make different noises so maybe that is just his voice
one of mine stands on two legs and holds the bowl as I put it down so that may never change
my bengal isn't a great lover of being held but over time she has got better, the golden rule with her is as soon as she shows she wants to get down we let her down
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That trilling noise is a come play excitable noise, simon uses it to entice the other boys to come wrestle him :Luv: Maybe a playmate is in order :evillaugh:
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I JUST GOT MY FIRST PROPPER CUDDLE :evillaugh::evillaugh::evillaugh::evillaugh::evillaugh::evillaugh::evillaugh::evillaugh::evillaugh::evillaugh::evillaugh::evillaugh:
When I got home I fed him as usual and tryed stoking him, eating from the hand etc and got the usual response - I'm uncomfotable and twitchy but not fearing for my life :scared:. Fustrated I just picked him up and made a fuss of him. He wringled a bit as I picked him up but then purred his head off when I started stroking him :naughty:
Played with him after dinner as usual, then....
...a couple of hours later I popped in to see how he was doing, sleeping on our bed - which he has now declared as his own :rofl:, sat beside him and chatted for a bit then held my hand out and stroked his back, got the usual responce but he didn't run away, after a minute he came back for more!!! :innocent: He was very insistant on "the killer back of the neck move" :sneaky::sneaky::sneaky::sneaky::sneaky: Then he made the fatel mistake of showing me his belly :shify:. I think the belly rub proved a bit much today but tommorrow will be a different story :evillaugh:
I still hope and pray that Gizmo will come back or pop up :'( . If she does then I have to give up smoking - I made pact with God and now its public so I cann't go back on it :sick: If she does come back, then Judo will have the best playmate in the world that any kitty cat could wish for :Luv:
Thanks for all your help, support and advice
Andy
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sounds lilke he is having a great time - lets hope Gizmo comes back soon
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Woo Hoo ... sounds like Judo has finally decided you ain't that bad after all. Now he knows that cuddles are soooooo nice I'm sure he will be begging for more and more.
Well done Andy it certainly sounds like your and Judo are bonding and I'm sure it will get better and better as each day passes.
Fingers crossed Gizmo comes back ... I've said a little prayer to St Francis for him to look out for her and bring her back safely :hug:
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:Luv: Judo is adorable so glad he is settling, hope Gizmo is back soon :hug:
Keep up the good work, it will be worth it, it took our rescue cat Max nearly a year to stop his princess strops, now he can be picked up by only me :rofl: but still likes to rip the skin from your hand if you look at thim the wrong way, that said he is a wonderful cat we just have to on our guard :rofl:
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Judo’s update one month on,
1. He seems very happy. He is sleeping, running around at Mach 1 trilling his head off, trying to eat my dinner, cuddling up and purring loudly or ripping skin off my hand during playtime. :yayyy:
2. Putting on weight and growing in size. We didn’t weigh him on day 1 but I’m sure has doubled in size. He is now 2.6kg :troll:. Is this a normal weight for a 4 month old?
3. He chases his tail, sometimes he catches it and chews it. I thought only dogs did this, is this normal for a kitty or is he just stupid? :stupid:
4. He is petrified of visitors :Crazy:. In the past month we have had 3 visits from friends, just over for a cup of tea. As soon as they arrive he disappears and hides. Its like thinks they are going to take him away. Over Christmas we are going to stay here and keep him company but we have friends, a nice quite couple, coming to visit for a few days. We will be skiing most days so he’ll have the house to himself most of the time but for the rest of the time I don’t want him to be scared. I was thinking that in the meantime, it would be a good idea to get the neighbours over daily for cups of tea. This might get him used to human company other than me & Caz? Any other ideas?
5. He shows no interest what so ever in going out side. When I go out for a cigarette he comes and sits by the back door watching me through the glass. Given Gizmo’s first disappearance I’m not about to “encourage” him to venture out too soon, that said I do want him to live life to the full and not hide himself away for ever more. When do you know the time is right e.g. when I had a cigarette Gizmo used to sit by the back door. I would leave the door open a little and she would slowly venture in and out. After a few days she was keen to get out and about but I can’t help feeling she was not ready and I encouraged her too soon. I don’t want to make the same mistake with Judo. :where:
Thanks & best regards
Andy
PS. Still looking for Gizmo but no luck so far :boxer:
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At 4 months there isnt any need for him to go out, they should be neutered and chipped and atleast 6 months before going out for supervised visits, they are still like toddlers at that age!
If he stays timid then an indoor life will suit him, he will know his surroundings with no strange things happening and freaking him out. 4 of mine choose to be mainly indoor as they are happy and safe lounging around in bed :Luv:
He could be a little older at that weight or just a big boy, you wont know til hes an adult.
I think we need to see pictures ;D
In regards to strangers, he has missed out a vital stage of socialisation in his younger days, the more people he is slowly introduced to the better, dont let them force attention on him but just interact normally. He may retain a hate of strangers for life, some of my lot do! A favourite treat they can offer may win him round (taken out of his daily rations so he doesnt get fat!)
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Aaawwww, you lot are suckers for a cute picture arn't you :evillaugh: Ok here he is up against 2 good bench marks for scale, a shoe box lid and the lid for a tin of Roses :sneaky:
Thanks
Andy
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OMG hasn't he grown! He's turned from a kitten into a proper "little cat" :Luv2: :Luv2: :Luv2: :Luv2:
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He is gorgeous ;D
Due to their past two of mine hate other people and will run and hide until they are sure they are gone.
The other two love people ;D
Skiing ??......where do you live?
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Aaawwww, you lot are suckers for a cute picture arn't you :evillaugh:
Yep :evillaugh: He is absolutely gorgeous, stunning markings :Luv2:
1) Sounds like a happy, healthy, well adjusted boy although I'd discourage the hand shredding! Try blowing in his face when he does it, it's enough to startle him and make him stop without upsetting him.
2) Not sure about the weight as I didn't weigh mine at that age but he looks about the right size.
3) Think he might be stupid :evillaugh:
4) My cats were indoor only for the first year of their lives and as a result saw a limited amount of people compared to if they'd been out and about seeing other humans. They are very wary of visitors and will hide initially but after a while will come and investigate. Once they've met someone a few times they recognise that they are OK and will behave normally around them. I think your idea of getting neighbours etc round for a cuppa is a good one, it will get him used to other human contact apart from you and your OH.
5) You'll need to wait until he's neutered (and chipped) before he goes outside. To be honest I don't think there's any rush even once he's been neutered, kittens don't have much sense so the older he is the more streetwise he should be.
Sending positive vibes for Gizmo's return :hug:
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Hi, thanks everyone.
1. Hand shredding: Yeah but he likes it and skin grows back :evillaugh:
2. Definitely stupid - he likes me!
3. Stunning markings - he has got 2 white patches, one either side of his butt :evillaugh:. I will take a photo before letting him out - a sure fire positive ID if ever I saw one!!! :evillaugh:
4. What does OH mean?
5. Skiing - South of France. 2 Hours from the slopes and 35min from St Tropez :sneaky:
6. Already chipped. Will not let him out till he is neutered, clawing at the back door and wearing a radio tracker. It sounds like we have plenty of time and he has some "home work" to do with respect to being at home and getting used to us humans ;D
Regards
Andy
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What does OH mean?
Sorry, OH stands for other half...
6. Already chipped. Will not let him out till he is neutered, clawing at the back door and wearing a radio tracker.
Like it :evillaugh:
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He is bigger than my 4mo foster, although he did turn up 3 weeks ago incredibly thin. Even though he likes your hand and skin grows back, you should still discourage it, as while it might be cute now, imagine how much more painful it will be when he is a few kilo's heavier!! Plus the fact he will think everyone's hand is fair game and it is a nightmare to discourage 2yo's from doing it.
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Even though he likes your hand and skin grows back, you should still discourage it, as while it might be cute now, imagine how much more painful it will be when he is a few kilo's heavier!! Plus the fact he will think everyone's hand is fair game and it is a nightmare to discourage 2yo's from doing it.
Gizmo used to love a good rough and tumble. It was hilarious when she decided to give Fr Bill some rough loving during a home visit prior to our wedding. It was a good job that he was a big cat lover :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
...but of course you are right and I should discourage this incredibly endearing but naughty misdemeanour :evillaugh:
Best regards
Andy
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Judo is gorgeous! Good luck with the taming but if he isn't hissing and spitting at you at every available opportunity then I'd say you have a pretty good chance of ending up with a lovely domesticated kitty!
As far as insurance goes, I was recommended any of the policies underwritten by AXA insurance.
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You will be glad to know he is bearing up under the strain :innocent:
Cazs says he likes her piano music - you decide!
This week, concerned he was bored, I started hiding his food :shify: Since then, he is seems much happier and very much more alert :sneaky:
will keep you posted,
Best regards
Andy
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Update on the furry magnet & advice please…
Judo is coming on great, 3.2kg’s of luv’in fun !!!
UPDATE
Providing nobody else is in the house he’s a boisterous mix of playfulness and affection. He makes a great alarm clock – Monday to Friday he goes off five minutes before the real thing. At weekends he waits until he detects life then starts “the procedure”,
a. Strokes & Cuddles.
b. Jump up and down on anything that moves – don’t scratch sensitive intermit bits!
c. Nibble ear.
d. No claws, gently pat ear.
e. Small claws, pat ear slightly more firmly.
f. Not brave enough to find out.
, end result, feeding time! :evillaugh:
************** ADVICE PLEASE **************
I’m concerned that he’s becoming emotionally dependant.
My wife & I both work full time so he’s in the house and on his own all day. I’ve built him a really cool climbing frame, hide his food, alternate his toys etc. That said, when we get home all he’s interested in is whatever we are doing and becomes the fury magnet. His safe place is under our bed, my side, in an old climbing rope bag. Recently I’ve had a couple of days off sick, all he did was sleep next to me or under the bed until I got up.
Today he’s nearly 6 months old. We are due to move back to the UK next June. I want him to go out, have adventures and live a full life but we live near a busy road and 4 months on, we still don’t know what happened to Gizmo. Therefore, I was thinking that it would be best to keep him indoors until we get back to the UK. At which point he will be about 1 years old and it will be a safer environment.
I’m also thinking of adopting another “fury” to keep him company and give him the opportunity to be with his own feline kind.
My wife, my logical conscious, thinks that cats are by nature solitary animals and prefer their own company. Moreover, introducing another cat would create competition for attention and will most probably result in tears.
I was thinking of approaching the “adoption centre” and asking if would possible to adopt on a trial basis for a couple of weeks. If it worked then, it would be good for the adoptee and Judo. That said, if it didn’t work out then the adoptee would have been disrupted and may even miss out on the opportunity of being adopted into another family.
I would very much appreciate your thoughts and opinions please.
Many thanks & best regards,
Andy
PS. On the to do DIY project list is an indoor tree. Already got the drain pipe parts & rope – should get done soon! :wow:
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Good luck with your move, i would keep him until you reach the UK (and then at least 4 weeks in his new home before being allowed any freedom).
If you get a new buddy make sure you have time to sort jabs out!
He may get jealous of sharing you or he may happily share his love between you and his pal :Luv:
Generally young cats get over a new arrival pretty quickly, imo a young male of similar size would be best for roughing it with ;D
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Everything you are describing is normal cat behaviour. When I lived in Tassie, if I was off work sick, my cats worked out a roster so I was never alone. When I get home here, the dog has to wait for the cats to charge through the door to greet me, so he can get a look in also. Cats are solitary creatures, but they are also affectionate and can live in extensive colonies - there is no one answer that fits all cats in terms of company. If you plan to come back to the UK, why not wait until you move, then any new cat will just be part of the new environment and so possibly less traumatic than one coming onto 'his' territory?
I very rarely have one cat at a time, and then only for short periods, so introducing new cats into households is a regular thing for me. I really don't feel that there is a problem here, unless the furry magnet becomes permanently attached and starts showing serious distress when separated. Doesn't sound like it to me, or you would have pee in the middle of your pillow (trust me, I have had an emotionally dependent cat, and they can be very wearing ...)
Sounds like you are doing fine
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Hi Blackcat & Millys Mum,
Thank you for your advice and opinions. I appreciate your input.
You know, I'm sure he can read. This is the first night ever that he has stayed on his own. He has slept on his climbing frame all evening!
My main concern is that I don’t want him to get lonely during the day. My other big concern is that he is missing out an important part of his life. It just feels wrong to keep a cat locked up in solitary confinement for the long term, even if it is for his own good and he shows no inclination or real desire to venture outside.
Best regards,
Andy
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As long as hes happy indoors really dont worry yourself. If he was climbing the walls for freedom then you would be right to be concerned but he sounds perfectly content indoors where he feels safe.
His only knowledge of the outdoors is of being homeless, hungry and cold so why would he want to go out to that?
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you could always get another cat! :wow: :evillaugh: :evillaugh:
But I would wait till you move, like I suggested ... Six months is not a long time, and think of the money you will save on transportation costs - I am dreading finding out how much my lot will cost to take back to the colonies! :scared:
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Transport costs aren’t an issue. This time I’m going to drive him back, its about 18 hours in the car but when we brought Giz over it was 18 hours in total and she had to go in the hold of a noisy aeroplane. She was totally freaked out and she hid in a wardrobe for days after that. In terms of cost, her ticket was twice as much mine!
We could wait 6 months but there is also talk of possible contract extension until end of 2009 which means a year in solitary for him.
In the meantime I know of another young buy (1 or 2 years old) who has been in the home for at least the last 2 months, has also had a **** start in life and could do with a good home.
Regards
Andy
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sounds like you might have decided!!!!
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Andy, you sound like the purfect parent for any cat and I'm sure Judo will relish having a playmate around for when you and your OH are working. He's at a young enough age where introductions should go fairly easily and he looks such a sweetheart :Luv: :Luv: I'm sure whatever you decide, you will do whatever is best for all concerned :hug:
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Yeah I have really, just got to convince OH now :shify:
Here is a link to "Bartoc": http://www.secondechance.org/animal/show/id/12228
Regards
Andy
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Awwwwww just found this thread. Juno is beautiful! His marking remind me of Bella. She has little white bits too :Luv2:
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn178/hannikat/izzy%20and%20bella%208%20weeks/1-2.jpg)
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn178/hannikat/izzy%20and%20bella%208%20weeks/DSC00063.jpg)
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Hey, Hannikat Bella could be Judo’s lost sister ;D
Bella is extremely gorgeous :shy:
In the absence of any further useful chat here is some more gratuitous cat porn :sneaky:
Good night & love you all,
Andy, Judo & Caz too!
XXX
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awww what a sweetie that customised shelf looks great fun! I want one
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Fab pic, no wonder he doesnt want to go out!! Looks like you give him an amazing environment ;D
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Bartok cest un beau chat! :Luv:
Sorry my french is a little rusty.... :-[
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I feel like banging my head against a brick wall.
We both left the house at 07:15 and returned at 19:00. That's 12 hours on his own. I'll be going to bed in 30 minutes so he has had all of 3 hours company today. If I go to the loo or have a cigarette then he sits by the door and meows his head off.
OH is adamant that a second cat will rock his world and destabilise him, and that by the time he has adjusted to a new cat he will have grown past kitten hood/playing with other cats so its a waste of time and unnecessary risk.
Does anyone know a really good "professional" cat Psychologist that they would recommend? I would gladly pay good money to several of these people, get a coconscious of opinion and resolve this debate ASAP
Thanks & best regards
Andy
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Kittens bond very quickly and generally stay mates through adulthood, apart from milly the matron my lot have bonded and benefit alot from having pals about
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Hi, I've been on "www.justanswer.com" to try and get some more information from Vets/Psychologists/Behaviourists etc. Got 2 responses from behaviourists. What do you guys & girls think?
Response 1. Dear Andy, I understand what you are saying and thinking. In my opinion Judo does not care if he ever sees another cat. He is happy just the way things are. However, after a period of adjustment he WILL welcome the newbie and will benefit from having a pal. So the choice is more yours. Its a question of if you wish to put up with a second cat or not because Judo does not really care either way. Its just the way cats are as a species. They can take or leave another kitty.
Response 2. Hi Andy, Terri is spot on with this one...Your resident likely will not care either way, but he can benefit from a friend. However, they may never be pals and follow each other around, they usually don't do that, so if that is your goal, it may not happen. But, just having the company of another cat may well calm his anxiety a bit. It will stress him out at first though, making him a bit more dependant on you for the time being. In short, adopting another kitty can help, but not in such a way that it is a substitute for human companionship. I am all for having multiple cats, especially when they are kittens so they can play with each other and stay out of trouble. Hope that helps! Reani
As always, thanks & regards
Andy.
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one of mine would love to be an only cat, she likes to eat alone and has the conservatory as her room and thinks playing with other cats is just stupid, two of them would go mad if they were only cats, they love each others company and sleep together, clean each other and play together, my forth cat likes his own company sometimes but likes a game sometimes and if its cold will sneak in between the two girls for a bit of heat - they really are all different but if your wife is against it not sure what you can do to change her mind??
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She loves cats as well. It’s just that we are both very concerned about Judo and there is a difference of opinion. She is risk averse and doesn’t want to risk destabilising him, I take more risks and want him to have a healthy balanced life.
What a conundrum :Crazy:
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totally understand with me and my oh its the other way around - I'm often tempted to add to the brood but he won't risk upsetting the applecart!
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Do you know another cat he can 'visit' with? My kitty Spook is an only cat, but I often take her over to spend a few days with my mum, and she plays with Zan, my mum's cat. The first visit they were stand-offish, but Spook has swiftly established herself as the dominant cat, despite being half Zan's size. She thinks she owns the house, and has demonstrated this by chasing Zan out the cat-door and refusing to let him back in. (Spook is an inside cat herself, and only allowed to go outside when I'm with her).
In my experience, neutered male cats tend to like being around female cats, and ours have always settled into friendships pretty fast. Usually, the females seem to be boss cat. The one exception would be one case where my mum got two kittens, Zan and his sister Kirri, and her pre-existing cat 'Little Cat' imediately moved in with the neighbour (who already had two cats anyway). Friendships tend to last a lifetime, and early behaviour patterns often perpetuate. Zan used to suck on Kirri's paws, as a kitten, and continued all her life. My childhood cat Chocolate was a scruffy kitten, and my sister's cat would jump on him, hold him down and wash him - behaviour that continued until they were rehomed separately when we left the country.
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Ok, to cut a long story short "I win" :sneaky:
HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT CAT FOR JUDO?
Age: 5 Months
Sex: Male
Weight: 3.1kg
Temprement:
1. If only me & OH in the house = Happy, friendly, relaxed, playfull and affectionate.
2. If anyone else in the house = he hides.
Is there any other info to concider?
Thanks & regards
Andy
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when I got Indy a new friend I just got Misha, 'free to good home'... we spent some time playing with him at their house and found he was friendly and calm
Introducing: Misha was in a large dog crate with a hidey bed, litter tray (no food at intro to avoid jelousy) and Indy got to walk around the crate and inspect him... all supervised of course. Misha hid in the hidey bed, Indy was fascinated
Next day: both cats let out supervised in a shut room, a fair amount of sniffing, bopping (no claws) and the odd hiss or growl
we got Misha on Weds... Saturday (today) they are playing together, sleeping near each other for naps and sharing food bowl and sharing mousy-onna-string. They are still being separated for main meals and when not supervised but I home in another week that they will be fine together. Misha has already found himself *his* bed (the hamoc part of the scratching tree) and Indy has his platform above it.
btw: Indy
Age: 8 Months
Sex: Male (neutered)
Weight: 4.5kg
Misha
Age: 11 weeks
Sex: Male
Weight: 1.5kg
by choice we would have gotten a slightly older/bigger companion for Indy but he is so careful with little Misha
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Yay, Judo gets a friend ;D
Id pick something similar size and id get a boy, watching my lot the girls like to play but in a different way to the boys, more mature i spose whereas the boys love to act like babies and mess around all the time :tired:
See if your local rescue can help, word of warning if you take on something you feel sorry for from a undesirable petshop/backyard breeder, isolate the newbie just incase they have anything brewing
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oh yeah, forgot to mention that, our two were supposed to stay seperate but Indy got in and introduced himself, after them washing each others faces etc and after Misha went to vets for checkup we were told we may as well let them mix
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Ok the time has come - Judo's world is about to change :sick:
As I type he is sitting on me, purring and trying to help me type. It's just as well he can’t read and hasn't a clue about what's about to hit him :sneaky:
Her name is going to be "Inspector Clouseau". See attached pic. She's the same age, 4.5 months old, neutered and currently living on the street. She was trapped during a local Neutering programme while they were trying to catch her mum. She'll need the same type of initial TLC Judo received. The nice lady is going to catch her tomorrow and take her to vets for jabs & chip before handing over.
The current plan is...
a. Wed PM - Settle in "Study room"
b. Thur All day - Settle in "Study room"
c. If looking confident then, Thur eve - "Put carrier on kitchen table and watch". If mutual interest then restrain both by hand and gentle intro.
d. Fri - repeat "Thursday"
Weekend - play by ear!
Note: If needed I will split the house 50/50, by means of fitting a door.
Apart from scent swapping any other ideas?
Will let you know how it goes & regards
Andy
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I Would do things a bit more gradually than that Andy, introductions should take weeks, especially as she has been living outside, she should be isolated for 2 weeks in case of anything like cat flu flaring up and she wont be fully vacc'd for another 3 weeks, and also she might not be litter trained, and that is best confined to a small area while training.
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Hi Desley, that was quick!
1. Will take things at her pace. If she's not ready to venture out of study then she's not ready to meet Judo.
2. Vac's. Her Vacs may not be matured but I am assuming that Judo's are and so should not be a problem - PLS CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.
3. Would be nice if she scored in the box first time but wouldnt hold it against her if she missed. :rofl: Will suck it and see.
Thanks for advice and best regards
Andy
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She might feel ready to leave the room, but it doesn't mean she will be ready to meet Judo, i would do things a lot slower than from now till weekend. Not 100% sure on vacc's, but I wouldnt take the risk. I know you wouldnt hold it against her, but it is much easier to toilet train and clean up in a small area.
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if she can settle and be separated in Study then maybe she can have it to herself for about 3 weeks? (until jabs fully cover her)
Sometimes you can be lucky and a cat settle in a couple days flat... like Jasper with Rufus and Oscar, or my Misha and Indy, but other cats take weeks and weeks
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hmmm.
I'm not planning on rushing her but at the same time I don't want to keep her locked up for any more time than is necessary. If I keep her locked up for 3 weeks how do I know she was not ready for intros after 1 week?
I was thinking along the lines of lots of brief into's & scent swapping. When both show interest then let them loose to get aquainted?
hmmmm. Theory is perfect in a vacume but in reality Caz & I have 2 weeks off at xmas and I'm hoping to use this time to let them loose and closley monitor thier behaviour under close supervision before we both go back to work in Jan.
regards
Andy
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1 week is too early, she needs to adjust to her surroundings and you before she meets another cat, especially with her background.
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H And
I would also give it at least 2 weeks for smell swapping with no eye contact esp cause she is used to living on the street and not in a home. She will need time to adjust to the new home 1st before dealing with meeting new cats.
lol i speak from experience cause i had have a bad introduction and it was cause i rushed things. The effect on the cats was very stressful and upsetting esp to my resident cat Rio. Also have had very good ones but these were with young kittens and a very outgoing adult Gizmo.
The idea of the scent swapping befopre any contact whatsoever is so the both cats can get used to each others smell and feel good about it so it's good to give treats or play when scent swapping. As cats use smell alot, this will help giving each a feeling of knowing the other before they meet. If the both cats feel happy with each others smell about and acting normally and happy, then you can try a very brief contact with one in a carrier and see what happens. You need to look at body launuage here to see how they are reacting to each other.
If they see each other and it's a bad start so they are not used to each other smells, it can lead to a bad relationship with them both either fighting or never being companions and belive me that is very upsetting and stressful seeing your resident cat so upset.
Some intros are very easy i always go slowly to aviod any bad upsets that can happen cause it's hard to correct it and you need to separate and start from step one again.
Some cats will never get on as well so in these cases it if much kinder to rehome one for the sake of them both.
What is her personality like? Did the rescue tell you much about her? How long has she been in the rescue? Did they notice she likes to be indepandant or like other cat company? Is she a nervious type or outgoing? Stuff i would have wanted to know to try and match her with my resident cat.
Let us know how things go wont ya and we will try and help all we can. I hope things go well and Ju has a wonderful play mate ;D ;D
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Hi,
"What is her personality like? Did the rescue tell you much about her? How long has she been in the rescue? Did they notice she likes to be indepandant or like other cat company? Is she a nervious type or outgoing? Stuff i would have wanted to know to try and match her with my resident cat" Me too! We have no idea - she's still living on the street. The nice lady has been feeding her, put her on website etc, and is going to try & trap her today, take to vets and do paperwork. I'm not sure but I think she works at a "Dog rescue place" and does this in the eve out of kindness. Hopefully should get a call later today. My gut feeling is this is going to be a challenge :sneaky:
Will keep you posted.
Andy
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Hi Andy
I would be concerned with taking in a little one that is very likely unsocialised. Judo is probably going to feel a bit jealous and put out having to share his home with a new furbaby and if you have got to spend the extra time and effort to socialise the little girl he may feel even more jealous and it could make him accepting her a lot harder.
I have always been extremely lucky introducing new cats and have never had to separate at all, just provided lots of supervision in case things got really rough.
Good Luck
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Don't worry, with a bit of DIY, vet trips, timeshare & TLC they will be fine.
At the very worst, if it doesn't work out after a few months then we'll find her another home. In the mean time at least she's off the street, warm, dry & safe.
Besides which I have to put with my OH - Judo's got it too cushy at the moment and needs a woman about the house to make his life a misery as well :evillaugh:
Regards
Andy
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glad she will spend christmas in the warm
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I really hope it all works out and look forward to seeing lots of photos x
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I agree with others that she needs time to settle before meetings take place. Tan has explained it all exactly how I normally do settling in and intros.
I'm going through the same thing again at the moment with Baby, who arrived a week ago, she had her first vac on Saturday and 2nd one 3weeks, so she will not meet the others until then, by which time they will have got used to her scents, and her theirs.
She's got her own room upstairs, but I spend a lot of time in their with her, and when the others are all downstairs I can shut the door downstairs, so she can then have the run of upstairs for now. Haviing said that, she's had a little explore in some of the other rooms, but more often than not, even when I leave the door to her room open, she remains in there.
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Good news, especially because its cold and raining :scared: - Nice lady bagged the moggy so should get to meet her about 9pm tonight.
By the time we get back it will be v late so will post something tommorrow.
Good night & :thanks:
Andy
PS. Cat Locator (Not UK version - Loc8tor) turned up today. Its supposed to be good for upto 1 mile clear line of sight. I'll strap it to the wife later for Field Trials in residential area and post results :rofl:
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Kittens dont need as long as adults to be introduced to one another IMO. My concern for this one is a) shes torti :evillaugh: and b) shes going to be feral after her first 4.5 months being spent outside. Because of that i would suggest a dog crate to start with, shes going to need some really intense socialising!!
If shes loose in the house too soon her socialising will be set back greatly, you need lots of one to one in a small area.
Being a street urchin she could be carrying undesirable problems, not just the obvious flu but stomach issues such as campylobacter, you dont want that :evillaugh: :sick:
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Ok I can't help myself - FIRE IN THE HOLE - The cat has entered the building ;D
"Kittens dont need as long as adults to be introduced to one another IMO."
1. Sorry for being a biff but what does IMO mean?
2. How long would you suggest for kittens?
"Shes going to be feral after her first 4.5 months being spent outside. Because of that i would suggest a dog crate to start with, shes going to need some really intense socialising!!"
1. Why dog crate?
2. Spoke to nice lady - apparently she gets on with lots of cats, her trick is lots of shoulder action with the other cats.
"If shes loose in the house too soon her socialising will be set back greatly" - She's not loose. Will be locked in spare room for the moment. Was going to fit door to stairs and split house 50/50 for medium term.
"you need lots of one to one in a small area." Me & Cat or Judo & Cat?
"Being a street urchin she could be carrying undesirable problems, not just the obvious flu but stomach issues such as campylobacter, you dont want that" was checked by Nice lady's vet today (have paperwork) - will be checked by our vet tommorrow.
Judo is sitting by her door, mewing a bit + wondering where some of his toys, cat grass & favorite food is going ;) Suspicious & Curious. :rofl:
Thanks & regards
Andy
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IMO = In My Opinion
the dog cages/dog crates give all around acess and you can get large enough for a litter tray, bed, food bowl, means the cat can feel safe but not wedge under the desk
when I got Indy he went in a 30 inch x 24 inch x 20 inch crate, Misha now sleeps in it at night
also helps with litter training etc
a lot of bugs can take a week or two to show up, so vet coul give her all clear tomorrow and then come down sick in a few days
and the one on one time is you and new cat, Judo should not be alone with her for a while yet as a little spat could get bad vey quickly... Misha has been here 2 weeks and I still supervise them together as Indy can be a bit too rough.
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No advice just wanted to say :1st place: on the new arrival. Hope she settles in quickly and her and Judo become the best of buddies, if you thought one cat was fun wait til you have two of them tearing round after each other :)
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So glad that the little one is going to be warm and loved - well done Andy :Luv2:
Has she got a name yet?
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Ferals tame down quicker in a smaller space, if they can hide away from you then it takes longer, a crate gives them a secure area where nothing bad happens but makes them face up to their new life.
Fingers crossed she isnt too feral?
The socialising she needs isnt with Judo but with humans, her behaviour to him should be fine as shes lived in a colony and will be uptodate with catty etiquette!
Im glad shes got the all clear for physical health, hidden problems do take time to surface, the stress of rehoming often brings these out
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Well, well, well - scent is a powerfull thing!
Ok...
Got home and time for our vet to take a look. She was hidden between the wall and the computer desk so the only way to get her into the carrier was to "slowly & gentley" scruff her. Before popping her in carrier took the opportunity to give her a big hug and a stroke. She Yowled loudly. Judo heard and returned a yowl for each of hers. With cat secure & freshly scented, went & stoked Judo. HE ACTUALLY HISSED AT ME - LOTS!!!
Vet gave "Inspector Clouseau" the all clear bar some little yellow mites at the base of the ear. Creme for 8 days.
Got home and put Clouseau in carrier on kitchen table and watched. Clouseu gave off a few pathetic Yowls - Judo did/said nothing, just ignored her. Then after several minutes he started trilling from upstairs - she yowled from downstairs. Then silence.
Returned Clouseau to her room. Lifted her out of carrier to sneak in a few more cuddles. Couldn't put her down because she had sunk her claws into my jumper. Sat on chair with her on my lap and released her - expecting her to jump down & hide. Nope just sat there! Ok then, so gave her lots more strokes and cuddles and she damn well fell asleep with chin resting on one of my hand!!! Scooped her up and gentley placed her on bean bag. Tidyed up her room, gave her food and left her to rest.
Judo is now not talking to me - more HISSING :innocent:, that said he hasn't noticed that I rubbed her scent off on his toys which he is still playing with - SUCKER :evillaugh:
New update soon & Best regards
Andy
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how cute that she fell asleep on your lap!
I'm sure Judo will come around soon
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Clouseau's Blog update:
Attitude
About midnight she started Yowling very loudly and did not stop until 9am this morning. I got up several times in the night to try and console her but failed miserably. It was like she was pining for her mum to come and rescue her. She had also wet the beanbag I put her in. She's much easier to handle then Judo, i.e. not petrified of humans but overall she just seems very sad and withdrawn. :(
Food
Last night she ate all her wet food and is drinking.
Litter tray
The main worry at the moment is that she has not had a poo yet. At 22:00HRS tonight she will have been here 48HRS. I'm guessing its just stress related but how long before this become a serious problem?
Apart from the bed wetting last night she has had no more accidents. That said I don't know if she's using the litter tray or just crossing her legs. Is there some cunning trick to see if she's using the litter?
Judo: as can be expected, he is not himself at the moment. I think he thinks we are torturing cats in the spare room. I aborted the attempt to give him his worming pill this morning because all her Yowling had spooked him. When we eventually caught him he was hissing and growling so much that I thought it would be best to leave it till tonight when things have calmed down and he is hungry as he is always more cooperative at feeding time.
Regards
Andy
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Have you got feliway diffusers plugged in? one in her room, one somewhere else in the house that Judo frequents? - might help a bit.
The beanbag wetting - probably due to the fact that the filling of beanbag feels very similar underfoot to litter, so might be worth giving her something else to sleep in/on - good old cardboard box with a piece of washable vetbed/fleece is usually a winner.
What sort of cat litter are you using? - if clumping you should be able to see if she's wee'd because it will make little clumps. If not clumping - you should still be able to see darker/wet patches if she's wee'd.
Its completely to be expected that she seems a bit withdrawn - its all a big upheaval for her and I'm sure she won't take long to settle and feel more comfortable in her new surroundings. Personally I wouldnt get up to her if she yowls in the night - she will settle eventually :)
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No Feliway diffusers - will try and find some. That said we have the Spray and her room gets a good spray.
Managed to find some "Rescue Remedy" and "Night Remedy" today. Have given both water bowls a few drops of RR and will give NR tonight. Me & Caz have even given it go :rofl:
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Bless her, it must be very scary for her.
I would remove the bean bag as it does feel like litter to cats, you could sprinkle a little soil in her tray to encourage her to use it.
I agree with gillian in regards to late night yowling, ignore her or your making a rod for your own back!! Has she been spayed yet, possible shes in heat?
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I binned the bean bag last night. Judging by how wet was I'm guessing that she used it several times.
Yes she's been spayed.
The study is quite an exposed place. There are shelves, boxes etc that she can hide in but overall - she can not hide properly. Her new hiding place is between the cat carrier and a box. She is pretty well hidden and fairly sucure but I can reach over and stroke her from above. She will let me and Caz both stroke her and does not run but clearly she is still very scared and is tolorating it rather than enjoying it. Question: Should we carry on with short and frequent stroking or should we just let her come to us?
In my opinion, her letting us touch her would indicate that she is more advanced in the social process, i.e. she is not at "Square 1" and progression rather than regression is better. On the other hand - I don't want to risk forcing her.
Thanks & regards ,
Andy
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maybe you could sit and read a book and completely ignore her, just have her food next to you... this will allow her to approachh for food without you touching her, te also sit there with no food... and see if she comes to investigate then too. Cats areinsanely curious so if you ignore her she may come to see what is so great about a book!
Also if you have a box with nothing in it maybe cut a couple holes in at right-angles... then she can hide with an escape route, and allow her to be more relaxed
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The story continues and proves an eventful day...
Last night: Yowled again all night though more pathetic, weaker & sadder.
Morning: Did a big poo & wee. Added bonus, it was all in the litter tray. Found her on top of the shelves. Let her be and just worked on the computer.
Afternoon: Despite strategically placed intermediary platform (chair), still on shelves . Concerned she couldn't get down, gently lifted her down & placed on floor. Scurried off but didn't hide immediately.
My feelings at the moment are that she is not scared of us just very sad and her yowling is a call to other cats for help. Judo is now not objecting to her scent and is lying on her towel.
Evening: In her carrier placed her on the coffee table. Judo on top of his climbing frame. She looked him in the eye and yowled repeatedly. He slowly moved down to ground level then hopped up for a closer look. Her yowls are now super pathetic. He jumps off and wonders away trilling – she yowls very loudly. He comes back, she sticks her nose up real close, he hisses a bit but doesn’t growl or run away. This carries on for 30 minutes. He then wonders off & she yowls, so I open her door. She pops her head out, yowls then retreats. He visits, pops his head in then runs off to one corner of the room. She exits carrier, runs off to opposite corner of room and yowls! He comes over, at which point I get a sneaky photo – see attached. She now hides behind dishwasher and yowls. He then investigates her carrier and her room then joins us in the lounge. After an hour or so, extracted her from behind dishwasher and returned her to her room but left her door slightly open.
Conclusion
She desperately wants his company and to be accepted by him. He is somewhere between neutral, intrigued and slightly cautious.
10:55: She is yowling for him from upstairs – he is sleeping quietly on her towel downstairs.
Regards
Andy
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Sorry but this is priceless :sneaky:
Its bedtime. He follows me up as per usual. She's mewing gentley (not yowling - mewing). He slips into her room "Trilling", then runs out, her head pokes out. Now repeat process for 10 minutes!
All is now quite, see attached :evillaugh:
Regards
Andy
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Sounds like it's all going well :) You wait til they become proper pals, hours of fun :wow:
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I'm hoping for another sleepless night, though one of playfulness and joy rather than sadness and sorrow :Luv2: Will update you tomorrow :briggin:
Good night,
Andy
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Hi Andy,
Sounds like things are moving along as well as can be expected. As she is a tortie I have a feeling she won't be backwards at coming forward so to speak.
Does she play? this is a really good way of bonding ... especially toys that require you and her to interact without actually making contact ... I have always found something like a piece of hairy string / ribbon / dressing gown cord ... anything you can dangle and she can pounce on. Also toy mice are usually a winner. This will not only help her to settle it will hopefully tire her out and therefore she may sleep through the night rather than sit their crying.
Plaing is also good as it's a way of getting her and judo to interact without it being too confrontational.
Good luck and I'm sure it won't be long before everything settles down.
BTW ... Clouseau is gorgeous :Luv2:
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As she is a tortie I have a feeling she won't be backwards at coming forward so to speak.
Question: VERY TRUE, but how did you know that?
UPDATE
Its 3AM in the “Big brother household” and all is quiet. NOT !!!
I've heard French women are high maintenance but this is ridiculous.
She's exploring the house but she wants her new friend to keep her company. If he's not glued to her side then she yowls - he's just knackered and wants to sleep. I know we are going to look back and laugh but it’s so not funny at the moment. >:(
Tried playing with them both this morning. Judo was having a great time and has never had 20 odd mice on the go at once! She watched but is too nervous to play at the moment. Will try more today and try to tire her out so that she will HOPEFULLY SLEEP TONIGHT!
Thanks & regards,
Andy
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It's a Tortie thing Andy ... although not an exact science it seems that Torties have a certain "ballsy" attitude often referred to as "Tortietude" or "Catitude" LOL.
About 18 months ago I brought a tiny little 5 month old tortie into my house. She was the most ballsy little thing I had ever met ... When Zephyr (my 5 year old male Abyssinian ... who does not like other cats in his house) walked up to her and started yowling in her face she simply looked him in the eye, bopped him between the ears and then rolled over and played all girly! LOL. Zephyr was completely stunned and intrigued by this little bundle of terror that have arrived. Rossi (the Tortie terror) never backed down or was scared of Zephyr and they have now become firm friends.
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Ok so in a couple of weeks Judo is going to be getting bossed about by his "ballsy" Mrs. Sounds like a familiar story, my Mrs has got red hair, likes to think she’s in charge and gets proper feisty when crossed!
Update: Not much new. Didn’t want to play ball but noted that she started purring when she was watching me & Judo playing. Probably just checking out his but :sneaky:
Regards
Andy
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As she is a tortie I have a feeling she won't be backwards at coming forward so to speak.
Question: VERY TRUE, but how did you know that?
Anybody who is owned by a torti knows this :evillaugh: you will learn further down the line!
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:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: OOh you are gonna be in so much trouble when your other half reads what you put!! But yes Torties are a bit like "red heads" ;)
Of course I would like to add that the ONLY cat in my household that actively seeks me out to sit on my lap is Rossi .. the tortie. She is a complete and utter little sweetheart and a real little cuddle bum ... even if she does have "Attitude".
Good to hear Clouseau is purring .. that's a sign she is feeling a bit more relaxed at least.
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Ok one month on!!!
Clouseau: progress with us has been very slow but she and Judo get on fantastically. To be fair she has had to put up with guests over Christmas as well as being trapped in a new house with a pair of nutters! Now when I rattle the food bowls she & Judo come to investigate which is a vast improvement on constantly hiding under the bed. As you may notice all the photos are a bit dark. That’s because she only really comes out after Caz has gone to bed and I’m outside having a cigarette.
Judo: got the snip the other day and is taking it in his stride. I’ve also started to let him out when it is light and I can watch over him. He just likes to sit on the patio, sniff the fresh air and have a little chew on the grass. He then runs to the back door at the slightest sound.
Watching them play together is magical. He approaches, sticks his whole arm around her, chews her neck then licks her ear. He approaches again and knocks her over; the pair fuse into one big rotating fur ball. She runs and hides, then as he unsuspectingly strolls past, she pounces and knocks him for six - Kungfoo Clouseau!!! On the garden table, our dinning room table, he sits on top like The King of the castle and she sits underneath and torments him by pawing him through the hole for the parasol!
Still waiting for my hug off of her but I think she will take a lot of time.
Regards
Andy
PS. Cats can see in the dark – they chase ach other around the house at Mach 2 at 3 O’clock in the morning every day :evillaugh:
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So glad Judo is enjoying his new found friends comapny :) I'm sure given more time and patience she'll learn to trust you and your wife too.
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Hello all,
I'm sorry it’s been a long time but there’s not been much to report.
In 3 days she will have been living here for 2 months and I can only conclude that she is as thick as a whale omelette. Today her pooh smelt so she tried to cover it up which is good except she was digging around the side of the litter tray :innocent:
Seriously though, in terms of accepting us, progress is excruciatingly slow. We are doing the “leave her to come to us thing” but at this rate she will be an OAP before she has twigged that we are on her side. With hindsight we should of done the cage thing and got her used to us before letting her loose in the house.
I was thinking of giving her some forced loving, i.e. each day lock her in a room, catch her & cuddle her for 10 minutes then let her go and do her own thing again. May be after a couple of weeks she’ll realise we are there for her. This probably goes against all the rules – what do you think? Any other ideas?
Best regards
Andy
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No I dont think that will be a good idea and will only terrify her.
I have had Sasa for over 3 yrs and I still cant touch her, some cats just dont like it and in Sasas case she has a bad history, poor girl. She does come and ask me to play though but I think have to be at least 2-3 ft away from her.
Just read that she is a tortie LOL, so is Sasa!
Do you feed your cats and then take up the dishes or do you leave them down, so that they can graze?
If its the former I maybe able to help you, so please pm me ;D
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Your in for the long haul, you can try spending extra time in one room but i wouldnt suggest catching her and forcing cuddle time, just spend lots of one on one time with a long shoelace or similar
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Hi Gill & Millys Mum,
Thanks for the responses. I leave their food out so they can graze. I keep trying to play with her but it seems to unsettle her and she skulks away. That said I've found she does have a soft spot for cheese and ice cream but I don't want to make her fat & ill.
On some positive notes, TODAY there have been 3 ground breaking first timers :wow: She pawed my foot this morning while I was prepping their breakfast - that's the 1st time she has ever voluntarily made contact! She's learnt this off Judo who either jumps up your leg using claws or sinks his teeth into your ankle. Funny when wearing jeans & boots - not funny bare footed in a dressing gown >:( While Caroline was playing her Clarinet she came down and had a good old sing song. While Caz was reading and fussing Judo she let Caz rub her chin but legged it when she went for between the ears.
You know every time I come on here for advice, things just seem to "magically" sort themselves out :-:
Many thanks & very best regards,
Andy
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You know every time I come on here for advice, things just seem to "magically" sort themselves out :-:
We do try you know :rofl:
Fingers crossed she continues to make first moves
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Hi,
I have an update for you and I’m looking for advice please.
We’ve been letting them out for supervised play in the garden, but Clouseau went over the wall Friday night 15 minutes before the round up at dusk. On Saturday she was happily playing in the neighbours garden and chatting to Judo through the fence. This tells me that she is happier outside fending for herself.
She's wearing a tracker and we’ve been tracking her movements to keep an eye on her. Worryingly the incredibly intelligent hunter gather has setup camp on the busiest road in town, between a Petrol station on one side and a storm ditch on the other? :tired: That said there are tunnels under the road and we think she is using those because she was sat next to one when Caz was talking to her today.
I don’t want to trap her because that will make her a prisoner again, she’d hate us even more and do it again. I’m therefore hoping that she will come home under her own steam.
She’s very fond of big fat “Prawns”! Do you think that tacking her down daily for a friendly chat over ONE Prawn (i.e. not enough to sustain her) is a good idea or is that likely to scare/annoy her and drive her further away?
The other things to consider are that her battery will run out in about 2 weeks and for the long term if she is going to be feral then her collar should be removed.
Do you have any advice or ideas?
As always, many thanks & best regards,
Andy
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Has she come home yet Andy? I don't think it's unusual for cats to stay out fior a few days, especially as the weather gets nicer. You're lucky in that you have the loc8tor collar on her, I'd definitely try and lure her away from the area she's set up camp in :hug:
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Hi,
I must have sucker written on my forehead :shy:
We went over tonight and had a chat over 6 prawns. She looked very timid and hungry. I’m going out at 1am to set a path of prawns via the underpass as I’m too fat for the drain.
I will monitor any progress and let you all know as soon as I do.
Good night,
Andy
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I apologize for the delay in the way of an update, but we’ve relocated back to the UK and been busy with work etc. ANYWAY, THERE IS A HAPPY ENDING…
After two months of feeding in the Storm ditch Clouseau trusted us enough to do the hand-feeding thing and ate her dinner inside the cat carrier. One week before our departure from France I closed the door on her and took her back to the French house. She and Judo were then driven back to the UK and kept in for a month. The Cat flap has now been open for six weeks and they make full use of it. They both seem much happier with full freedom in cold rainy England with a warm and cosy pad to retreat to when it all gets too much. Judo has been defending his new turf avidly :naughty: and when you see one, the other is usually less than 10 meters away :Luv2:
See below.
Many thanks for all your kindness and support,
Andy
PS. Just before our departure, I mail dropped the neighbourhood with our UK contact information just in case Gizmo should ever resurface. At which point she’d be snatched and back in the UK in under 24 hours ;0))
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Good to hear from you again Andy :) Glad things seem to have worked out for you all, would be great if one day Gizmo could be reunited with you all too :hug:
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Woo Hoo welcome back Andy .... so pleased to hear that Judo and Clouseau are happy together and obviously loving their Daddy so much .... they are both gorgeous :Luv2: :Luv2: :Luv2:
Stilll keeping everything crossed that Gizmo will turn up and be repatriated with you all. :hug: :hug:
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:) good to hear from you Andy, glad all is well with kitties. Hope that Gizmo will soon be back with you too :hug:
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Hi Andy - lovely to hear from you and Im glad that the update is so positive - fingers crossed that Gizmo finds her way back to you one day :hug:
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Great to hear from you and do hope that Gizmo finally resurfaces ;D
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Ooo havent they grown! :Luv2: