Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK

Cat General => General Cat Chat => Topic started by: Tiggy's Mum on February 20, 2012, 16:03:11 PM

Title: Poor Lu is petrified - accident with a carrier bag
Post by: Tiggy's Mum on February 20, 2012, 16:03:11 PM
Poor Lu is absolutely traumatised  :( He loves carrier bags and always tries to eat them or get in them so I'm normally quite careful to keep them out of his way. I left one on the floor this afternoon and saw Lu go to get in, I tried to grab him but he got his head stuck through the handle and shot off at 100 miles an hour with the bag billowing behind him. I ran after him and found him frozen under the bed, he literally wouldn't move. I tried calling him and throwing dreamies under there but he was frozen to the spot and petrified  :( I had to poke him out with a stick and rip the carrier bag off him as he ran past me.

He is now stood absolutely rigid on the windowsill which is where he jumped as I ripped the bag off. I've tried stroking him and talking to him gently but he is frozen to the spot wide eyed. I've left him alone as me standing there didn't seem to be helping him. My poor boy  :(
Title: Re: Poor Lu is petrified - accident with a carrier bag
Post by: Rosella moggy on February 20, 2012, 16:14:10 PM
Am so sorry Helen.  Poor boy  :hug: :hug: :hug: 

So easy for that to happen.  Carrier bags are so flipping dangerous and often very attractive to cats.  I've had both Freddie and Boris get tangled up in string to Da Bird and similarly traumatised.  They calmed down within an hour or so though Helen and very much hope Lucas recovers himself quickly. 

Suggest you don't make a fuss though.  Might just reinforce the feeling of fear  :hug: :hug: :hug:
Title: Re: Poor Lu is petrified - accident with a carrier bag
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on February 20, 2012, 17:10:05 PM
I do hope Lu is Ok now and has maybe come to you for some cuddles  :hug: :hug:
Title: Re: Poor Lu is petrified - accident with a carrier bag
Post by: mad_lilli on February 20, 2012, 17:11:33 PM
Poor Lu! Maybe that was his supercat cape and now he's missing his powers! X
Title: Re: Poor Lu is petrified - accident with a carrier bag
Post by: sheilarose on February 20, 2012, 17:18:19 PM
Aww, poor Lu (no blame to you, Helen, cats are faster then peeps - FACT) xx
Title: Re: Poor Lu is petrified - accident with a carrier bag
Post by: Tiggy's Mum on February 20, 2012, 17:21:11 PM
Thanks all  :hug:

He has moved from the windowsill and gone to his favourite 'up high' sleeping space in the spare room. His eyes are still really wide, he really does look traumatised  :( If it was Riley I know he would bounce back within 10 minutes (he would have probably quite enjoyed having a super-cat-cape!) but Lu is such a sensitive little soul I know this will haunt him  :shy:

I had to pop out so bought him some nice chicken and ham from the deli counter, he's just had a small slice of chicken so I'm  bit happier now he's eaten as he was even ignoring dreamies after I had got the bag off him.
Title: Re: Poor Lu is petrified - accident with a carrier bag
Post by: sheryl on February 20, 2012, 17:33:21 PM
Big huggles for Lu xxx Hope he gets over his ordeal soon xxx

One of my Bengals did the same thing when they were smaller and ended up literally climbing the walls until I could grab him - he ran every time he say a carrier bag for weeks.
Title: Re: Poor Lu is petrified - accident with a carrier bag
Post by: Gillian Harvey on February 20, 2012, 17:33:57 PM
Yep, have had this happen before too, they just get so spooked by it don't they? He will recover with the help of chicken and ham  ;)  :Luv:
Title: Re: Poor Lu is petrified - accident with a carrier bag
Post by: Dawn F on February 20, 2012, 17:41:38 PM
awww poor little Lu, Star did a similar thing with a twig in her trousers over the weekend
Title: Re: Poor Lu is petrified - accident with a carrier bag
Post by: JenGeorgieBob on February 20, 2012, 17:48:14 PM
Yep, Fred has done that here too, but with a paper bag as he loves playing in them, we learnt after that, if we give him one to play with we cut the handles completely off! I hope he is recovered and feels better soon
Title: Re: Poor Lu is petrified - accident with a carrier bag
Post by: tab on February 20, 2012, 20:18:03 PM
Awww poor Lu.
Amber did the carrier bag thing for the first time ever after my mum sent me some fish. I had no idea until Amber did the hundred mile an hour scoot around the room with the bag round her neck.... So scarey and I have no advice apart from love and hugs
love
Tab
Title: Re: Poor Lu is petrified - accident with a carrier bag
Post by: Tiggy's Mum on February 20, 2012, 20:27:01 PM
Sounds like Lu is not alone in his bag fetish, so many silly cats around!

He had a nibble of ham up high in the spare room and I tempted him into jumping down with it but then he wouldn't eat it as he was too bothered with looking through the door into the landing as though the bag was going to come and get him  :scared: He's now come downstairs of his own accord so hopefully he's over the worst of his fright.

Big huggles for Lu xxx Hope he gets over his ordeal soon xxx

One of my Bengals did the same thing when they were smaller and ended up literally climbing the walls until I could grab him - he ran every time he say a carrier bag for weeks.

Fingers crossed it will have the same effect on Lu!
Title: Re: Poor Lu is petrified - accident with a carrier bag
Post by: Tan on February 20, 2012, 21:13:33 PM
Glad Lu is ok after his cape scare.  :Luv: :Luv: Me lads also love bags esp Marl and is always getting into them  :sneaky: i have to make sure every bag they can get to have no handles  :innocent: cheeky monkeys.   

Cats are so different to us in fearful times. Luv em lol  :Luv:  The only thing we want to do a comfort them as we would a child but to a cat it's completely different and if we try to comfort them, all it does is reinforce the fear and says to them that yes you should be scared!  Best thing to do is act calm once all is safe and act normal as if what just happened aint nowt.  :) I tried this when going to the vets and it really works. i used to sit at the back with them and talk to them all the time and feel tight inside cause i knew they were scared but since i learnt that actually reinforces their fear i now sit up  front and act as if they were not there and completely calm from inside as well  (They seem to sense what you feel inside) and they are definitely not as scared :)

They are amazing aint they  :Luv: :Luv:

Title: Re: Poor Lu is petrified - accident with a carrier bag
Post by: Sam (Fussy_Furball) on February 20, 2012, 21:46:03 PM
Ahhhh poor Lu ... I went through the same thing with Zephyr ... I knew my boy could jump but when I saw him leaping about 7 foot straight up the wall trying to get away from his bag I think I was more terrified than him.  He soon got over it and still insists on getting into every bag that comes into the house.
Title: Re: Poor Lu is petrified - accident with a carrier bag
Post by: maryas on February 21, 2012, 00:39:21 AM
 :hug:  :Luv2:  :hug: Poor Lu.  It's not nice when something like this happens cos as much as you try to get them free from a bag or a twig in Dawn's case they don't see that you're trying to help them cos they are too upset.

Hope Lu will be eating his Dreamies soon.

Mary
Title: Re: Poor Lu is petrified - accident with a carrier bag
Post by: Skiddaw on February 22, 2012, 08:29:31 AM
Oh bless. Poor little Lu...

Nearest similar experience I have was the time when the Munchkin was stung by a bee. It took me three days to persuade him to go back into the garden and for at least a week he ran a mile every time he heard a buzzy thing.
Title: Re: Poor Lu is petrified - accident with a carrier bag
Post by: sheilarose on February 22, 2012, 10:44:49 AM
Hope Lu is getting back into his stride  :hug:

Beau has his moments with carrier bags but they're usually weewee related  :-[ but after Lu's experience I guess I'll forgive him from now on.

Please tell Lu, from Beau, how to get his own back on Evilbag :evillaugh:
Title: Re: Poor Lu is petrified - accident with a carrier bag
Post by: emmmy_lou on February 22, 2012, 12:11:38 PM
Poor Lu, hope he is recovering from his ordeal,  :hug: what is it with carrier bags, the crinkles, or are they just so nosey???
Maybe he'll avoid them from now on  :evillaugh:
Title: Poor Lu is petrified - accident with a carrier bag
Post by: Tiggy's Mum on February 22, 2012, 14:51:14 PM
Thanks everyone, I'm pleased to report he's fully recovered from his ordeal :) He really is soooooo sensitive I thought this would do him lasting damage so am very pleased to be proved wrong :naughty:
Title: Re: Poor Lu is petrified - accident with a carrier bag
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on February 22, 2012, 15:30:37 PM
So pleased that Lu has recovered  ;D
Title: Re: Poor Lu is petrified - accident with a carrier bag
Post by: maryas on February 22, 2012, 21:10:33 PM
Great news Helen. :hug:

Mary
Title: Re: Poor Lu is petrified - accident with a carrier bag
Post by: Tiggy's Mum on February 22, 2012, 21:54:33 PM
I take it back, he ran away from me twice today when I tried to stroke him (which is unheard of, he's normally flopping over onto his back to get tummy rubs every time he sees me) so he is obviously still frightened :(
Title: Re: Poor Lu is petrified - accident with a carrier bag
Post by: Dawn F on February 22, 2012, 21:55:24 PM
poor little fellow
Title: Re: Poor Lu is petrified - accident with a carrier bag
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on February 22, 2012, 21:58:07 PM
I am sure he will slowly learn not to be scared  :hug: :hug:
Title: Re: Poor Lu is petrified - accident with a carrier bag
Post by: den22 on February 22, 2012, 22:32:58 PM
Aww poor Lu bless  :(  hope he gets over it soon .

sending some BIG snuggles to him  :hug: :hug: :hug:

Denise
Xxx
Title: Re: Poor Lu is petrified - accident with a carrier bag
Post by: sheilarose on February 22, 2012, 22:42:45 PM
Dweemeez    ?

Sly da sly  :clap: :come:
Title: Re: Poor Lu is petrified - accident with a carrier bag
Post by: maryas on February 23, 2012, 23:16:36 PM
Aaaw bless his little heart  :Luv2:  :hug:

Maybe if he saw you and Riley playing with a plastic bag (no handles) he might realise he doesn't have to be scared anymore?

Mary
Title: Re: Poor Lu is petrified - accident with a carrier bag
Post by: Tiggy's Mum on February 24, 2012, 17:40:48 PM
He's back to normal now, purring, cuddling and not running away from me  :)
Title: Re: Poor Lu is petrified - accident with a carrier bag
Post by: den22 on February 24, 2012, 19:51:47 PM
That's great news  ;D :hug:

Denise
Xxx
Title: Re: Poor Lu is petrified - accident with a carrier bag
Post by: maryas on February 24, 2012, 21:29:38 PM
Hope he stays that way Helen - it's so sad when they are clearly having a bad time, we feel so helpless.

Mary  :hug:
Title: Re: Poor Lu is petrified - accident with a carrier bag
Post by: tab on February 24, 2012, 21:59:35 PM
Its horrible not being able to help so Im so glad hes a happy chappy again  :hug: :hug: