A cat forum. CatBanter

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Go Back   Home » CatBanter forum » Cat Newsgroups » Cat anecdotes
Site Map Home Register Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

He's come a long way, baby!



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #11  
Old June 20th 16, 11:10 PM posted to rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
Joy[_3_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 397
Default He's come a long way, baby!

On 6/20/2016 10:33 AM, Christina Websell wrote:
"Joy" wrote in message
...

Sometimes I hardly recognize Koala, my little feral cat. When I first got
him, he hid most of the time. Once he started coming out where he could
be seen, he ran every time I took a step toward him. Eventually he got
over that, and then he would let me pet him, but only if he were on the
floor and I was standing.

A couple of months ago he started coming up when I was sitting in my
recliner, and lying on my legs, out of reach. He has actually laid on my
lap a couple of times, and last night he came up on my lap and nudged and
meowed for me to pet him for a while before he laid down on my lap.

Joy


Brilliant news! It takes patience, lots of patience over a long time. It's
paying off. I'm happy for you both.

Tweed



Thank you. Yes, it's really lovely. After almost two years, I thought
it would never happen.
  #12  
Old June 23rd 16, 12:47 PM posted to rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
dgk
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,268
Default He's come a long way, baby!

On Mon, 20 Jun 2016 19:05:54 +0100, "Christina Websell"
wrote:


"dgk" wrote in message
.. .
On Tue, 14 Jun 2016 16:07:44 -0700, Joy
wrote:


Sometimes I hardly recognize Koala, my little feral cat. When I first
got him, he hid most of the time. Once he started coming out where he
could be seen, he ran every time I took a step toward him. Eventually
he got over that, and then he would let me pet him, but only if he were
on the floor and I was standing.

A couple of months ago he started coming up when I was sitting in my
recliner, and lying on my legs, out of reach. He has actually laid on
my lap a couple of times, and last night he came up on my lap and nudged
and meowed for me to pet him for a while before he laid down on my lap.

Joy


What was the timeline for this? It gives me a certain amount of hope
for Baby, who does come out from under the bed sometimes (for 10
minutes or so) and will let me pet her. I brought her with me when I
moved from Queens NY last July so it's almost a year since she became
an indoor cat, after spending the first six years of her life on the
street in Queens.

It isn't really great progress though. She still isn't very happy. I
happened to be back in Queens last week and stopped by the old block.
The green areas in front of my old house have been completely paved
over, leaving nowhere for a cat to hang out. The same is true of the
house across the street where my friend Serene lived. Both were small
houses and are being renovated to hold three apartments each - not
quite legally I'm sure.

There are still two people willing to feed the cats on the block, but
both are very elderly. When they die, there will be no one left to
care fo them at all. Still, Baby seems so unhappy now that I'm
considering taking her back to the block where her cat friends (and
mother) still live. She may face tough times ahead, but I just don't
know that she'll ever be happy as an indoor cat.

On the other hand, I'm seriously working on getting a fence built
around my yard here in Florida so I can let them out part-time. Not
free roaming, but at least they'll have some grass to walk on and some
bushes to lie under. Maybe she'll be content with that. I'll try it
before doing something as drastic and taking her back.


Ex ferals and those cats that went slightly feral because of losing their
homes find it difficult to fit in to a home, either for the first time, or
"again." It took me 3 or 4 months to get Boyfriend to feed just inside the
back door (and two years before I could close it as he panicked without an
escape route) luckily I live in a low crime area. It does take a long
time, literally years for these cats to trust: never push them to interact
with you, they will eventually.
Please do not even think of taking Baby back to an uncertain future on the
streets. Boyfie took a long time, much longer than you've given Baby but
now his ideal world would be if I sat down all the time and he was on my
knee 24/7. You have to be patient, and yes, sometimes it takes years. Baby
will come fine if you give her space long enough and don't try to pet her.
One day she will approach you. Just my experience with the most scaredy lost
cat I ever had. I hope it helps.

Tweed
P.S. If you take Baby back to the streets you are blocked, you took her to
Florida, now be patient


Thanks, The problem is that there is really only a small window to
consider it. I'll be back there in late August (for the 2016 US Open
tennis championship), so that would have to be the time. After that it
starts getting cold and I couldn't do it if she didn't have time to
acclimate to the temperature. But I probably won't have a fence up in
time to try her outside here before that happens. So she's likely to
stay where she is, under my bed.

The only reason I'm even thinking about it is because she was always
so happy outside, running around with her tail straight up in the air,
following me as I walked to Serene's house or back to my house. She
was usually walking with Jet, her mom. Now, she rarely comes out from
under the bed, and when she does, she walks around with her tail as
low as it can get, scrapping the floor.

But as I'm typing this I can see her walking down the hall so at least
she is out looking the place over again. It's just three weeks short
of a year since we arrived here. Well, maybe once I get the yard
fenced and she can go out, she'll fall in love with the lizards and
finally be happy again.
  #13  
Old June 23rd 16, 07:08 PM posted to rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
Joy[_3_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 397
Default He's come a long way, baby!

On 6/23/2016 4:47 AM, dgk wrote:
On Mon, 20 Jun 2016 19:05:54 +0100, "Christina Websell"
wrote:


"dgk" wrote in message
...
On Tue, 14 Jun 2016 16:07:44 -0700, Joy
wrote:


Sometimes I hardly recognize Koala, my little feral cat. When I first
got him, he hid most of the time. Once he started coming out where he
could be seen, he ran every time I took a step toward him. Eventually
he got over that, and then he would let me pet him, but only if he were
on the floor and I was standing.

A couple of months ago he started coming up when I was sitting in my
recliner, and lying on my legs, out of reach. He has actually laid on
my lap a couple of times, and last night he came up on my lap and nudged
and meowed for me to pet him for a while before he laid down on my lap.

Joy

What was the timeline for this? It gives me a certain amount of hope
for Baby, who does come out from under the bed sometimes (for 10
minutes or so) and will let me pet her. I brought her with me when I
moved from Queens NY last July so it's almost a year since she became
an indoor cat, after spending the first six years of her life on the
street in Queens.

It isn't really great progress though. She still isn't very happy. I
happened to be back in Queens last week and stopped by the old block.
The green areas in front of my old house have been completely paved
over, leaving nowhere for a cat to hang out. The same is true of the
house across the street where my friend Serene lived. Both were small
houses and are being renovated to hold three apartments each - not
quite legally I'm sure.

There are still two people willing to feed the cats on the block, but
both are very elderly. When they die, there will be no one left to
care fo them at all. Still, Baby seems so unhappy now that I'm
considering taking her back to the block where her cat friends (and
mother) still live. She may face tough times ahead, but I just don't
know that she'll ever be happy as an indoor cat.

On the other hand, I'm seriously working on getting a fence built
around my yard here in Florida so I can let them out part-time. Not
free roaming, but at least they'll have some grass to walk on and some
bushes to lie under. Maybe she'll be content with that. I'll try it
before doing something as drastic and taking her back.


Ex ferals and those cats that went slightly feral because of losing their
homes find it difficult to fit in to a home, either for the first time, or
"again." It took me 3 or 4 months to get Boyfriend to feed just inside the
back door (and two years before I could close it as he panicked without an
escape route) luckily I live in a low crime area. It does take a long
time, literally years for these cats to trust: never push them to interact
with you, they will eventually.
Please do not even think of taking Baby back to an uncertain future on the
streets. Boyfie took a long time, much longer than you've given Baby but
now his ideal world would be if I sat down all the time and he was on my
knee 24/7. You have to be patient, and yes, sometimes it takes years. Baby
will come fine if you give her space long enough and don't try to pet her.
One day she will approach you. Just my experience with the most scaredy lost
cat I ever had. I hope it helps.

Tweed
P.S. If you take Baby back to the streets you are blocked, you took her to
Florida, now be patient


Thanks, The problem is that there is really only a small window to
consider it. I'll be back there in late August (for the 2016 US Open
tennis championship), so that would have to be the time. After that it
starts getting cold and I couldn't do it if she didn't have time to
acclimate to the temperature. But I probably won't have a fence up in
time to try her outside here before that happens. So she's likely to
stay where she is, under my bed.

The only reason I'm even thinking about it is because she was always
so happy outside, running around with her tail straight up in the air,
following me as I walked to Serene's house or back to my house. She
was usually walking with Jet, her mom. Now, she rarely comes out from
under the bed, and when she does, she walks around with her tail as
low as it can get, scrapping the floor.

But as I'm typing this I can see her walking down the hall so at least
she is out looking the place over again. It's just three weeks short
of a year since we arrived here. Well, maybe once I get the yard
fenced and she can go out, she'll fall in love with the lizards and
finally be happy again.


Yes, I understand. You're considering her happiness. The reason
everybody is telling you not to take her back is that we're considering
her safety. For a good many years, I had a cat door and my cats could
go in and out as they wished. My current cats have always been indoor
cats, so that is no longer the case. Also, I understand there are now
coyotes in the neighborhood, so I wouldn't let them out anyway. If your
area is safe from predators, you might consider installing a cat door.
  #14  
Old June 24th 16, 04:42 AM posted to rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
dgk
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,268
Default He's come a long way, baby!

On Thu, 23 Jun 2016 11:08:36 -0700, Joy
wrote:

On 6/23/2016 4:47 AM, dgk wrote:
On Mon, 20 Jun 2016 19:05:54 +0100, "Christina Websell"
wrote:



But as I'm typing this I can see her walking down the hall so at least
she is out looking the place over again. It's just three weeks short
of a year since we arrived here. Well, maybe once I get the yard
fenced and she can go out, she'll fall in love with the lizards and
finally be happy again.


Yes, I understand. You're considering her happiness. The reason
everybody is telling you not to take her back is that we're considering
her safety. For a good many years, I had a cat door and my cats could
go in and out as they wished. My current cats have always been indoor
cats, so that is no longer the case. Also, I understand there are now
coyotes in the neighborhood, so I wouldn't let them out anyway. If your
area is safe from predators, you might consider installing a cat door.


Yes, it's always safety vs freedom. I just hate seeing her slink
around when she used to run around so happily. I really thought that
she would adapt much quicker. Is a long miserable life better than a
shorter happy life? If I thought that she'd never be happy inside, I'd
take her back today, but I do hold out hope.

I don't think we have coyotes around, although supposedly we do, but I
have seen foxes in my yard. Small ones, not much bigger than the
catrs, but I do not want them in the yard at the same time. So there
will be a cat door, but it will only be open when the yard is enclosed
and during the daylight hours. And only when I'm home, and at the
beginning, only when I'm out there with them.
  #15  
Old June 24th 16, 07:28 AM posted to rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
Joy[_3_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 397
Default He's come a long way, baby!

On 6/23/2016 8:42 PM, dgk wrote:
On Thu, 23 Jun 2016 11:08:36 -0700, Joy
wrote:

On 6/23/2016 4:47 AM, dgk wrote:
On Mon, 20 Jun 2016 19:05:54 +0100, "Christina Websell"
wrote:



But as I'm typing this I can see her walking down the hall so at least
she is out looking the place over again. It's just three weeks short
of a year since we arrived here. Well, maybe once I get the yard
fenced and she can go out, she'll fall in love with the lizards and
finally be happy again.


Yes, I understand. You're considering her happiness. The reason
everybody is telling you not to take her back is that we're considering
her safety. For a good many years, I had a cat door and my cats could
go in and out as they wished. My current cats have always been indoor
cats, so that is no longer the case. Also, I understand there are now
coyotes in the neighborhood, so I wouldn't let them out anyway. If your
area is safe from predators, you might consider installing a cat door.


Yes, it's always safety vs freedom. I just hate seeing her slink
around when she used to run around so happily. I really thought that
she would adapt much quicker. Is a long miserable life better than a
shorter happy life? If I thought that she'd never be happy inside, I'd
take her back today, but I do hold out hope.

I don't think we have coyotes around, although supposedly we do, but I
have seen foxes in my yard. Small ones, not much bigger than the
catrs, but I do not want them in the yard at the same time. So there
will be a cat door, but it will only be open when the yard is enclosed
and during the daylight hours. And only when I'm home, and at the
beginning, only when I'm out there with them.


I understand everything you say. How long have you had her?
  #16  
Old July 5th 16, 05:00 AM posted to rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
dgk
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,268
Default He's come a long way, baby!

On Thu, 23 Jun 2016 23:28:14 -0700, Joy
wrote:

On 6/23/2016 8:42 PM, dgk wrote:
On Thu, 23 Jun 2016 11:08:36 -0700, Joy
wrote:

On 6/23/2016 4:47 AM, dgk wrote:
On Mon, 20 Jun 2016 19:05:54 +0100, "Christina Websell"
wrote:



But as I'm typing this I can see her walking down the hall so at least
she is out looking the place over again. It's just three weeks short
of a year since we arrived here. Well, maybe once I get the yard
fenced and she can go out, she'll fall in love with the lizards and
finally be happy again.


Yes, I understand. You're considering her happiness. The reason
everybody is telling you not to take her back is that we're considering
her safety. For a good many years, I had a cat door and my cats could
go in and out as they wished. My current cats have always been indoor
cats, so that is no longer the case. Also, I understand there are now
coyotes in the neighborhood, so I wouldn't let them out anyway. If your
area is safe from predators, you might consider installing a cat door.


Yes, it's always safety vs freedom. I just hate seeing her slink
around when she used to run around so happily. I really thought that
she would adapt much quicker. Is a long miserable life better than a
shorter happy life? If I thought that she'd never be happy inside, I'd
take her back today, but I do hold out hope.

I don't think we have coyotes around, although supposedly we do, but I
have seen foxes in my yard. Small ones, not much bigger than the
catrs, but I do not want them in the yard at the same time. So there
will be a cat door, but it will only be open when the yard is enclosed
and during the daylight hours. And only when I'm home, and at the
beginning, only when I'm out there with them.


I understand everything you say. How long have you had her?


Sorry, I was away for 10 days. I took her in almost exactly a year ago
and moved to Florida the next week.
  #17  
Old July 5th 16, 05:59 AM posted to rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
Joy[_3_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 397
Default He's come a long way, baby!

On 7/4/2016 9:00 PM, dgk wrote:
On Thu, 23 Jun 2016 23:28:14 -0700, Joy
wrote:

On 6/23/2016 8:42 PM, dgk wrote:
On Thu, 23 Jun 2016 11:08:36 -0700, Joy
wrote:

On 6/23/2016 4:47 AM, dgk wrote:
On Mon, 20 Jun 2016 19:05:54 +0100, "Christina Websell"
wrote:



But as I'm typing this I can see her walking down the hall so at least
she is out looking the place over again. It's just three weeks short
of a year since we arrived here. Well, maybe once I get the yard
fenced and she can go out, she'll fall in love with the lizards and
finally be happy again.


Yes, I understand. You're considering her happiness. The reason
everybody is telling you not to take her back is that we're considering
her safety. For a good many years, I had a cat door and my cats could
go in and out as they wished. My current cats have always been indoor
cats, so that is no longer the case. Also, I understand there are now
coyotes in the neighborhood, so I wouldn't let them out anyway. If your
area is safe from predators, you might consider installing a cat door.

Yes, it's always safety vs freedom. I just hate seeing her slink
around when she used to run around so happily. I really thought that
she would adapt much quicker. Is a long miserable life better than a
shorter happy life? If I thought that she'd never be happy inside, I'd
take her back today, but I do hold out hope.

I don't think we have coyotes around, although supposedly we do, but I
have seen foxes in my yard. Small ones, not much bigger than the
catrs, but I do not want them in the yard at the same time. So there
will be a cat door, but it will only be open when the yard is enclosed
and during the daylight hours. And only when I'm home, and at the
beginning, only when I'm out there with them.


I understand everything you say. How long have you had her?


Sorry, I was away for 10 days. I took her in almost exactly a year ago
and moved to Florida the next week.


If she's been with you that long, I wouldn't take her back and turn her
loose. Too many things will have changed during that time. It does
take some cats a long time to adjust. However, I think she's better off
with you, and eventually she'll realize it. It will be good if you can
create a space where she can go outdoors safely.
  #18  
Old July 28th 16, 02:33 AM posted to rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
Christina Websell
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 8,983
Default He's come a long way, baby!


"dgk" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 23 Jun 2016 11:08:36 -0700, Joy
wrote:

On 6/23/2016 4:47 AM, dgk wrote:
On Mon, 20 Jun 2016 19:05:54 +0100, "Christina Websell"
wrote:



But as I'm typing this I can see her walking down the hall so at least
she is out looking the place over again. It's just three weeks short
of a year since we arrived here. Well, maybe once I get the yard
fenced and she can go out, she'll fall in love with the lizards and
finally be happy again.


Yes, I understand. You're considering her happiness. The reason
everybody is telling you not to take her back is that we're considering
her safety. For a good many years, I had a cat door and my cats could
go in and out as they wished. My current cats have always been indoor
cats, so that is no longer the case. Also, I understand there are now
coyotes in the neighborhood, so I wouldn't let them out anyway. If your
area is safe from predators, you might consider installing a cat door.


Yes, it's always safety vs freedom. I just hate seeing her slink
around when she used to run around so happily. I really thought that
she would adapt much quicker. Is a long miserable life better than a
shorter happy life? If I thought that she'd never be happy inside, I'd
take her back today, but I do hold out hope.

I don't think we have coyotes around, although supposedly we do, but I
have seen foxes in my yard. Small ones, not much bigger than the
catrs, but I do not want them in the yard at the same time. So there
will be a cat door, but it will only be open when the yard is enclosed
and during the daylight hours. And only when I'm home, and at the
beginning, only when I'm out there with them.


That sounds like a good idea. I'm cautiously confident that she will adapt
to the home eventually, but it does take a long time, a year wasn't enough
for Boyfie, even though he wasn't a true feral it was more than two years,
nearer three. Now I can hardly peel him off my lap. Give her more time and
don't push her to be friendly, just go about about your business, speak
kindly when you put her food down. Use a special word when you do and
eventually you can use that word to get her to come out. I used to whistle
4 tones and now Boyfie will come in from the out if I do that. Just be
patient, it's not easy and there's no short term fix. Let her hide if she
wants to. I still don't disturb Boyfie if he's gone to his "own" bedroom
even now. Don't expect Baby to ever be like socialised cats, she won't be.
Lots of luck with her.
Tweed


  #19  
Old July 30th 16, 04:30 AM posted to rec.pets.cats.anecdotes
dgk
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,268
Default He's come a long way, baby!

On Thu, 28 Jul 2016 02:33:33 +0100, "Christina Websell"
wrote:


"dgk" wrote in message
.. .
On Thu, 23 Jun 2016 11:08:36 -0700, Joy
wrote:

On 6/23/2016 4:47 AM, dgk wrote:
On Mon, 20 Jun 2016 19:05:54 +0100, "Christina Websell"
wrote:



But as I'm typing this I can see her walking down the hall so at least
she is out looking the place over again. It's just three weeks short
of a year since we arrived here. Well, maybe once I get the yard
fenced and she can go out, she'll fall in love with the lizards and
finally be happy again.


Yes, I understand. You're considering her happiness. The reason
everybody is telling you not to take her back is that we're considering
her safety. For a good many years, I had a cat door and my cats could
go in and out as they wished. My current cats have always been indoor
cats, so that is no longer the case. Also, I understand there are now
coyotes in the neighborhood, so I wouldn't let them out anyway. If your
area is safe from predators, you might consider installing a cat door.


Yes, it's always safety vs freedom. I just hate seeing her slink
around when she used to run around so happily. I really thought that
she would adapt much quicker. Is a long miserable life better than a
shorter happy life? If I thought that she'd never be happy inside, I'd
take her back today, but I do hold out hope.

I don't think we have coyotes around, although supposedly we do, but I
have seen foxes in my yard. Small ones, not much bigger than the
catrs, but I do not want them in the yard at the same time. So there
will be a cat door, but it will only be open when the yard is enclosed
and during the daylight hours. And only when I'm home, and at the
beginning, only when I'm out there with them.


That sounds like a good idea. I'm cautiously confident that she will adapt
to the home eventually, but it does take a long time, a year wasn't enough
for Boyfie, even though he wasn't a true feral it was more than two years,
nearer three. Now I can hardly peel him off my lap. Give her more time and
don't push her to be friendly, just go about about your business, speak
kindly when you put her food down. Use a special word when you do and
eventually you can use that word to get her to come out. I used to whistle
4 tones and now Boyfie will come in from the out if I do that. Just be
patient, it's not easy and there's no short term fix. Let her hide if she
wants to. I still don't disturb Boyfie if he's gone to his "own" bedroom
even now. Don't expect Baby to ever be like socialised cats, she won't be.
Lots of luck with her.
Tweed

Thanks for the encouragement. And I think there is friction between
Marlo and Baby that is causing Marlo's overgrooming issue. I think I'm
going to speak to the "behavioral" vet specialist although it will
cost at least $400. There is a $200 initial fee, plus someone comes to
the house to look over the situation and make specific
recommendations. Sounds like My Cat From Hell.
 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Ultraviolet - Light my way baby baby baby Linus Brown Cat health & behaviour 2 April 7th 10 11:27 AM
Cheap Baby-G Watches Tanning Timer Watches - Baby-G Watches TanningTimer Watch Cheapest [email protected] Cat anecdotes 0 April 28th 08 04:09 AM
My baby turns 21 OT, possibly long (I haven't written it yet) andprobably boring tanadashoes Cat anecdotes 37 February 11th 08 10:34 PM
Back from a long weekend (and a long post!) Ginger-lyn Summer Cat anecdotes 10 June 30th 04 09:29 PM
Baby, baby don't get hooked on me Ginger-lyn Summer Cat anecdotes 20 April 9th 04 07:06 PM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 06:12 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 CatBanter.
The comments are property of their posters.