- Joined
- Mar 14, 2016
- Messages
- 4,428
- Purraise
- 2,542
"Sorry it took me so long to reply I'm still quite quite busy." - Not an issue understandable.Sorry it took me so long to reply I'm still quite quite busy.
I would love for her to come down and join the play with him, though highly unlikely unfortunately. She may be interested (more on that later), but I think she's still too cautious around him. She also isn't very playful and has a completely different style of play and likes different toys than he does. When she wants to play she will let me know and she typically likes to play with strings and chew on them and sometimes she likes to chase balls but she doesn't really play with them. Fluffy on the other hand loves to chase toys and then tackle them, roll around while playing with them etc.
She's still coming to the stairs but typically will just sit at the top and stare, either at me, or at Fluffy which is making me think she maybe wants to come down but is still too cautious. The reason I say she may be slightly wanting to play but is cautious on top of that, is last night, a new cat came right up to the front window. Sapphire wasn't scared at all and seemed interested in the cat and was even gently pawing at the window as if she wanted to interact with the cat outside (which was also right up at the window).
To answer your final question, I am doing alright I think. Work is still stressful and the majority of the time at home, I'm paying attention to the cats trying to keep them happy. The catio does help if it's keeping one of them occupied. My main form is stress from them is trying to keep them both happy. For example, I get quite upset when I have to put Fluffy back in his room when I'm going to work, etc, or when I see Sapphire seemingly wanting to come downstairs but isn't, and then she just stays upstairs even longer. The upcoming vacation is also causing some stress.
Here are some pictures of Sapphire at the top of the stairs and after she came down for a treat while Fluffy was on the catio, and a video I took where Fluffy is being quite good for once.
View attachment 425888
View attachment 425889
"I would love for her to come down and join the play with him, though highly unlikely unfortunately." - For now
" She may be interested (more on that later), but I think she's still too cautious around him." - Yes
" She also isn't very playful and has a completely different style of play and likes different toys than he does." - Yes, that is often the case.
"When she wants to play she will let me know and she typically likes to play with strings and chew on them and sometimes she likes to chase balls but she doesn't really play with them." - Yes
"Fluffy on the other hand loves to chase toys and then tackle them, roll around while playing with them etc." - Hahahaha SO CUTE!!!
"She's still coming to the stairs but typically will just sit at the top and stare, either at me, or at Fluffy which is making me think she maybe wants to come down but is still too cautious." - Agreed BUT a great sign!!
" The reason I say she may be slightly wanting to play but is cautious on top of that, is last night, a new cat came right up to the front window. Sapphire wasn't scared at all and seemed interested in the cat and was even gently pawing at the window as if she wanted to interact with the cat outside (which was also right up at the window)." - WOW!!! She handled that VERY WELL!!!
"To answer your final question, I am doing alright I think." - Ok, great!!!
" Work is still stressful" - Yes :/
" and the majority of the time at home, I'm paying attention to the cats trying to keep them happy." - Ok. I do want you to not worry as much about them and do more things for yourself. Cats reflect us so the more comfortable you are the more they should be.
"The catio does help if it's keeping one of them occupied." - TOTALLY!!!
" My main form is stress from them is trying to keep them both happy." - Well, they are happy. And the more happy you are the more they will be. We often want perfection but as long as they are doing well (and they are) you are doing great. Sometimes too much focus can be counterproductive. And the power of love whether directly or indirectly is VERY powerful. And you love them, no doubt.
" For example, I get quite upset when I have to put Fluffy back in his room when I'm going to work, etc," - Ok, but you shouldn't. It sounds like Fluffy is fine with it so you should be. Cats are much more resilient then we think AND they will show it if they aren't (which I am not seeing any signs).
" or when I see Sapphire seemingly wanting to come downstairs but isn't, and then she just stays upstairs even longer." - Yes but we need her to get overt her fears. You are doing all you can do.
" The upcoming vacation is also causing some stress." - I can imagine. :/ Kinda bad when something good can cause us stress. But often it does. I know leaving work is a source of that stress but the cats should not be.
"Here are some pictures of Sapphire at the top of the stairs and after she came down for a treat while Fluffy was on the catio," - I just love her, she is so gorgeous!!! She looks GREAT in the pics!!!
" and a video I took where Fluffy is being quite good for once. " - Hahahahaha, let's see.
Video - WOW!!!! That is the BEST video I have seen of them!!! Sapphire!!!! PERFECT!!!! Body language, etc. She has made serious progress!!! And Fluffy. He is so sweet, so adorable. He loves her. He so wants to be with her. The pawing underneath the gate, the going on his side. Trying to peak through the rails. His body language is perfect. He is going to win her over!!! I am totally convinced of that!!
Wow, I am blown away by how great that video was!!!!