We rescued a semi-feral stray about eight months ago and we had a bumpy start but he's since been neutered and has become more domesticated, though he still won't sit on anyone's knee. He'll allow respectful stroking, and if we get it wrong, we bleed. Quite happy to sleep between us on the bed...
You've just given me a great idea; I'm going to stick a cat bed on my desk. He'll probably not use it, he's awkward like that (he prefers cardboard boxes to expensive cat beds), but it would be lovely to just see him chilling while I'm working.
He's asking for food; he does every time the fridge gets opened; he's possessed by it.
He's also got a wonky eye, he's always had it (well since we kidnapped him 8 months ago)...
I went through this 18 months ago with a much loved elderly dog who was 15 years old and a cancer survivor.
And weird though this may sound, I'd ask him "Scoobs, have you had enough, mate?" and the answer was no, he was fine even though he couldn't walk much and jumping was out of the question...
I just thought I'd give a little update on our violent semi-feral street cat.
It's taken some months, but he's turned out to be a lovely, lively, affectionate, NOISY, demanding little tyke.
He's training us well; we can't open the fridge without giving him a bit of ham or chicken. He sleeps...
Yes, he doesn't like it. Not one bit. And a laser pen. Didn't blink an eye-lid.
He LOVES cat nip though; it's like a real full-on drug with him. When he's rolling about on it, I once got too close to him and he threatened me with a savaging (a massive full-on hiss).
This is him with some...
Hi all, I thought I'd give you an update. Smudge has been neutered, flea, ticked and wormed. The vet didn't want to give him inoculations just yet; she said it would be 'too much' all in one go. He's pretty much an indoor cat at the moment anyway and has shown no inclination to go outside...
He's also really food orientated. If anyone gets up at 3.00 am to go to the toilet in the middle of the night, he's around them like a rash, meowing and telling us it's breakfast time. He's a really vocal cat when he thinks it's feeding time, which is anytime after dinner till 6.00 am when he...
We're making progress, and Smudge is starting to come out from under the bed and lie in warm and more comfortable places. But if I were to stroke him when he's on the bed like this (pics below), he's likely to still hiss or attack me; any touching has to be done on his terms, when he wants it...
I've learnt today that when a cat rolls on it's side and rubs himself around the carpet, while on his back, it's not an open invitation for a tummy rub.
But even though he did whack me, it wasn't the normal savaging he's given me in previous weeks. No blood was drawn.
Which is nice and still...
He's like a different cat today; sociable, talking to us, looking for attention. Walking about with his tail pointed up with a slight curve at the top, or lying on the floor showing us his stomach (the internet tells me this means he's a happy hat).
He still frightens us though.
Building...
Smudge 'meowed' this morning, letting us know it's breakfast time, so I got up - and he stood close to me - while I pulled on some tracksuit bottoms to get him his food. He followed me to the top of the stairs, waited, and I returned with his filled bowl.
He'd normally then run under the bed...
I'm booking him in the vets tomorrow.
But he's made some great improvements the past few days. This evening he was all over the bed and my other half, purring, rubbing up against her.
Then he swiped her and ran downstairs.
He likes to keep us on tenderhooks.
He's getting really cheeky in the mornings; waking us up for breakfast. First time this morning he leapt onto our bed (about 5.30 am) and ran straight across us, and then back under the bed.
Then some wandering around the bed with sweet 'meows'. He still frightens us though, even when he lets...
They're all laughing at me. I tempted Smudge out from under the bed with some Dreamies cat treats. He was purring and eating them, as I fed him them, one at a time. He was on the bed, rubbing himself around us, on the floor, rubbing his head against us. Purring like mad.
Then I said...
That is a brilliant idea; thank you. I've give him another week-or-two and if he's still under there for most of the time, that's what we'll do.
Thanks.