Hello everyone
I've been reading these forums all morning and much of the afternoon. I was drawn in with Lucky's story and how things have progressed. What an amazing story. Good job Sandi. So many people know so much about cats here that I thought I'd pose a few questions myself.
Our cat Bentley is 2 years old(we got him Christmas of 2001) and was born to our daughter's ex-boyfriend's(wasn't an ex when we got Bentley)outdoor cat. The vet told us someone had broken or bent our baby's tail and I figure I know who that was. Who knows what other atrocities were brought on him by this idiot(we had to get a restraining order after receiving a disturbing call from our daughter's counselor at school telling us she felt this relationship was going in a very dangerous direction).
We've solved that problem but I'm hoping there is something I can do for Bentley(and myself-I love him so much). He is very distrusting of males-which I understand-and allows me to pet him when he is relaxing only. He comes to me for play but never really wants me to pet him. He goes and jumps on my wife's lap and wants lots of love from her. I feed him, clean his litter box, always talk softly to him and tell him how pretty he is. He seems to really love this and will close his eyes as I talk with a look of total contentment. What can I do, if anything, to get him to want affection from me? Oh, he loves for me to hold him in my arms and walk all over the house but I have very few days-due to health problems-that I can do this. What am I doing wrong?
My other question is surely tied into the abuse this poor little guy suffered. Bentley will be playing or sleeping or just walking along and become startled horribly and run and hide when nothing has happened at all. I mean he is in the grip of terror. This doesn't happen often but when it does nothing we say will calm him down. He's an inside cat but we do have a body harness leash we put on him and let him get out with us. He loves that and even comes to me so I can put the leash on him. We don't have any other animals so he is our baby. Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Bent
I've been reading these forums all morning and much of the afternoon. I was drawn in with Lucky's story and how things have progressed. What an amazing story. Good job Sandi. So many people know so much about cats here that I thought I'd pose a few questions myself.
Our cat Bentley is 2 years old(we got him Christmas of 2001) and was born to our daughter's ex-boyfriend's(wasn't an ex when we got Bentley)outdoor cat. The vet told us someone had broken or bent our baby's tail and I figure I know who that was. Who knows what other atrocities were brought on him by this idiot(we had to get a restraining order after receiving a disturbing call from our daughter's counselor at school telling us she felt this relationship was going in a very dangerous direction).
We've solved that problem but I'm hoping there is something I can do for Bentley(and myself-I love him so much). He is very distrusting of males-which I understand-and allows me to pet him when he is relaxing only. He comes to me for play but never really wants me to pet him. He goes and jumps on my wife's lap and wants lots of love from her. I feed him, clean his litter box, always talk softly to him and tell him how pretty he is. He seems to really love this and will close his eyes as I talk with a look of total contentment. What can I do, if anything, to get him to want affection from me? Oh, he loves for me to hold him in my arms and walk all over the house but I have very few days-due to health problems-that I can do this. What am I doing wrong?
My other question is surely tied into the abuse this poor little guy suffered. Bentley will be playing or sleeping or just walking along and become startled horribly and run and hide when nothing has happened at all. I mean he is in the grip of terror. This doesn't happen often but when it does nothing we say will calm him down. He's an inside cat but we do have a body harness leash we put on him and let him get out with us. He loves that and even comes to me so I can put the leash on him. We don't have any other animals so he is our baby. Any help you can give will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Bent