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- Mar 14, 2016
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"Thank you " - You are very welcomeThank you
I am trying really hard to gain confidence and not let things that happen bother me too much. I gave Fluffy a tiny bit of leeway tonight and he was a pretty good boy for the most part. I was sitting with them on the ground and Fluffy kind of stepped up onto my lap to ask for a treat and Sapphire was right beside me and she took another fast swat at him (this time I think I saw claws but I could be mistaken). He was good and didn't really react to it, but I did notice that her hissing and growling wasn't really getting him worked up as much. He tried to sneak up on her once while she was right in the corner behind the smaller cat tree. He also lunged at her a few minutes later while her back was to him which gave her a scare. She bolted up to her room and she didn't seem too bothered, but I wasn't able to get her to come back downstairs, even with treats. She got as far as the top of the stairs and when she heard Fluffy meow, she took off back into her room.
I will keep at it!
"I am trying really hard to gain confidence and not let things that happen bother me too much." - Great. I am so glad you are trying and you will succeed. It really is about learning, observing, etc. I actually think these are great life skills, not just for cats but for life in general.
" I gave Fluffy a tiny bit of leeway tonight and he was a pretty good boy for the most part." - Great!!!
" I was sitting with them on the ground" - Great. I would like to get to a point where you are sitting on the couch and see if you can hang out with one of them (if it is ok for them to be on couches, etc). But the floor is a great place to start.
" and Fluffy kind of stepped up onto my lap to ask for a treat " - Awwwwwwwww
"and Sapphire was right beside me and she took another fast swat at him (this time I think I saw claws but I could be mistaken)." - Ok. Maybe teaching manners. Let's see what happens next.
"He was good and didn't really react to it," - FANTASTIC!!! And I think this is really important. It is not so much how we perceive something what is really important is how the cats perceive something. So if Fluffy isn't bothered then we shouldn't be. OF COURSE, we don't want that to happen but if it does and the other cat doesn't think it is a big deal then it is not a big deal.
" but I did notice that her hissing and growling wasn't really getting him worked up as much." - Really? THAT is great. He is understanding her intent is not bad.
" He tried to sneak up on her once while she was right in the corner behind the smaller cat tree." - Ok, I would guess for play.
" He also lunged at her a few minutes later while her back was to him which gave her a scare." - Ok, would love to know the context of it. But again, if he wanted to hurt her he surely can. That is not his intent.
" She bolted up to her room and she didn't seem too bothered," - Ok, I am not at al bothered that she "bolted" but it is GREAT she didn't seem bothered.
" but I wasn't able to get her to come back downstairs, even with treats." - Ok. So he didn't chase her upstairs? FANTASTIC if true.
" She got as far as the top of the stairs and when she heard Fluffy meow, she took off back into her room." - Ok, that is fine. As long as he didn't do anything negative (and it seems like he didn't) then any fear she may have had (which doesn't seem like much) will not be realized. I still just wonder if it is a game, a way of playing with her. I know you disagree but she does not act like a frightened cat. If she was she would be hiding, avoiding him, etc. She might be cautious but not frightened. There is a big difference.
AND she seems to be a bit bolder in teaching him some manners or acceptable behavior (the swats). So she seems to be stepping up a bit AND (even better) he is respecting it. They are working out the ground rules it seems.
So I view this as terrific. Perfect? No. But perfect with animals, humans, etc is rarely if ever achievable. Absolutely positive and acceptable and not worrisome? Yes.
Would love to know if you have a different take.
"I will keep at it! " - Absolutely. You are doing great. I honestly think you are there already. Let's see if we can get more proof.
Keep up the great work!!