Hello, all! I would like to use this thread specifically as a training log, open to any thoughts, suggestions, and encouragement (especially encouragement!) of course. It will also provide a space for me to look back and see what progress has been made over time. Technically, I could do this in a notebook with pen and paper. However, I find the support of a community particularly motivating. So, we're going to give this a shot!
.
HimiCat is a Himilayan Lynx Point mix. She was living outside in a neighborhood giving birth to litter after litter of kittens before a neighbor realized that this gorgeous puss wasn't an outdoor cat, she was a (reverted?) feral! So, they connected with the local humane society, who put her and her most recent batch of kittens in foster care. From there, she found her way into my home several years ago. I'll need to look at my documentation to remember her age. Let's guess at....6 years old?
HimiCat is very timid around humans. Although, she loves other animals! Our current training goal is to is to help her feel more comfortable around humans. I should work that into a SMART goal somewhere down the line. I am working with a fantastic trainer who lays out proper training plans and everything. She really is amazing. Our current subgoal is to help HimiCat understand that she can make me go away, that she has some control when it comes to her relationship with the resident humans.
What that looks like, currently, is that for short (2--5 minute) sessions each day when she is in a relaxed position I will slowly approach her, watching for any signs of discomfort. When I notice a sign of discomfort, I stop approaching. I then stand/sit still and watch for any sort of appeasement signal (tongue flick, looking away from me, turning her back to me, etc) or other change that can be used for communication. As soon as I notice one of these signals, I leave the room. (Again, the idea being that she learns that she can "make me go away.")
------
28 July 2018
Today was composed of two short sessions, back to back.
Session 1. HimiCat was splayed out on the floor in the same room as me while I typed at the computer. I stood up, and approached her slowly. When I noticed her breathing start to speed up, I stopped. When her breathing slowed down to a more normal speed, I left the room. ~2 minutes.
Session 2. I walked back in the room. She looked at me, and ran up the cat tree. So, I immediately stopped. She paused at the cat tree and looked at me. I stayed in place. Then, she progressed to he pilllow-pad, turned her back to me, and started "making muffins" on the pillow-pad. I took the turning her back to me as an appeasement signal and left the room. ~1 minute.
Thoughts: I think that it probably would've been better for me to have not conducted Session 2 because I think she was still a bit revved up from Session 1. Tomorrow, I will not conduct any sessions back to back.
.
HimiCat is a Himilayan Lynx Point mix. She was living outside in a neighborhood giving birth to litter after litter of kittens before a neighbor realized that this gorgeous puss wasn't an outdoor cat, she was a (reverted?) feral! So, they connected with the local humane society, who put her and her most recent batch of kittens in foster care. From there, she found her way into my home several years ago. I'll need to look at my documentation to remember her age. Let's guess at....6 years old?
HimiCat is very timid around humans. Although, she loves other animals! Our current training goal is to is to help her feel more comfortable around humans. I should work that into a SMART goal somewhere down the line. I am working with a fantastic trainer who lays out proper training plans and everything. She really is amazing. Our current subgoal is to help HimiCat understand that she can make me go away, that she has some control when it comes to her relationship with the resident humans.
What that looks like, currently, is that for short (2--5 minute) sessions each day when she is in a relaxed position I will slowly approach her, watching for any signs of discomfort. When I notice a sign of discomfort, I stop approaching. I then stand/sit still and watch for any sort of appeasement signal (tongue flick, looking away from me, turning her back to me, etc) or other change that can be used for communication. As soon as I notice one of these signals, I leave the room. (Again, the idea being that she learns that she can "make me go away.")
------
28 July 2018
Today was composed of two short sessions, back to back.
Session 1. HimiCat was splayed out on the floor in the same room as me while I typed at the computer. I stood up, and approached her slowly. When I noticed her breathing start to speed up, I stopped. When her breathing slowed down to a more normal speed, I left the room. ~2 minutes.
Session 2. I walked back in the room. She looked at me, and ran up the cat tree. So, I immediately stopped. She paused at the cat tree and looked at me. I stayed in place. Then, she progressed to he pilllow-pad, turned her back to me, and started "making muffins" on the pillow-pad. I took the turning her back to me as an appeasement signal and left the room. ~1 minute.
Thoughts: I think that it probably would've been better for me to have not conducted Session 2 because I think she was still a bit revved up from Session 1. Tomorrow, I will not conduct any sessions back to back.
