Hey all - yesterday Maj. Grey took a HUGE step
of trust! He came in the open sliding doors downstairs!!
Yayyyy!! He was IN the house!!
Then he sat just inside the doors - I think he
was cold and wanted to be "in" as he had just seen
Lexi come in. (He sat at the sliding doors looking in - so
I opened them and snuck down the basement stairs to
watch what he would do... Of course, he came in to
investigate!! LOL!!) He was looking in before that watching
Lexi and I play with a string. ... Big ole boy wanted
to get in on the action!
I am soo happy. He had been gone for a whole day yesterday -
and crazy me, I even went out looking for him with a cat food
can and spoon. I was that worried. He has been here for nearly
4 weeks - not leaving the yard for more than an hour
or so at a time.
So when he was not there yesterday am, and
did not come back during the day....I worried!!
Where ever he was - he showed up promptly at dark for
feeding....
He also spent the night in his shelter - I think. It snowed a bit,
and he was bone dry this am - so I figure he must have not
left the shelter till things dried out...His chow bowl was completely
empty this am, and it was completely full last night,
so he might have taken rest breaks during the night and fed
till he could not eat another bite, LOL!!
Now... if he'd just let me pet him...
I think if we do TNR and I keep him in, he would come
around and be a lap cat in time.
I say this because of his interactions
with me (meows at me dinner time, coming
when I call for food, rolling on his belly
for me a few times, coming closer to me...)
and his reaction to watching Lexi and me together.
He understands quite clearly that Lexi is enjoying being
played with and that she is going in/out,
and that there is a bond
between us. Sometimes I think he is just
trying to over come his fear... if we can get him
over the fear of humans... he will be a love ball.
Grey cats in my experience have always been very
loving and mellow... and good with other cats... not
your agressive types...
I think Maj. Grey also knows that Diablo is senior
(albiet old) male in the house, and is cautious not to
step on his toes by doing poop in yard, spraying or
drawing undue attention.
Fingers crossed that Maj. Grey will come inside and I can get
the door closed to keep him inside during the really cold
spell we are due for this week. He may, just may,
decide to come in and explore again... each time,
is a step closer to him "taming" down...and learning
the joys of being and indoor/outdoor cat.
The key I think is not to force things but go at his
pace. Its taken since June to get THIS far, so
I don't want to spook him... maybe by next
June he'll be indoor/outdoor and kicking
himself for hestitating!! LOL!!!
of trust! He came in the open sliding doors downstairs!!
Yayyyy!! He was IN the house!!
Then he sat just inside the doors - I think he
was cold and wanted to be "in" as he had just seen
Lexi come in. (He sat at the sliding doors looking in - so
I opened them and snuck down the basement stairs to
watch what he would do... Of course, he came in to
investigate!! LOL!!) He was looking in before that watching
Lexi and I play with a string. ... Big ole boy wanted
to get in on the action!
I am soo happy. He had been gone for a whole day yesterday -
and crazy me, I even went out looking for him with a cat food
can and spoon. I was that worried. He has been here for nearly
4 weeks - not leaving the yard for more than an hour
or so at a time.
So when he was not there yesterday am, and
did not come back during the day....I worried!!
Where ever he was - he showed up promptly at dark for
feeding....
He also spent the night in his shelter - I think. It snowed a bit,
and he was bone dry this am - so I figure he must have not
left the shelter till things dried out...His chow bowl was completely
empty this am, and it was completely full last night,
so he might have taken rest breaks during the night and fed
till he could not eat another bite, LOL!!
Now... if he'd just let me pet him...
I think if we do TNR and I keep him in, he would come
around and be a lap cat in time.
I say this because of his interactions
with me (meows at me dinner time, coming
when I call for food, rolling on his belly
for me a few times, coming closer to me...)
and his reaction to watching Lexi and me together.
He understands quite clearly that Lexi is enjoying being
played with and that she is going in/out,
and that there is a bond
between us. Sometimes I think he is just
trying to over come his fear... if we can get him
over the fear of humans... he will be a love ball.
Grey cats in my experience have always been very
loving and mellow... and good with other cats... not
your agressive types...
I think Maj. Grey also knows that Diablo is senior
(albiet old) male in the house, and is cautious not to
step on his toes by doing poop in yard, spraying or
drawing undue attention.
Fingers crossed that Maj. Grey will come inside and I can get
the door closed to keep him inside during the really cold
spell we are due for this week. He may, just may,
decide to come in and explore again... each time,
is a step closer to him "taming" down...and learning
the joys of being and indoor/outdoor cat.
The key I think is not to force things but go at his
pace. Its taken since June to get THIS far, so
I don't want to spook him... maybe by next
June he'll be indoor/outdoor and kicking
himself for hestitating!! LOL!!!