Impossible Cat

[foxxycat]

got this off google search-this is close-I couldn't find any photos showing how I hold kitties...but this is close.

The idea is their paws are free to move on my shoulder and they don't feel restrained. The bottom hand I have their feet in my hand and their butt sits on my arm.


heres a better one.


I think they feel less caged up by holding this way. I usually have Honeybee jump up on table/couch then pick her up. But she's a ham and loves pickups..often purrs. and licks my hand or face. Most of my other cats I had in the past didn't care to be picked up but this method they tolerated-not for long-like a walk across the room type of time.

 

[maggiedemi]

Okay, I just tried holding them like that and they were fine, they didn't try to rip my face off.

 

[dustydiamond1]

i see no difference between mother n alpha female.
i'm not her mother, but i'm in charge here.
tossing her out the door not only gives her time to think, it protects her from me.
after supper, i packed up my things n dragged everything in the house. she had had plenty of cuddling, but i asked if she wanted to come in.
she trotted in behind me so she knows all is forgiven.
today, outside, she flopped down on her back, down by my knees.
she wanted her belly rubbed but that gets the paws waving.
i was tempted to mess around to see if claws were involved.
but if they were, i'd have to correct her.
today was not the right time for any correction.
i do need to know if she puts out claws.
i'm rethinking my position.
if she batts around but never has claws out, that might be innocent play, don't you think?
so far, i have no proof of her using claws, ever, but claws might have been. involved.
she jumped onto the couch by my feet n i was teasing her, pointing a finger at her.
she whacked my finger with a paw. there were no claws but i spoke sternly. but not angrily or loudly.
i need to figure out how to handle no claw batting.
there will be roars if there are claws.

You once stated that you 'trained' animals in the past. Training is working with an animal and for the human to discover the best way to get the individual animal to understand how and want to behave to be a partner. IMO your browbeating and unreasonable, incompetent demands are Not training and you want a slave not a partner.
I can't stand reading about this poor cat being traumatized any longer and am placing this thread on my Ignore list.

 

[orange&white]

Okay, I just tried holding them like that and they were fine, they didn't try to rip my face off.

That's what I'd be afraid of too with Misfit; either getting my face/neck scratched or having her see her escape route to go over my shoulders and back and get both front and back claws dug into my chest and shoulders.

Drifter has demonstrated solid bite and claw inhibition, so I think lifting/holding her that way should be safe.

 

[maggiedemi]

I've had my cats for 3 years now, so they are only semi-feral now, except with all strangers. They really seem to like me carrying them that way better, I guess I was doing it all wrong before. Maggie is being really good this week, she seems to like the praise. Demi is almost always good, except when he plays rough. Dustydiamond, I hope you stick around, those were older posts you quoted and Sue & Drifter have since made up and grown very close.

 

[susieqz]

how do i block dustybit** from this thread?
i don't wish to read her crap. i know training better than she ever will.
dusty, if you are reading this, go away
on a more positive note, i can now brush drifter. she is used to being stroked
while she eats.
now i stop stroking n start brushing half way thru. she doesn't like it but she won't stop eating to avoid it.
ok, i found the ignore thing, so that's set.
by the way, my training has worked. i have done in months what others take years to do.

 

[maggiedemi]

Does her fur look shinier now that you brushed her? I haven't tried brushing Maggie again since the last time, but I'll try again this weekend. It's funny, most cats love to be brushed, but Maggie looks offended.

 

[susieqz]

yeah, drifter doesn't like it either.
sorry to say, her coat doesn't look shinier at all.
still, a house pet must be brushed, so she will get brushed.
thanks for those pics, foxy.
that's pretty much how i do it.
i just want her to be happy when she gets picked up, n she isn't, yet.

 

[orange&white]

Farrell is liking brushing more as she gets older. I'm trying to work on brushing her tummy and backs of her hind legs as I envision a few fur mats there during her lifetime. Her tummy's ticklish, but she's starting to relax.

Misfit...um, no on brushing. She attacks my hand that's holding the brush, rather than the brush. We're not there yet. Fortunately, her coat is extremely short and sleek, so I never need to worry about mats at least.

 

[susieqz]

you brush the tummy? wow!

if i tried that with drifter, there would sure be a fight.
she's short haired too.
what i'd like is to give her a bath, but i don't think that's a one person job.
i did dry her good when she was soaked from the rain, so that's something.

 

[maggiedemi]

I used the grooming glove on Maggie, since I didn't want to get scratched. She doesn't like that any better than the brush. She keeps her coat really nice for how long it is though, I don't see any mats. Has Drifter been catching/eating any mice, etc? If not, maybe some canned food every day would help her coat. Friskies Shreds is only 50 cents a can and would last you 2 days if you give her half a can a day.

 

[susieqz]

i didn't know that canned food would help her coat. i'll try some.
i have no idea if this tubby thing is catching mice.
i'm ruining her.
this morn, i was late n had to drive to the mailbox, so i didn't want her in the house.
i gave her a full breakfast.
but later, i went out to read.
she DEMANDS a bowl of food when i go out there. so she got lots more calories than she needs.
since this is a training aid, i have to give this to her.
she probably ignores mice because she's too full.
since i need a mouser, i've really screwed up, but this is the way i train.

 

[maggiedemi]

She probably keeps the mice away from the house just by her scent. We haven't had a single mouse in the house since we got the cats. We don't even get very many in the garage anymore.

 

[susieqz]

well, i do hope her sent keeps vermin away. mostly, she attacks bugs.
the onlt time i saw her chase something nasty, she failed n it hid under the deck.
i'm hoping she's better at night.
i guess i should keep her outside all the time, but i don't want to.
she keeps me company while i watch tv n type.
she is tame enow to be good company.

 

[maggiedemi]

At least she'll keep the mice out of the house while she's keeping you company. My cats can catch most things, but they cannot catch chipmunks. They have tried many times and failed, they are just too quick.

 

[susieqz]

i got ground squirrels that are the size of chipmonks.
i hope they are not as fast because they are known orchard pests.
i used to poison then, but now i can't because of the stupid cat.
she would end up eating a poisoned critter n die on me.

 

[maggiedemi]

Don't worry, my cats can catch squirrels, so I think Drifter can too. Yeah, I would never use poison, and definitely not D-con, it's bad news, it gets spread everywhere. I read that it's illegal to use the pellets now anyway unless they are in the little trap where the mouse stays in the trap and dies and can't poison pets. I wouldn't use those traps either, I just don't trust it.

 

[susieqz]

i use just one bite. it's a big bar so it doesn't get spread.
but, it doesn't kill right away. i have seen mice walking around like they are drunk
before they die.
drifter would definitely eat drunk mice.
i don't like using any poison tho. it just seems wrong to me.
it was a last result.

how can i get a fat cat on a diet when the food is my training aid?
she gets stroked while she eats, that makes her tame n loving.
i can't stop that. that's the cornerstone of my training.
i think there is no solution.

 

[maggiedemi]

Can you measure the food with measuring cups? You don't really need to give a full bowl every time.

 

[susieqz]

she gets 3/4 of a tuna can full each time. i'll cut that, but it's hard for me to cut her food.

she doesn't like catnip. i just crushed some up between my fingers n dropped it on her nose.
.
she leaped high in the air n landed with her back arched like a halloween cat.
i never saw a real cat do that. the arched back was amazing.
i guess i'll toss it. i can't use it for tea because i don't know what they did to it.