Introducing Tux; the cat who wears a tuxedo!

[tarasgirl06]

Fluff had quite a night last night. When I went into the dining room this morning, I saw he had knocked down one of my antique table lamps and several framed pix on one of the sideboards. Thankfully, no breakage and the lamp, which requires a special teardrop bulb, still works. But Tuxie is not the only one on a rampage!!!

 

[Mamanyt1953]

The good news is, that for 7 weeks off the street, he is doing remarkably well! MOST feral cats, at that stage, are barely approachable. The BAD news (and it isn't that bad) is that this will take as long as it takes. But you are making baby steps forward every day. Uneven progress is still progress. And he evidently trusts you, and almost certainly is beginning to love you.

 

[artiemom]

Tux was very subdued yesterday after all the spray bottle usage he got. He still loves me..

This morning I was up and out very early for a doctors appointment. We had a long playtime, which he made me laugh, again.. and he is allowing kisses.. and pets... I noticed he kept his claws in, when he touched me.

Once he tried to bite, in my arms. I walked right over to the spray and sprayed a bit.. I feel horrible doing so, but he seems to get the point.. I also Yell, NO! NO! AwWW......and let him down.
He has to learn.

This morning, he came into bedroom, Meowed.. it is a real Meow, quieter and deeper. You can hear it distinctly-- He does not meow very much.. but it so different compared with Artie's and Geoffrey's meows. He jumped on the bed. Sat there waiting for me. By mistake, I moved my foot-- he was at it-- but I do not think he was trying to bite. I think he was just going at it with his paws.

Yesterday, he refused the mix of the kitten dry and the adult dry-- same brand, same flavor.. Then, he realized he was not getting anything else.. either that or the wet food that he refused. So he ate all of the dry.. and some of the wet.

This morning, he did not want the canned food.. He has eaten it in the past! He was insulting it by covering it up!!
By the time I was ready to leave, he was eating it.. Ate almost 1/2 the can.

Again, woke up to an open closet door!! While I do not care if he goes in there, the other part of the closet contains cleaning products, plastic wrapped things, which he can get into. Tuxxie can walk from one side to the other.. I am going to have to find a small bungee cord to close this off from him. It is the only solution.. or a child safe thing of some kind...
And I have an Asian pear on the kitchen counter. I saw it was moved! Either I have a ghost in here, or Tuxxie thought it was a ball for him to play with

So, one step at a time.. I am really tired. I just cannot get up at 5am anymore, without it really bothering me. I go to bed at a decent hour: 10 pm...
Feeling a lay down later today.. Gotta do some errands soon. Just had Brunch..

 

[iPappy]

I so remember a very young Goofy being very bad about using his claws, and after awhile I could see him being very deliberate about NOT using them on me. They do learn, they are too smart not to! A few weeks ago Lila gave Balki a hefty smack right across his back. Balki didn't even make a peep but just moved out of the way. I know Lila purposely did not use her claws, when she easily could have. (She used her claws on him once and he let out a screech so shrill I'm surprised the windows didn't crack.)

 

[tarasgirl06]

Tux was very subdued yesterday after all the spray bottle usage he got. He still loves me..

This morning I was up and out very early for a doctors appointment. We had a long playtime, which he made me laugh, again.. and he is allowing kisses.. and pets... I noticed he kept his claws in, when he touched me.

Once he tried to bite, in my arms. I walked right over to the spray and sprayed a bit.. I feel horrible doing so, but he seems to get the point.. I also Yell, NO! NO! AwWW......and let him down.
He has to learn.

This morning, he came into bedroom, Meowed.. it is a real Meow, quieter and deeper. You can hear it distinctly-- He does not meow very much.. but it so different compared with Artie's and Geoffrey's meows. He jumped on the bed. Sat there waiting for me. By mistake, I moved my foot-- he was at it-- but I do not think he was trying to bite. I think he was just going at it with his paws.

Yesterday, he refused the mix of the kitten dry and the adult dry-- same brand, same flavor.. Then, he realized he was not getting anything else.. either that or the wet food that he refused. So he ate all of the dry.. and some of the wet.

This morning, he did not want the canned food.. He has eaten it in the past! He was insulting it by covering it up!!
By the time I was ready to leave, he was eating it.. Ate almost 1/2 the can.

Again, woke up to an open closet door!! While I do not care if he goes in there, the other part of the closet contains cleaning products, plastic wrapped things, which he can get into. Tuxxie can walk from one side to the other.. I am going to have to find a small bungee cord to close this off from him. It is the only solution.. or a child safe thing of some kind...
And I have an Asian pear on the kitchen counter. I saw it was moved! Either I have a ghost in here, or Tuxxie thought it was a ball for him to play with

So, one step at a time.. I am really tired. I just cannot get up at 5am anymore, without it really bothering me. I go to bed at a decent hour: 10 pm...
Feeling a lay down later today.. Gotta do some errands soon. Just had Brunch..

Tuxie is very smart. He understands. He's making progress in understanding that what is normal behavior in feline society isn't accepted by you.
FYI Fluff has gone from much preferring dry food to actually refusing it and asking/opting for wet food. He's eating a 5.5 oz tin plus a 3 oz tin almost every day. I poured out some dry for him yesterday and he sat in front of his almost-empty wet food bowl, which was next to his dry food, looking at me expectantly. He did not even express any interest in the dry. When I filled his wet food bowl up, he enthusiastically tucked right in. So I predict that Tuxie will reach this stage, too. Fluff has been with me over 4 mos. So give Tuxie time.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

So, overall, a good day. And bear in mind that "burying" food can also mean that they are saving it for later!

 

[tarasgirl06]

So, overall, a good day. And bear in mind that "burying" food can also mean that they are saving it for later!

Absolutely! Cats in their natural habitats "bury" their prey to conceal it from thieves, so they can return to it later. Beyond the sell-by date meat may not appeal to us, but cats' gastronomic system is very strong for just that reason.

 

[iPappy]

Absolutely! Cats in their natural habitats "bury" their prey to conceal it from thieves, so they can return to it later. Beyond the sell-by date meat may not appeal to us, but cats' gastronomic system is very strong for just that reason.

When you think about it, we go to the grocery store or farmers market and bring home food, and "bury" it in cabinets, the refrigerator, the freezer, etc. While we're wondering why our cats "bury" their food, they're probably watching us unload our grocery bags wondering why we "bury" it in those big boxes we call cabinets!

 

[artiemom]

All day Saturday, Tuxxie was a very good boy. I stayed home to clean a bit.. I spent most of my day watching and laughing at all of Tuxxie's actions. He was so sweet.. and crazy.. It was the first time I spent almost the entire day, enjoying him.. he was loving and funny.

Moving on to Sunday, a terror when I was home. I was out 90% of the day. He went nuts! Especially when I came home for good. He was fresh with me.. and using the sofa as a scratching post. I do not know how many times I kept saying: NO< NO< BAD BOY; pointing the finger, telling him to GET DOWN from the stove, and using the spray bottle. It was as if He was making up for the good day on Saturday.. making up for lost time.

This morning, He woke me up around 5 am. I turned over. Got up, on my own after 7am. I called him, he came over.. He walked all over me a few times. Was good, then He decided to attack my hand, under the bedspread. NO, again, several times. At this point, I just got up, before he became really violent. I could see it in his eyes.

He had done a couple of pees and poops in the box. It was full. So I took care of that.. also did a tiny bit of collecting the loose litter from the floor with the Swiffer.
I could not see his placemat or his dry food bowl.. They were not in the normal spot in the kitchen.
I found the placemat under the microwave cart; with the bowl moved into the living area!! Thank Goodness that was empty! He was wild last night.
I am thinking I have to get him a stronger placemat with rubberized bottom.. sigh..

We played but not as aggressively as we usually do. I noticed Tuxxie giving a couple of tiny coughs when he was on top of my bed... My crazy mind was immediately thinking heart disease!! due to the previously undiagnosed Grade 2 murmur.. Man, I think I may be happy to get the echocardiogram done.. or not... sigh..

Surprisingly, he ate the Blue chicken & turkey pate mix. He was refusing it, flat out. Weird cat. I have been staying with the Purina line because that is what he preferred.. but I would be very happy getting couple of lines into him.
The Purina, Blue and Tiny Tiger-- higher protein which will not break my budget.

I would prefer Koha or Rawz, but will save that for perhaps later-- if needed.

Tuxxie definitely hates fish. I may try out a tuna fish sandwich for me, this week. I want to see how he does with me sharing the tuna water and some people tuna with him. I did buy a can of Blue Tuna for him to try.. We will see. Glad that he is not crazy over fish; but I would like to add in a bit of it to a rotating diet.

Now, to start training him to keep off the counters-- I worry about the stove. I is so easy to turn the burners on...

 

[iPappy]

For the stove, are the burner knobs on the flat surface? If so, would covering them with a bread basket like this work?

 

[artiemom]

They are on an angled flat surface on top of the oven. There have been many times, I have accidentally pushed the oven on-- with my belly!!!!

Tux has reverted backwards... biting and scratching, again... darn it..... Gave him Lamb Chop... and some calming treats.
He discovered the fleece throw on the back of the sofa; along with a fleece throw on the seat of the sofa. He reverted back to his kitten hood. He was purring kneading, sucking all the fleece. Something I have never seen him do....
poor baby-- missing his mama... but wild.. he needs another cat to fight with.. It has been a terror morning.
On my bed now... it is made.. he is stretched out at the foot of the bed. I have a tummy ache from all the food I ate yesterday... not agreeing with me.. This morning I only had yogurt and coffee....

 

[tarasgirl06]

Yeah, iPappy -- I can just see the feline wheels turning there as they wonder why hoomans are so bizarre!
artiemom I see a pattern here. Do you see it, too? When you aren't there, or paying attention to him, he acts out when he gets your attention. Fluff did this on CATurday. I was enjoying a long phone call and Fluff was leaping, cannonballing and knocking stuff off the side table nearest the sofa where I was. He did it a couple of times. I remonstrated with him. But he kept letting me know that he was NOT happy with my choice of activity because it did not involve him. This morning he kept pushing his way onto my lap when I was trying to finish breakfast (sitting on the bed, tray beside me with food & drink on it). Attention is definitely what it's all about. It's like little kids, again, and it's something I think we all do when we're little kids, but eventually grow up and out of, if we have good raisin' It takes a lot of patience on the part of the parents! Maybe this is a kind of payback for how we got on our parents' last nerves when we were little?

 

[artiemom]

I thought that may be a trend, but it has been 2 days with Tux backsliding. He has been really bad today.. Attacking, biting, scratching.. Really bad. Almost as if I had just taken him home. He is asleep right now, on. my bed and I have been home.. so.. I cannot understand it.

I have used the water bottle many times.. sigh.. It is depressing at this point. He was so good on Saturday.. I could feel his love..

 

[tarasgirl06]

I thought that may be a trend, but it has been 2 days with Tux backsliding. He has been really bad today.. Attacking, biting, scratching.. Really bad. Almost as if I had just taken him home. He is asleep right now, on. my bed and I have been home.. so.. I cannot understand it.

I have used the water bottle many times.. sigh.. It is depressing at this point. He was so good on Saturday.. I could feel his love..

Well, we're all like that -- good days and bad, times when we're in a bad mood and let it show, times when we feel mad at the world, etc. "This, too, shall pass" is a favorite thought that is helpful for me.
Fluff goes through these moods/times/actions, too. And I joke that he "runs out of gas" when he curls up and sleeps. His foster said something about him being down for a nap, like one talks about toddler kids. That's exactly how it is with him. He's like a 2-year-old on full tilt, who gets cranky and acts out when he runs out of steam and then recharges. I think of it as being funny, now, actually, and kind of endearing, because he IS so much like a kid. Sounds like Tux is a lot like Fluff.

 

[artiemom]

Again, this morning: woke up to a half empty litter box, filled with poop and 2 pees... Tuxxie kicked out the litter all over the floor, rug, in the large box which is under the high sided one. I am thinking, when I get paid, I will have to break down and try a high sided box. Thinking about a covered box, but you have to take the cover off to scoop.. Not happy about that. And I have to have one which is in my budget.. This would be the third litter box I will have purchased for him.

I am thinking he wakes me around 5am to tell me that he pooped. and the box is full.. he does this every morning.

Last evening, I had the AC on, the fleece on throw covering me. Three times he jumped on my lap, to purr, knead, and excessive drooling. I did not feel any sucking.. but, I could not watch TV. Tuxxie had his BUTT, literally in my face!! I was sniffing his butt hole!! with his tail going from side to side-- like a car windshield wiper!
The last time he jumped on was just before 11pm-- past my bedtime. He was so intense and purposefully, I could not shoo him off. Tuxxie then was satisfied, and fell into a deep sleep. He was sleeping so deeply that he was dreaming of his mama, because he was sucking in his sleep... poor baby.

He stayed like that for a good 20 minutes. I did not have the heart to wake him, but I had to go to bed. When I move, he woke with a start.

I think Tux is a chest cat. Not a favorite position of mine..

We will see what occurs today.. We played 20 minutes with a mouse wand toy. He was breathing heavy when we stopped. Ate 1/2 small can of Purina One turkey.. He just loves turkey. Weird. He is now looking out windows, for birds. Just tried to catch a couple which want to nest on the windowsill.

Looking at his profile: His nose looks as if it was broken and is at a weird angle.. Not a cute, normal nose . It bends down and not as an angled normal profile.. Almost looks like a boxers nose, in profile.. Who news what horrors he went lived through.

Oh, Tuxxie destroyed my bedroom screen and blinds, trying to catch an outside fly, trapped in the closed window..
Dam... We have an annual inspection on Thursday morning.. so I am going to have to have this replaced. I could call down now.. but, I am too lazy.. I have a lot of things in here which need work.. I have been lax about it, knowing I can live with it the way it is. Nothing major. They are going to be surprised when they come in.
Usually everything is in great condition, clean... This year, nope..

You do not have to be home for the inspection, usually it is 2 guys. I am always home, this year especially due to Tuxxie. So many toys around. I will pick up at the last moment.

Crazy cat is hiding in my curtains, looking for birds.

 

[tarasgirl06]

Again, this morning: woke up to a half empty litter box, filled with poop and 2 pees... Tuxxie kicked out the litter all over the floor, rug, in the large box which is under the high sided one. I am thinking, when I get paid, I will have to break down and try a high sided box. Thinking about a covered box, but you have to take the cover off to scoop.. Not happy about that. And I have to have one which is in my budget.. This would be the third litter box I will have purchased for him.

I am thinking he wakes me around 5am to tell me that he pooped. and the box is full.. he does this every morning.

Last evening, I had the AC on, the fleece on throw covering me. Three times he jumped on my lap, to purr, knead, and excessive drooling. I did not feel any sucking.. but, I could not watch TV. Tuxxie had his BUTT, literally in my face!! I was sniffing his butt hole!! with his tail going from side to side-- like a car windshield wiper!
The last time he jumped on was just before 11pm-- past my bedtime. He was so intense and purposefully, I could not shoo him off. Tuxxie then was satisfied, and fell into a deep sleep. He was sleeping so deeply that he was dreaming of his mama, because he was sucking in his sleep... poor baby.

He stayed like that for a good 20 minutes. I did not have the heart to wake him, but I had to go to bed. When I move, he woke with a start.

I think Tux is a chest cat. Not a favorite position of mine..

We will see what occurs today.. We played 20 minutes with a mouse wand toy. He was breathing heavy when we stopped. Ate 1/2 small can of Purina One turkey.. He just loves turkey. Weird. He is now looking out windows, for birds. Just tried to catch a couple which want to nest on the windowsill.

Looking at his profile: His nose looks as if it was broken and is at a weird angle.. Not a cute, normal nose . It bends down and not as an angled normal profile.. Almost looks like a boxers nose, in profile.. Who news what horrors he went lived through.

Oh, Tuxxie destroyed my bedroom screen and blinds, trying to catch an outside fly, trapped in the closed window..
Dam... We have an annual inspection on Thursday morning.. so I am going to have to have this replaced. I could call down now.. but, I am too lazy.. I have a lot of things in here which need work.. I have been lax about it, knowing I can live with it the way it is. Nothing major. They are going to be surprised when they come in.
Usually everything is in great condition, clean... This year, nope..

You do not have to be home for the inspection, usually it is 2 guys. I am always home, this year especially due to Tuxxie. So many toys around. I will pick up at the last moment.

Crazy cat is hiding in my curtains, looking for birds.

Fluff always announces when he's done in the box, too. I appreciate it, whatever time it is, so I can clean immediately.
Hoping you find a high-sided box that meets Tux's (and your) needs. Wish they still made the ones I have. They're perfect! and almost no tracking. Fluff is a kicker, too. It always sounds like he's digging to Australia when he's in there.
Wishing there was a way to get our BB Wilderness turkey (flaked, in gravy) to Tux. Fluff is not a turkey guy, and only eats it grudgingly.
Is there any way you could get your management corp. to okay verticals? They're MUCH better than horizontal mini-blinds as far as standing up to wear and tear, and it's really easy for cats to just nose into the space between them without damaging them.

 

[Alldara]

I am ok with him being in the bathroom with me.. I really am. I like having him rubbing my legs.
I will have to tell my PCP because they are bruises and scratches. I do not want her to think I am a domestic violence victim. She knows me.


I live alone. He is sweet with strangers. He knows me, so he takes advantage of me. He has a teddy bear and a dog toy Lamb Chop lamb, to kick with. He knows what they are for. He does not have worms checked out with stool specimen at my Vets... He does not go out, so he would not get worms.

Yes, I am careful with the spray bottle. I alway wait until he is calm, and then go over to kiss or pet him. I tell him he is a good boy when he is calm. Wish he really understood English.. or Ic Ould speak CAT to him.

The thing is, (re spray bottle) that's just conflicting information for him. In his brain, you both just do things to upset one another sometimes. He bites and scratches you, you spray water on him. It's just making an insecure attachment.

That's great positive reward about calmness. And you have the two stuffies for him to kick at. Have you tried the flopping fish? It would give him something more responsive.


I'm going to make another weird as heck suggestion....recordable buttons. You may have seen my post on AAC buttons. Cats like human toddlers can have communication frustration. So giving him just a couple buttons to ask for things like play might be helpful. You have to model it first (press play and say play before getting the wand toy out for example) and the cat can pick it up quickly or slowly.

Magnus learned "outside" quickly but didn't use any of the other buttons for almost a year. He's quite chatty though. When I got injured in Aug his button use declined and naughty behaviour returned. Now we are re-getting him using the buttons vs naughty behaviour.

 

[tarasgirl06]

The thing is, (re spray bottle) that's just conflicting information for him. In his brain, you both just do things to upset one another sometimes. He bites and scratches you, you spray water on him. It's just making an insecure attachment.

That's great positive reward about calmness. And you have the two stuffies for him to kick at. Have you tried the flopping fish? It would give him something more responsive.


I'm going to make another weird as heck suggestion....recordable buttons. You may have seen my post on AAC buttons. Cats like human toddlers can have communication frustration. So giving him just a couple buttons to ask for things like play might be helpful. You have to model it first (press play and say play before getting the wand toy out for example) and the cat can pick it up quickly or slowly.

Magnus learned "outside" quickly but didn't use any of the other buttons for almost a year. He's quite chatty though. When I got injured in Aug his button use declined and naughty behaviour returned. Now we are re-getting him using the buttons vs naughty behaviour.

Alldara -- Agree 100% about the spray bottle! Sorry to hear you were injured! and hope you've recuperated? Your idea sounds great, because Tux is obviously very smart, and he may take to this quickly.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

Two quick observations:

Having his butt in your face is a high honor. He is telling you that he considers you trustworthy, and a being who has a right to know his general health, his mating status, and his overall emotional health. Yes, cats pick up ALL of that when they sniff each other's butts. You're in his inner circle. TRY to take it in the spirit given!

AND, given his propensity for smurgling (the nursing action), I'm not surprised that he is a chest cat. He wants his mama's heartbeat in his ear. I know that both Amazon and Chewy carry stuffies with simulated heartbeats. One of them MAY help calm him a bit!

 

[Alldara]

Alldara -- Agree 100% about the spray bottle! Sorry to hear you were injured! and hope you've recuperated? Your idea sounds great, because Tux is obviously very smart, and he may take to this quickly.

Thanks yes I'm mostly mended now!