Please help with big decision

[Dinah Doll]

Ok folks...here is the BIG PET on Dynah's head link. Not the very first time but a really good head scratch 11-21-24!

Head Scratch!

 

[Kwik]

Ok folks...here is the BIG PET on Dynah's head link. Not the very first time but a really good head scratch 11-21-24!

Head Scratch!

YahooITS ALL OVER NOW- now Dynah will know what she's been missing!

Proud of you Greg

 

[Dinah Doll]

Thank you Kwik!! She's trying to catch up now!

 

[pearl99]

It's FULL SPEED AHEAD now!!

 

[tabbytom]

Ok folks...here is the BIG PET on Dynah's head link. Not the very first time but a really good head scratch 11-21-24!

Head Scratch!

Since Dynah allows you to pet her head with your finger, one other way to help her gain more confidence in this is form your hand into a fist and let her sniff your fist and then slowly move your fist either to the side of her cheek or up her forehead gently stroke her. Letting her sniff your fist first is showing her that you are in submission to her rather than suddenly she sees a hand or like an object coming at her which may be a threat to her.

Sometimes just fist sniffing will also help her gain confidence. Anywhere, you are doing a great job! Keep it up!

 

[Dinah Doll]

View attachment 489072

Since Dynah allows you to pet her head with your finger, one other way to help her gain more confidence in this is form your hand into a fist and let her sniff your fist and then slowly move your fist either to the side of her cheek or up her forehead gently stroke her. Letting her sniff your fist first is showing her that you are in submission to her rather than suddenly she sees a hand or like an object coming at her which may be a threat to her.

Sometimes just fist sniffing will also help her gain confidence. Anywhere, you are doing a great job! Keep it up!

That is Great advice!!! Thanks TT !

 

[tabbytom]

That is Great advice!!! Thanks TT !

You’re welcomed

Cats like head bumps. A fist is like a cat’s head and let her mark your fist with her scents.

Whenever I put my fist out, my boy will walk up to me and head bump my fist and use his cheek to mark my fist.

 

[Kwik]

Dinah Doll
Coming from " below" or the " side" is like offering a handshake to person as a gesture of friendship

So as tabbytom mentioned,the reason for the closed fist is that it resembles a kitty's head( without those strange tentacles sticking out!coming towards them!)

Cats always offer their head first,mouth down-it's non confrontational.....that's why I always suggest " grazing" their cheecks with the back of your hand( fingers in)- the more you graze the further you go until your stroking their entire body,from the tip of their nose to the end of the tail
Head,cheeks,face and even mouth have scent glands they rub on one another- and even their tails!

Also,approaching from the side is much less threatening to a cat than facing them- they will reciprocate by rubbing their side against your legs--- thsts cat language for acceptance This is why I'm always bent over at the waist with my arms hanging low when meeting ferals at feeding time( staying very close)- they get accustomed to my hands and arms ,associating the relaxed body language and something good(food)

How's Callie doing? What's new with the ladies ,curious about one another?

 

[Dinah Doll]

[QUOTE="Kwik, post: 5857439, member: 10077972"]
Dinah Doll
Coming from " below" or the " side" is like offering a handshake to person as a gesture of friendship

So as tabbytom mentioned,the reason for the closed fist is that it resembles a kitty's head( without those strange tentacles sticking out!coming towards them!)

Cats always offer their head first,mouth down-it's non confrontational.....that's why I always suggest " grazing" their cheecks with the back of your hand( fingers in)- the more you graze the further you go until your stroking their entire body,from the tip of their nose to the end of the tail
Head,cheeks,face and even mouth have scent glands they rub on one another- and even their tails!

Also,approaching from the side is much less threatening to a cat than facing them- they will reciprocate by rubbing their side against your legs--- thsts cat language for acceptance This is why I'm always bent over at the waist with my arms hanging low when meeting ferals at feeding time( staying very close)- they get accustomed to my hands and arms ,associating the relaxed body language and something good(food)

How's Callie doing? What's new with the ladies ,curious about one another?
[/QUOTE]

Thanks! Very informative. I have been doing the fist trick when i can with Dynah. It works well. The problem is that I can usually only get a chance when she is in her cattree. She will scoot away from me any place else. But she is starting to not wait under her bed for me to leave the room at dinner time. She has started to wait along side of the bed in the open so to speak. This is another really good sign.

Callie is still always wary of Dynah. Always watching for her wherever she is. And she has made the upstairs playroom HERS! Dynah has not gone up there since Callie established that room as hers. I am sad with that because that room was a favorite place for Dynah to play in. I made a bunch of those videos of Dynah playing in that room. Maybe I will try and keep Callie in my bedroom with the baby-gate there for a few nights. Last time I tried that, Callie wanted out pretty quick.

Callie still has a voracious appetite and has really filled out. As far as interactions goes, there is very little. But that one time Callie was so intent on the treats I had on a plate, she was following me like a big Dog and wound up face to face with Dynah in the hallway...I mean inches away, Callie hissed and scooted away but Dynah held her ground! TOO FUNNY.

Dynah will sometimes watch Callie from the hallway while I am preparing their food, and Callie will give Dynah a little hiss or two. But Dynah just blows it off and stays right there. Callie is REALLY BOLD at times. She will walk right into any room even if Dynah is there and just prance around like nobody's business. Overall, they are behaving with Callie being the instigater with her staring and hissing. But they avoid each other for the most part.

Thanks again to everyone for your tips and insight!

A couple more of Callie!

 

[Kwik]

Thats okay,Dynah feels more confident up high vs you being " above" her.... very normal for a cat to feel safer above the ground and of course it's a good opportunity for you that she can't retreat quickly from a perch.....baby steps,actually for Dynah they are HUGE steps!

They've got great personalities to co- habitate.....They will do well..... so happy for you all

 

[Dinah Doll]

Hello folks...just an update. Callie got her distemper shot and a thorough exam with the head Vet last Friday. He gave her a clean bill of health. I just need to bring in a urine sample. She drinks A LOT of water and urinates quite often but, the vet thinks that she may just like to drink water . She did have a bad day last Monday as she vomited 3X and was really in distress. I could actually hear her stomach gurgling! I was concerned but she bounced back the next day. I think the wet food I gave her did not agree with her. So I am sticking to only a few foods that she really likes. When I open a can of Fancy Feast FISH and SHRIMP, she goes bonkers. Really likes that food a lot! So seafood for her almost every time.

Callie is just AMAZING. She wants to play often and wants to check every door, drawer, that I open and even got in the fridge when I wasn't looking hahah. She is just a wonderful, curious, affectionate little girl with a HUGE personality. She immediatley begins to purr when I pet her and loves to make biscuits. I just adore her. A lady patient at the vets saw her in the carrier and the lady said "what a beautiful little Cat" She was mesmerized by her!

BTW, Callie did not like the ride to the vets but calmed own soon after we arrived and actually looked for me for reassurance. When I touched her paw that she was poking through the cage, she calmed right down when I got done checking in. She did very good with the exam squirming a bit but behaved. Then cried again for a few minutes during the ride home. She was happy when we got home and adjusted right away.

She and Dynah have had a few more encounters that ends up with Callie chasing her and the last time she ran right up into Dynah's cattree after her . But Dynah seems to shake it right off and she actually stalks Callie sometimes during night roaming encounters. No serious fights yet though so that is good.

Dynah still lets me pet her for a few seconds and the other day she actually closed her eyes while doing so and seemed to enjoy it. THAT MADE ME CRY! What a wonderful feeling to have my feral girl finally respond in a really positive way. So she also seems to want to play a lot more now than before Callie arrived.

Thanks for chiming in and I uploaded a bunch more pics of Callie if you want to see them in this link: CALLIE PICS

 

[Kwik]

Hey Greg Dinah Doll

Love the photos...She's a real little love bug that Callie!

I look forward to seeing photos of Dynah & Callie somewhere in the same vicinity for starters.....

 

[pearl99]

She and Dynah have had a few more encounters that ends up with Callie chasing her and the last time she ran right up into Dynah's cattree after her . But Dynah seems to shake it right off and she actually stalks Callie sometimes during night roaming encounters. No serious fights yet though so that is good.

Dynah still lets me pet her for a few seconds and the other day she actually closed her eyes while doing so and seemed to enjoy it. THAT MADE ME CRY! What a wonderful feeling to have my feral girl finally respond in a really positive way. So she also seems to want to play a lot more now than before Callie arrived.

What a stupendous update. Does it seem like they are play-chasing? Super fun if they are, or if they get to that point. And Dynah accepting pets!! You must be over the moon.

 

[Dinah Doll]

What a stupendous update. Does it seem like they are play-chasing? Super fun if they are, or if they get to that point. And Dynah accepting pets!! You must be over the moon.

Thank you. I wish Callie was play chasing but she was not. However, the last few days (ever since the trip to the vets) Callie seems a bit more tolerant of Dynah. No hissing when seeing each other from a distance at dinner time and tonight, I thought I saw them both pass or near miss each other in a hallway and just keep walking away. IDK for sure but if so, I welcome it!
AND YES,...Dynah has been really great about this new kitty in our house.

Oh,...and I caught Dynah making biscuits again in one of her cattree beds tonight too. I got a video of that too. Call me crazy but these are the little baby step things that make me so happy for Dynah!

Thanks for checking out the new pics guys!

 

[Dinah Doll]

Hey Greg Dinah Doll

Love the photos...She's a real little love bug that Callie!

I look forward to seeing photos of Dynah & Callie somewhere in the same vicinity for starters.....

Kwik...yes, she is a real love bug. I just adore this girl so much. After almost a year of very little interaction from Dynah, this affectionate kitty has stolen my heart. I am sure you can relate. But I love my Dynah just as much. To see Dynah making biscuits again tonight was really wonderful. She is very content.

 

[DeesCats]

A big Congratulations to you for persevering with Callie, I love to hear these success stories!

Hopefully the interactions between Dynah and Callie get better over time and one of these day they'll click together or at least tolerate each other better.

 

[Dinah Doll]

A big Congratulations to you for persevering with Callie, I love to hear these success stories!

Hopefully the interactions between Dynah and Callie get better over time and one of these day they'll click together or at least tolerate each other better.

Thanks Dees,...I hope they will too!

 

[Kwik]

Kwik...yes, she is a real love bug. I just adore this girl so much. After almost a year of very little interaction from Dynah, this affectionate kitty has stolen my heart. I am sure you can relate. But I love my Dynah just as much. To see Dynah making biscuits again tonight was really wonderful. She is very content.

I soooo relate- I love all my 5 but that Timmy,uhhhh he's a love bug .....

I was over the moon myself the first time Timmy was making biscuits.... and only very recently he's been purring like a little motor boat,it's a huge deal for ex ferals..... I understand how exciting it is,I'm so happy Dynah is so comfy,contented and relaxed- she's got alot more coming that will tickle you too

I'm telling you- she and Callie are going to be very " cool " cats together.... compatible personalities( probably not in Callies younger days- perfect timing,meant to be)

 

[Dinah Doll]

I soooo relate- I love all my 5 but that Timmy,uhhhh he's a love bug .....

I was over the moon myself the first time Timmy was making biscuits.... and only very recently he's been purring like a little motor boat,it's a huge deal for ex ferals..... I understand how exciting it is,I'm so happy Dynah is so comfy,contented and relaxed- she's got alot more coming that will tickle you too

I'm telling you- she and Callie are going to be very " cool " cats together.... compatible personalities( probably not in Callies younger days- perfect timing,meant to be)

So great Timmy became a purr machine!!!

I think you are right about Callie and Dynah. They were both in Dynah's bedroom the other day,
Callie in the window perch and Dynah under the bed watching her. But they were fine. It seemed Callie was not sure about getting down on the floor with Dynah so, I picked her up and carried her out of the room

Talk about purring!!! Dynah was purring last night while making biscuits. She purrs very soft so it is hard to hear. Just wonderful to know she is content!

 

[tabbytom]

Callie in the window perch and Dynah under the bed watching her. But they were fine. It seemed Callie was not sure about getting down on the floor with Dynah so, I picked her up and carried her out of the room

As long as they are not hissing and fighting, they are living on a tolerable state of agreement right now.

Don't be surprise that in the near future, you'll find them both sleeping together.