Lee in Quartzsite
Member
Great Progress.....a photo would be awesome!
MY GARDEN IS PROTECTED !
- Thread starter susieqz
- Start date
OP
susieqz
Absent Comrade
is that chart actually true?
i mostly just scratch behind the ears.
mind you, i don't know if she will ever want to be touched.
she still prefers a distance of 8' or so, plus,
if i'm walking upright with no food in the offing, she will flee the garden.
she has adjusted to the garden.
she has not adjusted to me.
i'm fine with this, tho i hope for more.
if the garden is her primary residence, she can live for a normal life span.
i mostly just scratch behind the ears.
mind you, i don't know if she will ever want to be touched.
she still prefers a distance of 8' or so, plus,
if i'm walking upright with no food in the offing, she will flee the garden.
she has adjusted to the garden.
she has not adjusted to me.
i'm fine with this, tho i hope for more.
if the garden is her primary residence, she can live for a normal life span.
jeffsmith
Member
Yup not Surprised and Your Kitty is Smart
Probably Smart enough to avoid High Plains Winter Outside
Probably Smart enough to avoid High Plains Winter Outside
OP
susieqz
Absent Comrade
i have ordered a new memory card for the camera.
pics will be hard. the stupid cam chimes when you turn it on n when you take a pic.
this sound bothers her lots.
guys, don't expect any cute pics.
she doesn't do ''cute''.
i think she has a certain wild beauty that screams competence tho.
i'll try to show that in a pic.
i guess i wanna show her off.
pics will be hard. the stupid cam chimes when you turn it on n when you take a pic.
this sound bothers her lots.
guys, don't expect any cute pics.
she doesn't do ''cute''.
i think she has a certain wild beauty that screams competence tho.
i'll try to show that in a pic.
i guess i wanna show her off.
Well, susie, I'm living at my cabin in the woods right now, and I may have told you about the little kitten that showed up one night. I may have posted this before, but all my PB photos vanished, so until you get your camera in action, and we get a pic or two of "drifter", here's one of my cabin kitty, "Bella", AKA "Bella Boo Boo".
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susieqz
Absent Comrade
there are similarities in color, but bella has more black n is more relaxed.
not sure why i named my kitty.
if you only have one, why bother with names/
plus, i just call her ''kitty'' when i talk to her.
habit.
not sure why i named my kitty.
if you only have one, why bother with names/
plus, i just call her ''kitty'' when i talk to her.
habit.
Well, she looks relaxed in that picture, but when she is on "Mouse Patrol", she is all business. I like to say that she is my "Heart Breaker, and Mouse Taker"!!! She can be pretty skittish, and patrols the cabin at night. This morning she woke me up at 5:10AM, with a big hissing and merowing from the back of the living room couch, which is in front of a window looking out onto the porch. She was warning something, I don't know what to clear out!! By the time I got there and looked out, whatever it was had ran off. So she is part watchcat as well as mouser!! She is just about a year old now, and is a little petite at only 10 pounds. She's taking a cat nap near the foot of my bed right now, as I am typing this on my iPad.
I beiieve that you and your kitty are going to be pretty happy together.
Best Regards, Les
I beiieve that you and your kitty are going to be pretty happy together.
Best Regards, Les
OP
susieqz
Absent Comrade
well, since it is possible that gunfire hurts her, i was driven from my range. i shot on my driveway.
she heard the shots but the house wa between us, so it couldn't have hurt.
idid this before breakfast, thinking hunger would tie her to the garden.
she split for the coast.
wouldn't come when i did the dinner call. she was gone for 5 hours.
i was worried.
usually., she leaves for a half hour, so she doesn't go far.
but, in 5 hours she could get into coyote trouble.
what in the world does she do in our frequent thunderstorms?
on the plus side, i was right about the allure of prime beef.
i removed the fat cap n cut it into strips, 1/2'' by 1 1/2'', so i wouldn't get bit.
then, i went out n sat in her view.
i said, ''ooooh, look what i got''
then i made yummy noises.
she wanted it bad, so she came over n took it from my hand.
cool.
don't think i have her eating out of my hand tho.
if i stand up, i'm still a scary monster n off she goes.
she heard the shots but the house wa between us, so it couldn't have hurt.
idid this before breakfast, thinking hunger would tie her to the garden.
she split for the coast.
wouldn't come when i did the dinner call. she was gone for 5 hours.
i was worried.
usually., she leaves for a half hour, so she doesn't go far.
but, in 5 hours she could get into coyote trouble.
what in the world does she do in our frequent thunderstorms?
on the plus side, i was right about the allure of prime beef.
i removed the fat cap n cut it into strips, 1/2'' by 1 1/2'', so i wouldn't get bit.
then, i went out n sat in her view.
i said, ''ooooh, look what i got''
then i made yummy noises.
she wanted it bad, so she came over n took it from my hand.
cool.
don't think i have her eating out of my hand tho.
if i stand up, i'm still a scary monster n off she goes.
OP
susieqz
Absent Comrade
oh, dear, i've forgotten how to play.
things have gotten pretty relaxed around here, now that all meals are served within 2-3'' of me.
plus, she gets a piece of beef fat from my hand daily.
so, after dinner, she plopped down a couple of feet away, on her side.
she stretched her front paws as far forward as they could go, then the back legs followed.
she was stretched like a bow.
this looked like an invitation to play, but i didn't know what to do.
i never used to mind getting scratched, playing with a kitty, but now i know about cat scratch fever, so, i'm wary.
as it turned out, i didn't have to make a decision. this big old tarantula came up.
cat sniffed it, but didnt know what to do. i did, i whacked it, wrecking the mood.
yeah, i know they are harmless, but spiders that measure 4'' across scare me, so i kill.
i was more hoping for some cuddling, but if she wants to play, i wanna play to, but i don't know how.
ideas?
things have gotten pretty relaxed around here, now that all meals are served within 2-3'' of me.
plus, she gets a piece of beef fat from my hand daily.
so, after dinner, she plopped down a couple of feet away, on her side.
she stretched her front paws as far forward as they could go, then the back legs followed.
she was stretched like a bow.
this looked like an invitation to play, but i didn't know what to do.
i never used to mind getting scratched, playing with a kitty, but now i know about cat scratch fever, so, i'm wary.
as it turned out, i didn't have to make a decision. this big old tarantula came up.
cat sniffed it, but didnt know what to do. i did, i whacked it, wrecking the mood.
yeah, i know they are harmless, but spiders that measure 4'' across scare me, so i kill.
i was more hoping for some cuddling, but if she wants to play, i wanna play to, but i don't know how.
ideas?
bigwheelzip
Absent Comrade
Maybe a back scratcher held with a leather gauntlet?
snowman
Member
susieqz,
Do you happen to have a ball of yarn? How about a laser pointer? I've seen cats go for those -probably more entertaining for the humans who watch, however.
Andy
Do you happen to have a ball of yarn? How about a laser pointer? I've seen cats go for those -probably more entertaining for the humans who watch, however.
Andy
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OP
susieqz
Absent Comrade
thanks. i guess i could try a pointer, but that's to give her something to chase, right?
great for house cats, but i don't know about professional hunters.
i do think i need gauntlets. i'll see what amazon has to say.
at this point, i'd like to maximize touching.
if i could pick her up, i could shove her in a cat carrier n put her in the house when i shoot.
plus, she could come inside for winter,
great for house cats, but i don't know about professional hunters.
i do think i need gauntlets. i'll see what amazon has to say.
at this point, i'd like to maximize touching.
if i could pick her up, i could shove her in a cat carrier n put her in the house when i shoot.
plus, she could come inside for winter,
susie:
Don't overthink it too much. If kitty makes an overture like she did, I think it would be safe to touch her, she may want you to. Try a gentle rub behind the ears, or just stroke her head, don't try to play much at first, just a light touch, til you see how it goes. Now that she trusts you, I think everything is going to be OK. You have been really sucessful so far.
Best Regards, Les
Don't overthink it too much. If kitty makes an overture like she did, I think it would be safe to touch her, she may want you to. Try a gentle rub behind the ears, or just stroke her head, don't try to play much at first, just a light touch, til you see how it goes. Now that she trusts you, I think everything is going to be OK. You have been really sucessful so far.
Best Regards, Les
I would do like Les. Just try a gentle touch or 2. If she freaks out she would probably just take off. Now if you grabbed her she would probably claw you. Cat is making some moves to show you she trust you. You never know, some time in the past this cat may have started out being a pet or a kitten of a pet.
I found my cat down by the river, hungry and nervous. No way she would get close to my dog. Right now they are sleeping together on the bed.
I found my cat down by the river, hungry and nervous. No way she would get close to my dog. Right now they are sleeping together on the bed.
I think it will be a long time before you can shove her in a cat carrier without some serious loss of trust. Even if you can coach her into the house I would leave the door open at first. The need for an escape route and the fear of being trapped are not going to be easy to get over for a wild cat.
Fur rubbing approach ...
Do NOT reach out to kitty.
Let you hand hang down where kitty can come and check it out.
Kitty may walk up and rub against the hand and the step back.
Later may rub more than once.
When progress to regular multiple rubs - start with rubbing wiggling fingers.
GO SLOW - Remember kitty is in charge.
For gauntlets check for gloves at welding supply shop.
Bekeart
Do NOT reach out to kitty.
Let you hand hang down where kitty can come and check it out.
Kitty may walk up and rub against the hand and the step back.
Later may rub more than once.
When progress to regular multiple rubs - start with rubbing wiggling fingers.
GO SLOW - Remember kitty is in charge.
For gauntlets check for gloves at welding supply shop.
Bekeart
Id use a piece of string rather than my hands to play.She'll be really wound up from that so don't try to pet her then
Skip the toys. Keep it between just the two of you.
Susie:
I'm not too sure about the gauntlets... If I was a cat my size, and some creature with six foot gauntlets that didn't smell like my creature reached out for me, I would probably freak out too!! Some of the suggestions above of slowly working up to touching kitty are probably going to ensure that she doesn't try to scratch or bite. As soFlaNative says, keep it between the two of you...at least for awhile. She will rely heavily not just on sight, but smell as well, so she needs to get used to the smell of your hands. You are making amazing progress...keep up the good work!!
Best Regards, Les
I'm not too sure about the gauntlets... If I was a cat my size, and some creature with six foot gauntlets that didn't smell like my creature reached out for me, I would probably freak out too!! Some of the suggestions above of slowly working up to touching kitty are probably going to ensure that she doesn't try to scratch or bite. As soFlaNative says, keep it between the two of you...at least for awhile. She will rely heavily not just on sight, but smell as well, so she needs to get used to the smell of your hands. You are making amazing progress...keep up the good work!!
Best Regards, Les
