If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Behavior modification; cats and strangers
Last year, this cat used to visit me regularly in late afternoon, eat
her favorite canned foods, watch tv, then leave. During the winter a family emergency forced us to go overseas. We had an apt-sitter, who I couldn't expect to be like me and who mostly left dry food out. At least the cat could eat. Coming back, I find the cat is slowly warming back to me but her habits have changed. (1) She has become used to dry food. I have been putting out a little bit of canned each time but she barely notices it. I want her to eat canned but my first priority has got to be that she ha enough to eat, right? (2) She has become used to eating around 1PM. At 5, I had about 2 hours to watch news and play with her. At 1 I am busy at the computer with real work and she feels ignored and looks grumpy. My fear is if I don't feed her when she comes, instead of returning later she may simply give up on me. Questions so far: How can I make her come around 5pm, eat canned food, and feel it is all her idea? :-) (3) Yet another potential problem is that two new families are about to move into the ground floor apartments that have been empty so far. She passes through those porches to climb to our 3rd floor. Now there could be a few strangers in her path. For a few days last Fall, there were wormen in the yard, not even in her direct path, but she hid untill everyone had left and came several hours later, still looking anxious. I am worried by that memory, Question: What can I do to let her know these new people are ok and she should just climb up? Should I not bother trying to force too many changes, and just keep feeding dry whenever she shows up at least until she gets used to the presence of new people? All opinions greatly appreciated. |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Behavior modification; cats and strangers
"Ajanta" wrote in message ... Last year, this cat used to visit me regularly in late afternoon, eat her favorite canned foods, watch tv, then leave. During the winter a family emergency forced us to go overseas. We had an apt-sitter, who I couldn't expect to be like me and who mostly left dry food out. At least the cat could eat. Coming back, I find the cat is slowly warming back to me but her habits have changed. (1) She has become used to dry food. I have been putting out a little bit of canned each time but she barely notices it. I want her to eat canned but my first priority has got to be that she ha enough to eat, right? She should be fine with just the dry food. Vet told me to feed one of mine only dry food. (2) She has become used to eating around 1PM. At 5, I had about 2 hours to watch news and play with her. At 1 I am busy at the computer with real work and she feels ignored and looks grumpy. My fear is if I don't feed her when she comes, instead of returning later she may simply give up on me. Let her wait, 15 minutes one day then 25, then an hour till you get back to 5 PM. Questions so far: How can I make her come around 5pm, eat canned food, and feel it is all her idea? :-) See above (3) Yet another potential problem is that two new families are about to move into the ground floor apartments that have been empty so far. She passes through those porches to climb to our 3rd floor. Now there could be a few strangers in her path. For a few days last Fall, there were wormen in the yard, not even in her direct path, but she hid untill everyone had left and came several hours later, still looking anxious. I am worried by that memory, Question: What can I do to let her know these new people are ok and she should just climb up? Intro her to them, and ditto for yourself. Should I not bother trying to force too many changes, and just keep feeding dry whenever she shows up at least until she gets used to the presence of new people? She'll adjust most likely. She knows where the food is coming from. All opinions greatly appreciated. And don't listen to those that freak at the thought of a cat being allowed to be a cat. Better a good life than a long life of denied essence of being. If a cat wants to be outside it should be allowed, locking it up only breaks it's will unless it truly wants to stick around inside. I live out in the forest so I can say that. There are some good arguments for those in the city though. High traffic etcetera. Stone Some pic's http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/stoneman72/my_photos |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Behavior modification; cats and strangers
"Gary Stone" wrote in message ... "Ajanta" wrote in message ... Last year, this cat used to visit me regularly in late afternoon, eat her favorite canned foods, watch tv, then leave. During the winter a family emergency forced us to go overseas. We had an apt-sitter, who I couldn't expect to be like me and who mostly left dry food out. At least the cat could eat. Coming back, I find the cat is slowly warming back to me but her habits have changed. (1) She has become used to dry food. I have been putting out a little bit of canned each time but she barely notices it. I want her to eat canned but my first priority has got to be that she ha enough to eat, right? She should be fine with just the dry food. Vet told me to feed one of mine only dry food. (2) She has become used to eating around 1PM. At 5, I had about 2 hours to watch news and play with her. At 1 I am busy at the computer with real work and she feels ignored and looks grumpy. My fear is if I don't feed her when she comes, instead of returning later she may simply give up on me. Let her wait, 15 minutes one day then 25, then an hour till you get back to 5 PM. Questions so far: How can I make her come around 5pm, eat canned food, and feel it is all her idea? :-) See above (3) Yet another potential problem is that two new families are about to move into the ground floor apartments that have been empty so far. She passes through those porches to climb to our 3rd floor. Now there could be a few strangers in her path. For a few days last Fall, there were wormen in the yard, not even in her direct path, but she hid untill everyone had left and came several hours later, still looking anxious. I am worried by that memory, Question: What can I do to let her know these new people are ok and she should just climb up? Intro her to them, and ditto for yourself. Should I not bother trying to force too many changes, and just keep feeding dry whenever she shows up at least until she gets used to the presence of new people? She'll adjust most likely. She knows where the food is coming from. All opinions greatly appreciated. And don't listen to those that freak at the thought of a cat being allowed to be a cat. Better a good life than a long life of denied essence of being. If a cat wants to be outside it should be allowed, locking it up only breaks it's will unless it truly wants to stick around inside. I live out in the forest so I can say that. There are some good arguments for those in the city though. High traffic etcetera. Stone Some pic's http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/stoneman72/my_photos I think you can take ownership of the cat if you don't know that it belongs to anyone and perhaps keep her in at night/bed time where you know she's safe and out during the day. You already know she'll come back to you, so that wouldn't be a problem. If you live in an apartment building, my guess is you live in a at least somewhat high traffic area. Introduce yourself to your new neighbors and introduce the cat and if you don't want to take full ownership, maybe just tell them that she comes to you for food sometimes so not to worry about seeing her wandering around. But, I think if she loves you enough to keep coming back, then perhaps you should let her fully claim you Beth |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
rec.pets.cats: Norwegian Forest Cat Breed-FAQ | Bjorn Steensrud | Cat Information | 0 | February 18th 06 05:26 AM |
rec.pets.cats: Traditional Siamese Breed-FAQ | Laura Gilbreath | Cat Information | 0 | February 18th 06 05:25 AM |
rec.pets.cats: Norwegian Forest Cat Breed-FAQ | Bjorn Steensrud | Cat Information | 0 | November 18th 05 05:36 AM |
Getting our two cats to accept eachother - Moving in a new cat | Muffin McMuff from Mullaghduff | Cat health & behaviour | 9 | November 15th 05 04:44 PM |
rec.pets.cats: Norwegian Forest Cat Breed-FAQ | Bjorn Steensrud | Cat Information | 0 | October 29th 04 05:24 AM |