Thank you to several blog readers who sent me info on communicating with a cat. Blink slowly! That will prove that I’m a nice person and I want to have a relationship with a cat that hisses at me, a cat that has not had any shots, has lived probably most of her life in the woods and will probably bite me and cause me to die .. but, nonetheless, I blink slowly.
Just a week or so ago was the first time he came up and rubbed on my legs when I went out to feed him. He would do it one day and not for a couple of days, but only when I was fixing to feed him. Now, every time I walk outside he comes and rubs on my legs. This morning, he sat at my feet , one foot on my boots. I believe I could have petted him . . but I didn’t try. If I could do it without scaring him, I think I could get flea drops on his shoulder area but I doubt I could rub it in.
Yesterday, I was thinking how nice it is that I don’t have close neighbors. I was out there talking to Cat. My glasses get dark when I walk outside so he probably couldn’t see my eyes so I took my glasses off, was reaching them towards him saying “See my eyes? Can you see me blinking slowly? Smell my glasses! I’m a nice person!”
Cat
She hung out and rubbed on my boots for a good 3 or 4 minutes. I might could have reached down and petted her but I didn’t want to push my luck.
Cat
Then, when I was looking at the pictures and realized . . I’m wearing my old shorts and my rubber boots . . another reason it’s really good that I don’t have a lot of close neighbors, or folks driving down the street who can see me.
But, who cares . . Cat didn’t seem to mind my shorts and boots. He’s fast becoming my good friend.
Cat in the Window
I believe he’s decided that if he can’t come inside and sleep, he’ll just sleep in the bedroom window.
Good kitty! 🙂
Vickie VanDyken says
I have a domesticated cat and a feral one in the garage. The tame one patches, allows the feral one, tiger, to come into his area. No contact yet, but he doesn’t run away from me now. Especially when I am feeding them. Patches is getting on in years so I am hoping to friend and clean up tiger so I always have a cat in the garage. We can have mice and a cat usually takes care of that….so I am trying. I see you are a little further along than I am! I have dinner so I am sure in time tiger will come around..to petting… and then flea and shots 🙂
Kate says
I work in the cat rescue business – you are doing fabulously with her!!!! Try sitting down and let her come to you – then your hand can just hang down beside your leg, and she can see that it doesn’t try to grab her. Also use a “hand extender” like a wooden spoon – or a ruler – and scratch her gently with it. Give her a treat from that hand – or that spoon like some canned cat food…… she will be rolling over in your lap in no time at all.
Be patient with that flea stuff – you don’t want to make her feel like you are grabbing or holding her yet…….
nice Cat !!
Lee says
I love hearing that Cat is warming up to you. My ‘in-house’ domestic cats rarely rub against my legs!! I suspect Cat once WAS someone’s pet, whether indoor or outdoor, but has become a forced feral, and now that she’s found someone she’s learned isn’t going to throw things at her, spray her with a hose, or some other means of running her off, she’s learning to trust again. I think you should try to pet her, slowly, maybe just scritches around the ears, or hold your hand out like for a dog to sniff, but be very cautious about attempting to pick up. She’s pretty 🙂
dezertsuz says
Judy, the cat tamer! I love it. =)
Regina says
Good luck! I am a bit further down the cat taming road than you are – but today took three giant steps back. After a lot of lap sitting and a couple rounds of holding, we attempted “get in the cat carrier for shots” – and that didn’t work at all. On a good note, she did let me have 4 tries at it, and she also came back for dinner this evening… but no shots (and no closer to spaying, either)… Going to go bathe in antibiotic ointment once again… ow!
Sherrill says
WOOHOO Judy!!
Carol c says
Cat looks good laying in the outside window ledge. Well fed, shows in the coat. Thanking you for feeding “it”.
wanda j says
You are doing good just keep on and being patient. It won’t be long now. Maybe she/he will purr loudly when she/he finally lets you pet her/him.
Sheri Berger says
So happy to see Cat feels happy there with you. What a blessing you are to her!