Cat . . the other cat, is such a strange one. I had a Facebook memory pop up this week that showed me sitting and petting Cat three years ago. Somewhere between then and now, she decided to totally ignore me. Vince has been off work for almost 1-1/2 years and that’s when he started letting the chickens out in the morning and putting them up at night. Early in the morning had been when Cat would let me pet her and back then, she had nothing to do with Vince but once he started being the one to go out early, she became his girl.
I have tried and tried to get her to let me pet her and she has absolutely nothing to do with me. She rarely hisses at me so that’s a good thing. She will keep her distance and meow at me and it seems like she’s trying to tell me “I want you to pet me but I’m just to scared!”
Yesterday evening when I came out of the sewing room, she was parked in the driveway, which is often where she is this time of day. She’s waiting for Vince to come out but with the new chicken doors, he doesn’t go out in the evenings. I was all she had! If she wanted to get petted . . it was me or nothing.
I walked to about 10 feet of her, stopped, bent over and called her.
She got up, started walking towards me, stopped, stretched, walked a little closer. I stood very still and she came to me.
She walked around my legs, like she did in the beginning when I first started petting her. She rubbed up against me as she walked. I kept softly saying “Good kitty!”
She would walk away . . I’d take a few steps towards the house, and she’d come back to me.
Finally, she stopped at my feet, looked up at me like . . are you going to pet me?
I stood out there probably 15 minutes petting her. She wasn’t really comfortable but she really wanted to be petted.
I wish I knew her history. Was she ever someone’s pet? How old is she? How long did she live around here before we saw her and started trying to work with her? Is this as good as it’s going to get or will she sit on our lap and let us pet her some day?
She’s been around for over 5 years now. Vince is able to get flea meds on her. Every time we pay for a tube of Bravecto for her, I want to explain to her that most people would not be doing that for a cat they can’t even pet! But, I can tell she doesn’t care what we think. I believe that’s the nature of a tortoise shell cat and she’s definitely an independent, grumpy cat . . but I think we love her.
w jordan says
It is so funny when people talk about cats. Cats aren’t like dogs at all. Even the vets don’t understand cats and they go to school. Cats have minds of their own. They do as they please when they please. Now she ( Cat) is getting used to you again but it won’t be long before you are gone for days again. She will wonder to herself did I get left again maybe even think oh well maybe someone else will come pet me.. They can live with you or without where dogs can’t very well. Just pet her when you can/ allowed to. She is a free kitty she doesn’t care if you put flea stuff on her. Just likes to know someone cares and is around. And yes she might get in your lap one day or she may not. Heaven knows what has been done to her in the past. I’m sure she was somebodies and is spade or you would have kitties every where by now. Just enjoy what ever she gives you. Rubbing on you with her face is a way they show they like you and that you belong to them. ( scent glands on sides of faces) We have 2 like her both are their own cat do as they please to heck with us.
Rebecca says
She’ll never be a Boots, but you certainly are doing well by her. Such patience! I’ve never heard of such a fickle cat, though!
Nelle Coursey says
So glad she let you pet her! I bet she has been wanting that for a long time but was just too stubborn to let you know!
dezertsuz says
They all have such different personalities, and she definitely seems to have a severe trauma in the background somewhere. That she trusts you enough to even walk up to you, 5 years or not, is still a big statement and blessing.