Monday, December 23, 2013
More progress
So I went down to the kitten room tonight and tried working with the kittens again. I went down with Vermont Naturals Calming Treats that I got to try for them. Well The Kitten that reminds me of Melody thought they were the BEST TOYS EVER!! and proceeded to play with it for twenty minutes. I tried breaking it into smaller pieces and she ate a couple. Lion was content to let her play until he actually got his paws on it, and when he realized he could play with it too he got all growly. I convinced them both to try it, but they didn't eat much. I broke the rest of them into smaller pieces and mixed them in with their dry food.
I then sat on the couch and waited to see what would happen. TKTRMOM went and sat on Happy Bear. I tried making 'love eyes' at her and she was not having anything to do with me. I just kept at it and at it and at it until it felt like my eyes would fall off.. finally.. but she looked away and didn't quite blink. I implored her to try again, and again she looked right at me, eyes wide.. five more minutes of slow blinking and finally she simply closed her eyes.. I praised and praised her, then asked her if I could move and sit on the floor. I moved off the couch on to my knees, and she went wide eyed again, and I blinked and blinked, and when she blinked again I moved forward a bit. It went on like this until I was almost at the bear.. Lion perked up at one point and mewed and came over - I'm not sure if it was to participate or to tell me off.
Once I was laying on the floor, hand slightly out to attempt a pat, she took off. I laid there and tapped my fingernails on the floor which they seem to be very intrigued by. I ignored them and just tapped. I got a few sniffs. I broke out 'hand monster" and they totally did not buy it. Hand monster advances until they move and it immediately retreats trying to be prey.. By the time they were ready to move, they were retreating, so they pretty much missed that hand monster was too. However at one point Lion jumped up on Happy Bear and I was 'tickling' HB's foot and Lion didn't think that was appropriate and decided I needed to receive the PAW OF DOOM!! Sadly it turned out to be the paw of 'you really shouldn't do that, so if you wouldn't mind stopping that would be really nice'.. but I am still THRILLED that he reached out to me.. Sadly though I couldn't get him to do it again.
I sat on the couch again, and they went under the couch and started purring pretty loudly.. I thought they were going to settle into the night and I started making plans to call it a night, but after a minute or two they came out for a little more dinner. So I got off the couch again and pulled over the track ball - something else they can not resist. I made the ball roll over and over and over.. they were FASCINATED.. I moved my hands closer and closer and they were still fixed by the ball. Occasionally they would look at my hands and start, but all I had to do was make the ball roll around the track again and they would forget. I finally got my hand on TKTRMOM and she started purring!! After about 30 seconds she had had enough, and rolled on her back and exposed her belly. I could not resist, and figured if she told me off that it would be a good thing. The more power they assert over you (such as saying do NOT TOUCH MY BELLY YOU STRANGE WOMAN) the more confident they become - which is why hand monster works so well. Well she gave me a few bunny kicks and took off. Lion took off when he realized I was patting TKTRMOM, but when she took off I made the ball go again and I had them both as an audience again. A few more spins and I was able to get a hand on Lion, and he too started purring..
Such a beautiful sound.
Now if we can just get them to the point where they don't flinch.
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Wow, feral kitten are really a process! But it sounds like they are sloooowly coming around!
ReplyDeleteAwwwwww these gorgeous kitties are in the bestest care!! Wishing all of you a wonderful Christmas and New Year! Take care
ReplyDeletex
Slowly but surely... :)
ReplyDeleteWell, that's something...we know you will get there with them!
ReplyDeleteAwwww.... such sweeties. How wonderful that they are making such progress!
ReplyDelete....a very Merry Christmas (a day late) to you!
love,
Glogirly, Katie & Waffles