Tuesday, August 20, 2019
Major developments with #CabanaandtheGang
With Briget and her sisters gone, it was questionable if I should let Cabana and his sisters out of the bathroom or not. There is a lot more space to get used to, a lot more to defend against, a lot more to be afraid of.
But the four of them were destroying the bathroom in less than 12 hours which meant leaving them there was a lot more work for me and it wasn't challenging them at all. They were used to the bathroom, they were not progressing any further toward me (well except Casey who figured out she adores having her neck scratched) so I took stock of the full room to see what I was dealing with.
The new couch is kitten height off the floor so I realized pretty quickly if I left that in there I'd never see them. Fortunately, we still hadn't taken the old one out, so we switched couches. They can still hide on one side of the couch where the arm comes up off the floor, but I can easily reach them in there without acting like a predator (scrambling to get them) so that worked. The cat tree nearish the cabinet wasn't going to work either because I could just see Cabana making a scramble to get over there and leaping, and either making it and I wouldn't be able to get him or not making it and his falling from 7 feet, so I moved the tree far away from it. I removed a few items that would make scrambling for cover possibly worth it (like the unicorn and the giraffe) but left a few things to hide in. I also left the bathroom open because that was comfortable to them, smelled like them, they knew that.
And I was fully expecting to have to return them to the bathroom because I didn't know how it would go.
That first night they were out exploring and having a grand ol time. I knew in the morning they would be right back in the bathroom hiding from me - and they were. After that, we have had some successes and some not so successful moments.
Casey loves me. She is usually quick to remember that the great big thing that invades her space delivers love and baby food..
and with baby food, usually, I can entice everyone else over. Cabana trusts Casey, so he'll usually come over to check it out and his love of processed meat product does the rest.
He still does not trust me though. I can only get him to come over if I have something he wants. Food, toys, or his sister's snuggles. Other than that he stays well out of reach, but the fact that he is not hiding is incredibly impressive. I did not think it was possible. I was certain he was going to have to be a barn cat when I first met him, so huge kudos to him.
Capa, the black and white one, still growls at everything. I offer her baby food and she growls. I go to pet her and she growls. She doesn't mind being with me once I have my hands on her, even volunteering to lay next to me the other day when the food was gone and I told her she could leave from our forced cuddle session. She has a way to go - or she needs someone who is willing to put some work into her.
Cape, the tabby, likes attention a lot but does not feel comfortable asking for it. She skulks around the room like she's expecting to be called on by a teacher after not doing her homework. If you can get your hands on her, she purrs up a storm. She likes baby food and play but holds back as if the other kitties have told her that they get to do these things first.
Since they are already neutered, I'll probably have them for another week or two, but we'll see. I've already the next litter set up waiting for me..
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I think they will all come along with a bit of time and love,xx Rachel and Speedy
ReplyDeleteWow, they are making such great progress, slowly but surely. Love the adorable pictures of them. Casey is a doll. She will lead the way with the others.
ReplyDeleteThese guys are tough... but you've made some pretty amazing progress!
ReplyDeleteTOO. MUCH. CUTE!!!!
ReplyDeleteSounds like Casey and Cabana ought to be adopted together?
ReplyDeletehopefully there are some special families just waiting out there to give these chickens a chance.
ReplyDeleteYou've made some amazing progress with them!
ReplyDeleteAs I read the last line of your post, I had a sudden vision of a conveyor belt, with baby kittens on it doing in one side of your house, and another belt with well-mannered, old kittens going out! Does it feel like that sometimes; you are a kitten factory?
ReplyDeleteThey are making some beautiful progress ! Purrs
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like good progress to me. Hopefully they find forever homes that will allow them to get more confident.
ReplyDeleteWe think they will do well when they find homes.
ReplyDeleteThey are all so darn cute.
ReplyDeleteOur youngest kitten was scared of the world when we adopted her.7 months later she follows me aroynd 27-7 snuggles with me, lets me trim her nails....wash her furry pant bum when it gets messy even. But she still has the on guard mentality with others most of the time.
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