Newboy: sequel that's better than the original

[Lanaorana2]

Executive decision by Mr C.

There was a tremendous outbreak of miaowing )if you can call it that!) about 5am. I reckon he becomes lonely and miserable when it's 'nighttime' and is happier when I'm up and doing. If only he would realise that he could spend the night having luurrvvvvv.

Oh my darling! You're right, he wants the company.

Well, if it was me, I would stagger up, seize him, dump him on the bed, pat briefly, then pass out. But that might be a bridge too far.

How can you get him into the bedroom at night? Er, food? Sweets on the sheets? Shut some other doors? Put his activity centre in there (that might be annoying), maybe. Will ponder.

The trouble about food in bed is that he might get a touch demanding in the dead of night, IME.

It is v good news he is screaming for attention in the night, however. The danger is that you will get knackered if you produce it. Chew in bed got to be a useful routine for distracting Mr C, if that helps.

He's quite good now, bar the odd accidental wounding when trying to wake me up. So it doesn't last forever.

Imagine. You're a 14 weeks old kitten looking to your big adventure. You go to a house where you have to sleep by yourself and you have an older Siamese who doesn't like you. You have to make the best of things - for three years.

What that would do to a Siamese psyche, though, is anybody's guess. I doubt whether even after this time, he knows whether he's coming or going.

To me you would probably stay out the way and not draw attention to yourself. And not go to humans in case it makes it worse

Heartbreaking. Just awful.

I agree with you Olli, his MO is exile and survival.

But, as we have seen over the past few weeks, the heart is always capable of change. And Newboy is not a stupid cat.

The Bed will be crucial.

Apparently, he quite liked humans in his first house. I've been a bit disconcerted, though, by the fact that he seems to - at the least - be reassured by chastisement. (My other boys would go into a despond at a hint of disapproval. Real 'Woe is me' stuff. )

At least he's coming round to you. It's a horrible life they've lead him so far.

What were they thinking getting two Siamese? I'd like another cat but it's not fair to expose another cat go asbo at close quarters like that.

Can you imagine your life if you acquired another Bengal?

I should say that it's possible to have success stories. I've just never experienced one with my lads.

It would be stuff of nightmares. Dh wanted a rescue kitten recently, he was cat broody. When Bengal cat society still did rescue most of their cats were only cats because they'd come from failed multicat houses. One poor boy was only 6 months old & already up for re-homing, they'd tried to put him in with three resident cats.

When I got back from the shops earlier asbo was sitting on next doors patio furniture waiting to ambush their cat. I had to throw water on the patio to get him off & open a pouch.

Hang on...Gin with Ribena and fizz

do you have to like Ribena, I'm not keen and there is only a tad of gin left

I'm an Alexander gal myself. Whatever takes your fancy is worth a try. (Gin being gin after all.)

I am telling Ollie all about Newboy and he's looking very concerned about the lack of bed sleeping

Probably doesn't understand the concept of sleeping on your own.

C you have hit the trough in the middle of a big job - the Slough of Despond.

Feeling like this is inevitable, it's the same as having workmen in, feeding them senseless with tea and doughnuts for weeks, then freaking out and screaming Get out of my house when eager smiling faces appear one Monday morning mid-makeover.

Look how far Newboy has come already. Sleeping in fave place, talking, eating (yep), sitting in room with you. Eyeing you up.

Given what a bad state he was in when he rolled up, I'm remarkably impressed. Don't get me wrong - this is not going to be a fast job, but all the signs of hope are there, and manifesting themselves daily.

It must be awful not having him in the bed. I get the arse if Mr C won't come on and bawl pitifully until he hops up.

Have you ever had a traumatised cat before?

F good luck tonight with asbo.

No. Never had one - well Seniorboy was a bit ........quiet at first. He's doing quite well tonight. Had one stray pee but then I should probably not have hoovered as much as I did. (Or maybe he wanted to be chastised. )

Like an abused child acting up?.

Similar. His first home loved him very dearly, though.

Well, there's a first time for everything. So no need to get glum by comparing the Newboy process to what happened with other cats, it's not the same thing. And you are about the only person I know who could tackle the job with the Zen patience it evidently requires.

A thought - Mr C was socialised by Battersea before I got him. (Apparently .)

I wonder what socialisers do, but I bet it's something to do with peeing, among other things. Because Mr C, who demands attention 24/7, has never weed to get it. Might look it up. I wonder if Vicky Halls has any ideas about Aggravated Wazzing too.

Newboy is asking for attention, which is, in conclusion, another good sign.

It's OK. I'm not glum - nowhere near it. My main concern is for him and his happiness.

MrC has been socialised??

I know. I met the woman who did it, although looking back she was remarkably scratch- and bite-free, looked like she'd slept through the night, etc. I'm giving that mystery up to the universe.

Anyway, I've looked up socialisers and all they do is cuddle you, sounds lovely, but possibly not what we need tips on right at this mo.

The PDSA says if cats are taught to be scared of humans it can take 'several weeks to several months' to reverse. Ie it is reversible (it is, I knew that already, cats aren't like humans in that respect.)The other cheery bit is that the crucial time before 12 weeks needs to be set in place right, which I gather N did have.

Had better go, my socialised animal is thieving a walnut whip. Sleep well to you both. :)

I guess it does take time. Even Ollie if you remember did that horrendous wailing at night habit. Everything else was good but the night noise nearly broke me
And that was after he decided I was his human