Tales and Tails and NMCs - the Excellent Cats March On

[TheShellBeach]

Join us as 2024 starts and our cats continue to run our lives for us.

Just got in from work and took these photos of the idiot sisters settled in for the night. Gomez covers herself in the blanket when she's ready for sleep 💕

She is quite skinny, she's only eating once a day at the moment. She hides away during the day and comes out at night. She won't come out when I'm in the room. I do sit and talk to her at least once a day and always talk to her when I'm taking in food and cleaning the litter treat. I'm giving her plenty of food but she isn't eating it all. I think she was probably only fed once a day while she was alone, so probably what she's used to. I'm definitely holding out for a slow blink one day.

I'd feed wet a couple of times a day, but make sure there's dry out 24/7. As long as she's eating & using her tray she should be fine. I'd also spend as much time as possible in her room, even just sitting there & reading a book will get her more used to you being around. Another thing that was suggested to me & seemed appreciated was having a radio on in the room the cat is in - something with a mix of reasonably laid back music & some chatting; I used local radio which seemed to fit the bill.

was having a radio on in the room the cat is in

I used to have a disabled cat who my mum would put Classic FM on for. 10pm sharp he would appear downstairs - he did not like Opera 😂

Thanks, great suggestions. I'll put a radio in there.

I haven't been putting dry food down yet, but will do so. She was spayed on the day she came to me, so I've been feeding her wet food with her medication in it to make sure she had it.

She is a darling but bless her, she looks a bit unsure. I prescribe Dreamies and Lik-e-Lix, as well as all the suggestions above. She'll get there eventually and, if she's anything like my timid boy several years ago, once she trusts you she'll be your velcro cat.

Thank you, I hope so. I hadn't thought of Lix-e-lix, I'll get some on Thursday when I'm shopping.

I've put the radio in her room on Smooth radio, quite quiet, and left a bowl full of dry food and also wet food with a bit of tuna and her meds, and water of course.

I put a few Dreamies on the floor under the chair where she's hiding too.

Gorgeous!

These are tips imported from the horse world but as horses are prey animals and she might be scared they could be useful?
No eye contact. Really slow movements. Gentle talking. Maybe if you have time turn your back and read a book in her room for a while until she gets curious and at first don’t react if she comes to say hi. Make yourself as small and as quiet as possible. An item of clothing you’ve worn just left in her space will get her used to your smell, too. It’s just really important to reinforce that you’re not not a threat and it’s pretty universal amongst animals that a hunched posture and averted eyes mean no threat. Sorry if I sound like a know-it-all! Have dealt with several rescue cats and mistreated horses.

Thank you for the tips. I'll definitely try those. I don't think there's any chance of her coming out while I'm in the room at the moment, she barely comes out of hiding at all. I'm not sure if the noise of the wind is upsetting her too, anyone else finding it spooks your cats?

I'll keep sitting there and talking to her, offer up Dreamies and not make eye contact. I'll try the hunched non threatening posture too.

Oh and I'll put an item of clothing I've worn in there too, seems like a good idea.

Leroy does not like the wind at all. He's not been sprawled out anywhere like normal, very much curled up and favouring the security and comfort of his boxes.

Hmm, not too sure about hunched for cats. I've always found lying on my back (exposing soft, less protected belly area) to be more effective 🤷🏼‍♀️

Either way, keep it slow 😊

I can also hear the wind and can’t shake the image of Velvet wanting to go out, stepping outside and being borne away on the wind like in Mary Poppins or Wizard of Oz, except she’s a cat.

Think she’s on my mother’s bed tonight but not too insecure about it because she spent about fifty hours on mine between playtimes before that! Also it’s bloody freezing in here and so it’s understandable she’d want to be in a comfier bed.

A new visitor this morning. NMF?

Agree with much of the advice above. I've found that being around them (sitting in the same room etc.) but completely ignoring nervous cats is quite a good option.
Nothing a cat dislikes more than being ignored 🤣.
Tita looks lovely - good luck with gaining her confidence.

Love your NMF 🤣

Wow, I've never seen a picture of a fox sitting in such a place! Is that common? (We do have millions of introduced foxes in Australia but I've never seen one.)

Yes - quite common to see them around here (SW London). Admittedly not usually on the front garden wall! See one nearly every day trotting down the road at dusk and often sitting on the neighbour's shed roof during the day. They also occasionally poop on our patio - not so nice!

We see them frequently round here as well but usually at more of a distance than that. Basil appeared to be mates with one a few years ago - saw them trotting down the road together several times.

We often have deer in our garden but I've never managed to get a picture of one eating the heads of Mr SB's plants.

Damn you, phone.

And in other news, I've set up an online petition to get the local community behind the residents of our sheltered housing complex. (you may remember that the HA is trying to get rid of our warden)

I posted the petition on the village FB page.

We get deer in our street too (muntjacs I believe). Sadly haven't seen any hedgehogs for a good few years though.
Have seen mink very occasionally too.
Plus of course endless rodents of all flavours 🤣