Bonding with your new kitty

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Bonding with my new kitty, Josie, has been quite a journey. When first introduced to each other, all she did was sniff my shoe. Then when we drove to her foster parent’s place to pick her up, she did not acknowledge me at all and was quite scared in her carrier. I set up my place with a cat tree which you can see in the above photo, her known scratcher from her pet parent, and a covered litter box, plus a few toys. Well most of the first few days she spent at the top of her cat tree…her safe haven. The one thing she wasn’t at all shy about was meowing for food. She has a great appetite for a 10 pound kitty.

The Beginning

She found and accepted her covered litter box without a problem. And her new food bowls were hungrily received.

About a week or so later I found a wonderful little round wool cave for a bed and I placed it on top of my bed toward the bottom. It actually looked to me like she ‘smiled’ when she came upon it. And just a few nights later she did start occupying it. I also introduced her to a nice cat brush which she loved and a fun wand toy.

Unfortunately I soon had to take her to a vet appointment for shots and general health check and nail trim. Getting her into her least fave object, her carrier, was a struggle. But we made it, using stealth and a large towel to place her inside the carrier, and she came through with a good vet report.

Getting Comfortable

Within a few days, she did start to use a window perch I had installed for her. And from that time on she has loved her window look outs from both my living room and bedroom. I was told she has never been outside. And that is my problem because I do want to train her to walk outside with me. On that note, I have ordered several harnesses to my regret. That is one difficult part of Josie’s makeup. She seems to be very single minded about anything placed on her or placing her into anything or being picked up at all.

Struggles

So ever since my first go round of getting her into her carrier, it has been a ‘nightmare’ trying to get her into a coat, a harness, her new stroller, or her carrier. She is definitely ‘on to me’ and my tactics. She simply struggles out of my hands and hides. You might be surprised how strong a little ten pounder can be…especially with nails that need another trim badly. So I bought the stroller thinking we would save some moola by taking the bus. Well, the stroller is s-l-i-g-h-t-l-y easier to get her into than the carrier. Josie is just two years old and this is her third home. I am thinking possibly this is why she hates going into the carrier or stroller…could she associate them with going to yet another new place?..yet another new home? So these are our struggles and they continue on still into our third month. She knows exactly when I am about to try again.

Bonding

We have definitely bonded over playing games, of which she is a big fan. And about three or four weeks in she decided to plant herself on me as I lay on the sofa watching TV after dinner. She also sleeps every night on my bed in her bed after coming over to say good night and get her ‘good night’ love pets. She also loves to jump on me and sniff my face if I am not up when she deems it to be time. About the only time she goes to her cat tree now is when she is upset with me trying to get her into something not to her liking.

I have trained her to stay OFF my counters and am close to getting her OFF my table as well. She appears to be getting quite familiar with that word. At least when I am up and about…yeah I believe she still takes her ‘privileges’.

On Leash Training

Just recently we received the very last harness I am about to order…hopefully! The Kitty Holster is made in the USA by Crazy K Farm (pictured above). I do believe this may have been the very first one I was about to order back in November. Oh well, it looks like a winner. They even sent instructions, a guide if you will, on how to train your cat onto a leash. So I have done step 1, placing her harness in her sleeping area for a few days, and am about to go to step 2, of trying it on with treats and sweet talk. Wish me luck!

So other than my goal with Josie walking with me, we have bonded highly. She is a snuggle bug when she wants to be and loves playing and being loved, and dinner and treat time. She has claimed a pillowed chair next to me when I am on the computer…it is also in front of the heater, a big influence! She is always right there or on a window perch, or looking at me for game time, food time, or snuggle time.

Alone Time

My other aim is to find a few self-directed toys to keep her occupied, especially when I am away. My niece found one USB butterfly that keeps her attention and then another niece sent her a similar USB butterfly. I have found her most enthralling wand toy from CatAmazing, another USA pet product manufacturer. It has several attachments via magnet. They also produce treat puzzles that are great for alone time. And I just yesterday ordered a Flappy Owl from Happy-Luna who manufactures in the US. This is a toy I believe that will be self- propelling and make noises too.

Cats are sure puzzles sometimes. They are truly little independent creatures and loving babies at the same time. I’m looking forward to our coming three months and walking side by side with Josie girl and all her new adventures!

Also see our posts on bonding with your new fur buds and December pet events.

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Thanks

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