I'm going to join the world of cat owners!!!!

tea_lover

Oh no! It takes time for everyone to adjust to a new arrival, I bet your OH feels terrible too. I've shut the cat in the utility room before now but he seems to have got over the trauma!

rustyboy21

Wait until Derek gets used to you. Tibsey here, tries to sit on my knee when I am sitting on the toilet !


Most disconcerting and ruins the mood! lol


Don't know if you have seen this yet, but What will they think of next? lol https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM98EV8fQk8

Tiglath

martin2345uk wrote: »

Boy was I !!!!ed off this morning. So his tray and food are now in the kitchen. What does OH do when he gets home from his shift at 3am?? Comes to bed and closes the kitchen door!! Result?? Poor Derek had to go in the potted plant in the lounge; earth everywhere, plant destroyed. I felt terrible for Derek! OH won't be doing that again! :-(

Bless him, he's a smart cat - at least one of mine would've just widdled on the carpet. Or in a shoe.

gardengull

Nice to hear how things are going. Thanks for the updates.
It was a messy way to find out, but at least you know Derek is used to using SOIL as a toilet, and will probably 'go' outside eventually, rather always using a litter tray.

Talking of which, in a few weeks you'll start to think about when you might open up the cat flap and let him out. Our cat Arthur was from the RSPCA, and they suggested 4 weeks.

We did some "recall training", by whistling the same easy to remember pattern and up/down tone of notes (peep-peep pi-pi pi-pi peep-peep), and shaking the cat-biscuits every time we went to feed him. It seemed to work, as he still comes running when we whistle his dinner-tune or shake the biscuits even when he's far away outside.

We planned the big letting-him-out on a weekend when we were OK to be at home in case he went missing (like the parents of a teenager allowed to go to a party!). We didn't feed him in the morning (lots of miaowing!) but when we unveiled the cat flap, which had been taped up, he did a double take and took to it right away. I followed him around the garden, and he sniffed everything, and then ran back inside (through the cat flap) when the wind blew - he's still quite a scaredy-cat!
Later on the same day, I heard the cat flap go, and he'd gone out on his own. My heart was in my mouth waiting for him to come home, but he did, after about 2 hours, and I've not worried about him going out since.

gunsandbanjos

Oh no! My dad visited my flat once and shut the bathroom door that has the cats litter tray... Cue poo on floor of kitchen.

martin2345uk

Cheers all, and thank you gardengull for your letting your cat outside story, I am going to be terrified when the time comes!

This evening I have been sitting on the sofa with Derek next to me, very cute, and as usual every time I left the room he forgot who I was and panicked when I returned... he bolted so fast one time he skidded on the laminate floor and bashed his head on the Sky+ box :-/

Horseunderwater

When we got our old cat Arnie, we popped him on a cat lead so he could explore without getting lost, but he went round backwards, winding the lead around my legs as he went. Now he was a cat who would stop & sit on the pavement & do the cat cross code before he'd go across the road. He was a huge tabby & very strong which I think is why he got called Arnie by the woodgreen rescue centre.
Now we just have a long haired black cat called Damian, who learned to go out of the flap when he was ready. He loves snow & rain unless really heavy does not stop him going out.
Perhaps Derek would not run off if you approached slowly & held you hand out to him, so that he does not get so scared.

martin2345uk

Oh I do that, I approach about as fast as a slug sometimes and he still bolts but then when I crouch down and put my fist out, he trots over and headbutts it! :-)

rustyboy21

Derek, That's normal when they are new to you. Just think, he has been used to just being with other small creatures and now has a big hulking animal trying to give him affection. It will come in time. You will remember these times after he has settled in and decides to jump on your head at 3 am!


I love it when I put my hand out and Tibs dives for it, head butting it and mouthing it with her razor sharp teeth. Have you had a try of some feathers or something on a piece of string yet? drag it across the floor and fly it through the air, he will love it and may get used to you faster.


He just seems a little timid at the moment, You don't know whether he was abused previously, so that is why he does a runner when you walk in the room. Whilst you are walking in the room, try talking to him, higher pitch the better, he will get used to you.


You will end up having to push him off the sofa soon, so you can sit down ! lol

martin2345uk

rustyboy21 wrote: »

Derek, That's normal when they are new to you. Just think, he has been used to just being with other small creatures and now has a big hulking animal trying to give him affection. It will come in time. You will remember these times after he has settled in and decides to jump on your head at 3 am!


I love it when I put my hand out and Tibs dives for it, head butting it and mouthing it with her razor sharp teeth. Have you had a try of some feathers or something on a piece of string yet? drag it across the floor and fly it through the air, he will love it and may get used to you faster.


He just seems a little timid at the moment, You don't know whether he was abused previously, so that is why he does a runner when you walk in the room. Whilst you are walking in the room, try talking to him, higher pitch the better, he will get used to you.


You will end up having to push him off the sofa soon, so you can sit down ! lol

Thanks matey, yeah I know I have to be patient, it just makes me feel almost.. guilty, that my presence seems to scare him... I will just carry on as I am.

I have actually tried a piece of string on the floor, it scared him out of the room and he wouldn't come back!