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Am I on the right track?

(39 posts)
  • Started 3 years ago by Elle & Leia NZ
  • Latest reply from jcat
  1. She may just be talking to you. Or she may be lonely. Probably both. And, since you get up and pay attention to her when she meows, she's learning it's a good way to train you. Could you get another cat? If you found a mama whose kittens had been adopted and who needed her own furever home, that could be a good match.

    It might also help if you played with her really vigorously right before bed time. Many of us have Da Bird, which is basically feathers on a string attached to a wand. My babies go crazy for it and will chase it until they are too tired to do anymore. Make sure you don't leave it out where she can get it when you aren't watching. Some (many) cats eat string, yarn, ribbon, etc. and it's not good for them.

    If she doesn't like the feather toys, try rolling a ball for her to chase. My Cheetah will play fetch, but the others insist that I go get the ball and throw it again. Then you'll be the one who ends up tired, but that's not all bad, you will sleep through the meowing.

    Posted 3 years ago by CheetahBoysmommy #

  2. The thing is 'CBM' is that she's still not playing with me yet. I'm trying to bridge the 'trust issue gap' at the moment - ever so slowly. I think you've got a point with the loneliness thing though, but no I can't adopt another - I mean I can but at the moment it's just me and her and that's what I'm working with. But why does she feel lonely? I'm with her every DAY during the weekend and every night during the week? And NO she doesn't let me sleep during the meowing - I think that's what she's trying to accomplish :-)

    Posted 3 years ago by Elle & Leia NZ #

  3. E&L, somehow I missed your first posting so I just want to offer a belated welcome to TDK!

    I have no experience with abused animals but my girls were feral. Windi is the more "skittish" of the two and still acts frightened whenever anyone other than us comes into the house.

    Although she isn't a lap kitty (yet), she just HAS to be in the room where we are. It may be that your kitten isn't lonely but is just checking to make certain that you are there.

    We might need a kitty psychologist here! But I suspect that there is a large grain of truth in what CBM said. Your kitten may already have figured out how to train you and remind you that she is there!

    Posted 3 years ago by WillowandWindismom #

  4. Sounds right! When she meows I come, when she stops I get worried and go and see if she's ok. Yep I'm being trained! It just sounds so pained.

    Posted 3 years ago by Elle & Leia NZ #

  5. Elle, does she actually know how to play? Sometimes, with feral cats, it's like they haven't learned and if she had no littermates... Maybe you just have to keep initiating play until she finally gets it!

    We had another thread on miaowing kitties, I'll see if I can find it for you! http://www.dailykitten.com/chat/topic/13396

    Posted 3 years ago by jcat #

  6. She has you trained--you are rewarding her by giving her attention when she meows! It will take time--good advice given by the other "moms" here. Bless you for giving her a chance to learn love.

    Posted 3 years ago by Sheba's Mom in Phoenix, AZ 10/8 #

  7. Thanks for the advice.
    I just took a quick lunch break and went home to check on her and she's still hiding when someone opens the door. How long will it take before she and I are comfortable with each other?

    Posted 3 years ago by Elle & Leia NZ #

  8. E&L, my Windi still, after almost two years, dives under the bed if the doorbell rings. Hopefully your kitty will outgrow her fear, but with ferals it is just hard to say.

    She loves you and that's the main thing!

    Posted 3 years ago by WillowandWindismom #

  9. I agree with WWM, if I'd undergone what your kitty had, I would dive under the bed when a stranger came to the door as well. She just needs to make sure it's you and not someone scary. My Libby still (and she's about six) vanishes whenever anyone else comes to the house but as soon as they're gone, she comes back to me as if to say, what did you let THEM in for?

    Have you tried playing with her with a laser pointer yet? Most cats adore chasing the light and I think you can get them from the $2 shop. Just be careful not to accidentally shine it into her eyes!

    Posted 3 years ago by jcat #


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