Socializing a feral: The story of Lucky

No hissing for 2 whole days. AND...tonight I feel we had a real breakthrough. My hubby and I went to play with Lucky and Kevin took the feather toy and started playing with it under his legs (which were bare as we're keeping it fairly warm in the house for the hedgehog and because Lucky has a shaved belly from her spay surgery and the vet said no drafts permitted)...anyhow...Lucky was very receptive to this type of play. She chased the feather under and over his legs and then, she actually hugged his calf with her front paws and also licked his leg 3 different times (all separate occasions). Then, she'd come and lay by me right up against my thigh. I, however, had long pants on so didn't get to actually feel her soft fur. I could feel the warmth from her, though. Then, she looked right up in my face with the most angelic expression. I still didn't pet her. Gosh, I'm a stickler for the rules with this. My husband had strict orders not to pet her either until she gives the okay. She really got wound up tonight playing. Later on, when I was rubbing hubby's back she jumped right up on the bed with us. Then, it was onto the window perch. When I left the room (to come on the computer) she stayed right where she was.

I truly feel like things are going so much better than I ever expected at this point. I'm really feeling it could be any day now (when she gives us the go ahead to touch her). I can almost see the trust developing day by day. That alone is a fantastic feeling.

Had to share some happy news with you all!!!

Thanks for listening,
Sandi

PS - I forgot the camera again tonight, but I will definitely be getting some updated photos for you all very soon!!!:tounge2:

She is ready to be stroked now Sandie. You have done a magnificent job with her. Next time you are interacting with her, lay your hand down palm flat next to her gently. Place the toy near your hand- but not close enough to get scratched. She should come up to your hand and sniff it and nudge it. If she does, raise it very slowly (pretend you are in a slow motion film) Don't look into her eyes, but talk to her gently and when it is to her face level, leave it there then start petting her. I cannot tell you how you will know when to do this, just that you will know. You are doing a wonderful job with her! She is lucky to be in your life and aptly named!

Sandi - YAY! I'm all smiles. What a great way to "start" my day!

Sandi that is so fantastic!! It sure sounds like a pet or two is in your near future.

I'm almost afraid to pet her now. She does seem like she's ready, though, as she more and more comes and plops down right next to me and then leans against me for a while. I am just wondering...do I pet her head, her back, what??? I realize that sounds so strange, but I know there's a right and wrong thing to do with a feral. When I was sitting on my recliner tonight with my other cat (Kitty) it's so natural to touch her anywhere as she's so used to us (should be after 17 years, right?). But I know there's a difference with feral kitties. I must say, I'm extremely excited, but don't want to "freak her out" or anything. We have been occasionally "petting" her with the feather toy. Sometimes she's okay with it, other times she turns and either bites it or claws at it - but I'm thinking it's because she knows it's her toy. I'm not bragging as I know ALL cats are extremely smart, but I really do think Lucky is an extremely intelligent cat. I don't know how to explain why I KNOW this, but some of the things she does - or doesn't do...it's spooky. I wonder if she'll ever be naughty. She hasn't jumped up on anyplace unless we say "it's okay, Luck". She's got such good kitty etiquette it's bizarre. I suppose once she's got the run of the whole house and is totally comfy here - that may change. So be it...I know I'm lucky, too.

I must admit, I couldn't have gotten this far without each and every one of you. Your advice was followed to the letter and you have all been so patient with my questions and complaints.

I'll keep you posted - just hope that my little Lucky doesn't turn into a lion the night I do pet her. Yikes!!! She seems pretty gentle so all should proceed nicely.

I'll let you know...
Sandi

Have you approached her with a hand yet? My thought, and Hissy or Laurie please correct me if I'm wrong, would be to let her get used to your hand being close to her and moving toward her. Let her sniff you so she knows that this thing moving toward her is part of you. When you touch her for the first time she may be very receptive, like "What took you so long? I've been waiting for AGES!" But if you feel her tense up, stop and let her be.

Sandi, you don't know how much Lucky sounds like Ophelia with being so smart! I remember one time she was playing with a mouse hanging on elastic from the top of the door. She played a bit too hard and mouse got stuck on top of the bookshelf headboard we have. We watched her and she had the route all planned out in her little mind as to how she could get up there to get it. She would look at the top of the TV, then to a standing floor lamp, then the headboard, over and over. They were incremental in height, so she had hte right idea. She just couldn't figure out how to get to the top of the TV because she was only about 3-4 months old! Very smart baby. If Lucky is like Ophelia, she won't hardly be naughty at all. Ophelia hates doing something bad and getting scolded. We will tell Trent No! about something and she will never even try it. She doesn't want to get it trouble.

Heidi, that is so cute about Ophelia and the bookshelf (to get to her toy mouse). Yep, sounds like Ophelia and Lucky are a lot alike in many ways. That's great to hear! I think Lucky wants to be good all the time as well - she'll look at us before going onto a new piece of furniture as if silently asking for permission. I remember the first time she looked up at the bed and we told her it was okay and then she went up. It was the same thing tonight with the cedar chest - her toy went on there and she looked at it, then at me and as soon as I told her it was okay - up she went. Too cute! I've got to get some more recent photos of her to post for you guys before she gets too big, which I find hard to believe she'll get much bigger with all her playful energy, but our Kitty was that way once, too, and now she's a bigger girl. But still beautiful all the same.

~Sandi

Sandi!!! I just read through all these last posts and I am getting as excited about this as you are!!!!!!! I can't wait to hear that you have been able to pet her!!!!! You have been so patient, and so good to her!!! You are an angel, and so is you hubby!!! **HUGS**
I am so glad I posted this thread when you first e-mailed me about this, because I wasn't real sure what to tell you to do...I have many cats, but I'm not experienced about what to do with ferals like many of the people here...so I thought coming here and asking their advice would be best...and I am so glad you came here and not only got such wonderful advice, but also have made many friends here who are all as excited about Lucky as I am!!!!

I think the time is very near.....I can just feel it from your posts, that you will be able to pet Lucky and she will enjoy it SO much!!!!!!

I can't wait to hear more!!!!!!!!

Heidi's suggestion to get her used to your hand coming toward (or near) her first is great. Unlike dogs (palm up) do it palm down. For some reason this is less threatening to cats. If she doesn't hiss, growl or get scared - it's up to you. The first place we pet the kitties is either on the back of the neck (like where mom would have picked them up) or on the side of the neck - kind of under the back of the ear and down toward under the chin. Our guys ALL love having their cheecks rubbed, but I think that'd be later - when she knows what she wants.

...and about the "good" cat "bad" cat - it's just so hard to tell! Lazlo and Shelly both seemed like they were going to be soooo good. Got the scratching post - that's the only place Lazlo scratched. Shelly saw Laz scratching there - that's where Shelly scratched. ...but once they got comfortable with us and the house - all heck broke loose. Lazlo is still a "good" kitty and only wants to do what's right. Shelly, on the other hand, KNOWS what is right and wrong, and, just like a kid, he tries to see what he can get away with. He has an incredibly expressive face (much more so than the other two), and as soon as he's "caught" he immediately stops - if he's someplace he shouldn't be, he relocates and gives us the - "who me? I've been here all the time!" kind of look. It's just so darn cute! Imp!

Well, I'm still holding back a little. I did the palm on the floor thing (palm down) and then in slow motion raised it up. She looked at it and then VERY GENTLY took her paw and kind of pushed it back down. Now, I thought this might be a message from her "not yet" or something - so I backed off and just kept playing with her. However, now when we play with the feather teaser - we bring it under our legs while sitting on the floor or bed with our legs out in front of us - and she LOVES to dive underneath and get the feather. She had her head on one side of my legs and her tail was out the other side. Too funny. She seems to be getting used to being on us or under our legs. She still will run over to me and sit/lay down touching my leg or hip or whatever when she wants to rest, but I just kind of sneak a light pet on her when she doesn't really know it. I took the camera in there the other night and when I got it up to my face, she hissed, so obviously that's not okay yet. I did manage to get a picture or two, but I'll have to size them down and then I'll post them.

Anyhow...I'll let you all know how she's progressing. She also is getting more curious when we open the door to the room as to what might be on the other side. The other night, I had one cat on one side and the other one on the other side. I guess they both know something's up. I'm figuring that will be a while yet (before we introduce them). Hubby is going to put another door on that bedroom so when we're home we can let them sniff each other through it and get used to each other. Eventually. Don't want to rush anything.

Talk to you all soon & have a great Thanksgiving!!!

~Sandi

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!

Sandi -

You sound happy, Lucky sounds happy - and I LOVE hearing about it!!!!!!! I so look forward to pics. What a sweetie. Well - I was going to say what a sweetie Lucky is - but you and hubby too!

:tounge2:

It sounds like you and Lucky are really starting to communicate. It is very good that she wants to be touching you. She's really starting to bond, isn't she? I know the bond was there for you and hubby before she even came inside.

Happy Thanksgiving, Sandi! Don't forget to share your feast with Lucky and Kitty too! LOL

Of course, we shared our turkey with all our girls. Kitty isn't really crazy about it, but our dog is more than happy to finish what Kitty leaves. Also, Lucky LOVES turkey. And our hedgehog loves it, too. Everybody got to share a wonderful holiday together. Actually, Lucky was on the bed when I brought her dish with her turkey - she just looked at me and I said, "Happy Thanksgiving, Lucky" and she just looked at me and stayed right where she was. No hissing or anything. She did hiss at hubby last night when he petted her tail - she was walking away and he tried pulling a fast one. She seems to always want to be rubbing against me, but I'm not pushing it yet. If, by chance she brushes against me or her attention is busy with her toy, I'll stroke her lightly, but she seems to be more trusting of me, so I don't want to spoil anything yet. Gosh, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE her SOOOO Much!!!

Here's a new photo - she doesn't like it when I have the camera in front of my face...

~Sandi

Here's a photo of our other cat: Kitty (I realize I should probably post this someplace else, but thought those of you who know my story about Lucky - would enjoy seeing our other stray from 17 years ago who I don't believe was feral as she was very friendly from the get-go).

Oh I LOVE the pics of Lucky and Kitty!!!! They are both so beautiful!!!! I thought of you today and wondered how things were going!!! Glad to hear everything is going well!!!!!

Sandi, This is so heartwarming, I am so glad Lucky enjoyed her first Thanksgiving dinner indoors and warm with loving people like you!

Thanks!

I'm so glad Lucky is a part of our family as well. She actually appears a lot larger on the photo's. She's really quite small. I will have to get a photo of her when she's all stretched out (when she gets used to the camera). Her little belly is still bare (from when she had her spay surgery). I know it will grow back before you know it, but it seems to be taking a looooong time.

Tonight, I was sitting indian style on the floor and she came and sat right up against where your legs cross together (shins/calves). Then, she just looks up at me. Just melts my heart! I'm sure she's wanting me to pet her, but sometimes she just seems so skittish when my hand moves out to pet her - I guess I'll just know when the RIGHT time comes along. When we're playing she doesn't seem bothered by hand movements from me.

Anyhow...things are progressing nicely.

Gosh, I was online shopping for all our pets for Xmas (and also St. Nick). All of our girls are spoiled rotten...as I'm sure all of yours are as well. I couldn't believe how the amount rose so high (:tounge2: ). Have to make sure they have one of everything! As if they don't have enough toys already.

Lucky is pretty leary of a new toy at first, but the next night - she's raring to go. It's so fun to watch every new experience she has. It really helps me to respect my older feline as well.

Talk to you all soon,
~Sandi

NEW TOYS! NEW TOYS!



It sounds like it was a GREAT Thanksgiving!!!!

...and I almost missed the pics! She really is beautiful...and we love black and white kitties, so of course we think Kitty is gorgeous, too! :tounge2: I'm so glad you shared them with us - another smile for me today!

Sandi, both of your girls are beautiful!!! I'm glad Lucky liked her turkey (and all the other critters, too). It sounds like the time for pets is very, very near. I can't wait to hear all about it!

Then, of course, the next challenge of introducing her to the rest of the family comes...

Hi All,

Well, lately Lucky has been back to her hissing mode. I don't know what triggered it. She'll hiss once, then if you enter the room, hiss again, then jump off the bed and go underneath. Strange. I took some chicken in tonight and just sat there reading (out loud) my book with the dish right in front of me. She sat on the side of the bed - just her head peeking out for a little while. Then, under the bed she went. Next, (after what seemed like forever, but was only about 6 minutes or maybe more) she came out to eat the chicken. She'll still play very near us, but if she bumps into us - as soon as she realizes it, off she goes (to about 2 feet away). Nothing has changed - so I'm stumped as to why she's regressed a bit.

Maybe since she progressed so rapidly in the beginning, we're expecting it to continue on that way. I don't know. Or do you think she could be bored? She's getting new toys tomorrow - so we'll see what happens with that. Then, we'll be alternating all the ones she has. She's taken to sleeping on the bed most of the time and seems to favor the mint green blanket. It's really very cute, but it's a bummer that she sometimes stays put, and other times hisses and jumps off. Silly girl.

I know she doesn't hate me, but gosh, at times it's hard to remind yourself of that...

~Sandi