Trapping for 2nd time?

Originally Posted by LDG

The good thing is she smacked him back.

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Go Patches!!!!!
:crackup :


My feeling is if she HADN'T swatted him back that this was going to be a very dull relationship!

Thanks everyone!! I need to remember to breathe.

Should I throw a towel on Batman next time instead of pull him away myself? I read that somewhere.

I wish she wouldn't corner herself in that box but she's just too scared of me not too. I tried to actually make myself not too visible to her when he was going in, to not stress her - only made myself really visible when I was just with him exploring or whatever. I hate the idea of him ganging up on /cornering her but I guess that's just part of the natural territory establishment he's going to do. I just don't want anyone hurt. But her nails got trimmed a week ago and he gets checked every Saturday.

I'll be sure to have treats and toys as ammo next time and will try the same thing. I have some Feliway spray as well that I can try (Patches room has a diffuser).

Thank you again! This is stressful - never done this before and have no idea what each minute will bring.

I'm sure that you've already done this, but have you gotten out one of Batman's favorite toys and loudly and vigorously played with him in front of the screen in hopes that Patches will be overcome with couriosity and can't stand not knowing what is happening and comes out of her "safe" place to at least watch? And if she does, I'd just ignore her. It should drive her nuts.

Ideally the next step would consist of this being done in Patches room where the two of them would be so facinated with the toy that they would ignore each other and you and begin to develop a common bond associated with playing?

Da Bird comes to mind as the perfect toy. That is how I get my partially feral Magic who still won't allow me to touch him to play with me.

Hang in there, you are doing a fabulous job. You and Batman!

I need to buy Da Bird - I have something similar but not the real thing.

There have been a couple times she'll poke her head out and look at us if I'm petting Batman but I never have a wand toy with me at that time and by the time I go and get it, she's done poking her head out. I need to keep another wand toy closer by for when that does happen. She doesn't always poke her little head out though.

I've seen videos of Da Bird in action. I just hope it doesn't scare her - maybe it's realistic enough it won't scare her like a regular toy. That's great to hear it worked with Magic!! I will get one and let you know what happens.

Got Da Bird last night - Batman loves it!

Brought in Batman to Patches room for about 10/15 minutes. Spent the first 5 minutes or so just playing - first with Da Bird with Patches watching (and her also watching me) then I was thinking he was getting too excited, so I slowed it down and played with regular cat toys of her in the room, again with her watching. Then he did some more exploring in her room - making himself quite at home! Jumped up and looked out her window, etc.

After probably 8/10 minutes, I stopped guiding him with play and let him do what he wanted. He eventually did make it to her - not as full-force. He poked in the box a little, with a curled downward tail - totally submissive. Then he left. (Patches was non reactive - again, terrified of me probably.) He went in again later, got a little closer, and left. Went on to play and ignore her basically.

So no swatting today. I think Patches asserted herself to be alpha cat yesterday.

I feel this went very well today - I'm a bit surprised Batman acted so submissive around her but it is a good thing I think. Hopefully she'll be able to learn from him and they will become good friends.

It is so nice to see you celebrating the small victories!! Many people don't recognize them when they see them.

What I've observed with the tough cases is that what brings them around faster than anything else is when they befriend a highly socialized cat and they watch that cat interact with the big scary humans. Encourage the friendship between Batman and Patches more so than between you and Patches. She will come out her box in her own time, and I suspect Batman will help her do that.

Any tips on that aspect? Treats and playtime like I'm doing with her watching? I guess I'm a little stumped on how to help encourage a friendship between the two at this point honestly but at the same time I realize I can't force a friendship.

I was thinking maybe giving them tuna or something when they're together - Batman would go wild for it. Can't say Patches would eat it. But maybe something like that instead of just a regular cat treat?

I do hope they become friends. He is very much less obsessed with her now - but he still hangs out by her door and everything. I just hope he isn't scared of her now after she smacked him back - but he deserved it. I think she put him in his place.

Focus your mind on what they would like as cats. Remember that the top motivator in a cat is "what's in it for me?". They do things that please themselves first, which is why giving them things they enjoy in each others presence can go far.

Have you noticed anything that Patches seems to like a lot? A certain flavor or wet food perhaps? Even if she doesn't like tuna but Batman does, giving them the things they love in each others presence makes them relate each other to positive things, which goes a long way toward cat bonding.

Batman doesn't sound like he's got the personality of a cat that is going to be scared of another after one smack from them. The smack is so normal for cats and it is part of their language. Not all cats want to be alpha, so if Batman has a laid back personality, a smack to show him his ranking might be something that he appreciates (what's in it for him?).

They will work it out between them. They always do.

I know you've been stumped on what Patches likes... but as there are treats she eats (even if it's not when you're there), you can put some of those down just inside her box or just outside of it, and put Batman's treat like maybe a foot away from her.

I'd do this after some play time. Maybe pet him while he's eating or after he's done.

That he just wants to check out her room (at this point) and is comfortable in there - and isn't obsessive about her - is FABULOUS! He is SO going to be your ambassador kitty in helping Patches figure out humans aren't so scary!

...and I am totally with Amy on this. Batman doesn't strike me as the kind of kitty to back down for any other reason than he's cool with the situation. That he's so laid back about this is just - so great!

I didn't do special treats tonight (tuna or anything), but had another go with regular play and cat treats. Tonight he didn't have a submissive tail. After some play, pets and a treat, he went for her in the box - not quite a pounce, but a curious go. He pawed her again (but not to the face this time I don't think), she hissed - couldn't quite see if she pawed him back. Later, he jumped up on the coffee table and just stretched out, all comfortable, and looked at her. He went in later - another poke, with Patches hissing back. Then he just flopped down outside of her box, and just looked at her. My husband thinks he is just trying to figure it out - as she is the first thing that smacks him back if he smacks it.

Later on, he was being a bit vocal, going upstairs to be by her door. So I think it's going ok. No growls, no arched back, no spitting, etc. Just some smacks and hisses from Patches.

Hopefully they'll figure out who is in charge soon. I thought Patches was in charge when he was so docile yesterday but I guess he is still figuring it out.

I love DH's theory!

I'm loving this - I think things are going great! He's always seemed like such a character - and such a sweetheart - and he's just proving it!

Originally Posted by killerapple

I didn't do special treats tonight (tuna or anything), but had another go with regular play and cat treats. Tonight he didn't have a submissive tail. After some play, pets and a treat, he went for her in the box - not quite a pounce, but a curious go. He pawed her again (but not to the face this time I don't think), she hissed - couldn't quite see if she pawed him back. Later, he jumped up on the coffee table and just stretched out, all comfortable, and looked at her. He went in later - another poke, with Patches hissing back. Then he just flopped down outside of her box, and just looked at her. My husband thinks he is just trying to figure it out - as she is the first thing that smacks him back if he smacks it.

Later on, he was being a bit vocal, going upstairs to be by her door. So I think it's going ok. No growls, no arched back, no spitting, etc. Just some smacks and hisses from Patches.

Hopefully they'll figure out who is in charge soon.

I thought Patches was in charge when he was so docile yesterday but I guess he is still figuring it out.

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My advice is sit back and enjoy the show!!!!!!

Oh, you have a little comedian in baby Batman

I think the smacking looks hilarious when it's not hurtful of course and when there is an element of surprise involved.

Our RB Heidi used to smack Sammy and he would just back off but I remember one time he simply walked to her and smacked her. She was bewildered, the look on her face was histerical, like "where did this come from?" I guess he showed her he had enough of that nonsense

Gentle kissies to both your babies!
Marina

Something pretty special happened tonight. Boy, I wish I had my camera.

Took Batman in to see Patches after he was very happy after eating his dinner. He played with toys for a bit - but he wanted to play with her. He sneaks around and runs to pounce near her - not pounce on her, but a totally playful pounce that gets a hiss reaction obviously. I kept myself out of her visibility for a while to not stress her at first.

Later I was able to look, and I saw that when he would go in her box, she would roll her body a little bit to the side and have her head rotated - totally defensive I think. He would kinda paw at her gently and she would stay in that position.

Then later - he walked in her box - all the way. (Mind you this box is huge and she only takes up about 1/4 or 1/3 of it - but still! It's her box!) I expected an outrage from her, but no. I got myself in a better position to watch. Patches looked like she was shaking - or Batman was pawing at her making her literally move. (Gosh, I was honestly worried she was having a seizure - but I don't think she was...) Who knows what was going on that minute or so - impossible to see. Then eventually I had two kitty faces towards me - Batman was sitting RIGHT BY HER in the box. And he was not moving. I really don't know what they were doing - it's hard to see a black cat in a huge box, but he was just sitting right next to her. It was really really sweet to watch and a bit emotional for some reason.

He sat there with her for a minute or so. I wish I knew what was going on.

I took him out of the room (since he had just eaten dinner, I knew he would have to potty soon). He went potty, then he came back up and is now crying outside of Patches room a bit.

I think they are doing ok.

Ah, all of your hard work and patience is going to pay off. You have done such a great job, just think of when Patches was just eating on your front porch and look where she is now. I am really happy for you!

Aww, how sweet!!! The two of them sitting together in the box. I am sure it was a very emotional moment

Don't you just wish to know if they know they are momma and son?

I am very happy for you!!!

Marina

They are momma and son! Killerapple rescued all of her babies and had them all adopted out except for Batman. Edited to add - read the question wrong!

If Patches didn't want Batman in the box, he would not have been in the box.

Oh sweetie, you're doing an amazing job, and Batman is doing GREAT!

Thank you everyone! You are all so kind and helpful - I really appreciate all of the support.

You're right - I really wish I could read their minds and know if they have any idea they're related. It'd be like an episode of Maury Povich or something.

I let Batman in there again last night - this time with camera. Go figure, nothing exciting. He just played with her toys this time - didn't go and sit with her. She does watch intently when he plays though.

This is going to be interesting. I'm glad Batman is excited about having another kitty in the house! Makes things a lot easier for me. And she doesn't seem too rattled by his visits - she's eating fine. I'm sure this stimulation is great for her too rather than sitting in a box all day, with the only interesting thing happening being scary human visits.

Will keep you posted!

Originally Posted by killerapple

I think they are doing ok.

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You've pretty much summed it all up in that one sentence!!

I firmly believe that they recognize genetic bonds. The 3 cats in my house that are the closest are all from the same feral mom (that I failed in trapping) and they are 5 years apart in age.

Whatever you are doing, just keep doing it!!

I got a better look tonight -

Batman was LICKING HER!!!!!!!!!!!!

That has to be good.