It's been so long, i couldn't remember my user name! Just wanted to update on Buddy. He was the guy living in a hole in the ground in the bush by my house and slowly he started coming to the house to find food. Long story short, I trapped him, and put him in our guest cabin in January, and that's when I came on here looking for help, or some encouragement or both!.
Buddy became my buddy while he was living in the cabin. He waited for me in the morning when I went to visit and get his "housework" done, and he really loved me in the evenings when I had canned food! He learned the joy of having his hair brushed, and really learned how to be a social being. In April it was time to get him neutered, so I actually taught Buddy the command "crate" he picked it up fast!! Off to the clinic he went, where he of course didn't do well, but hey, he had only met me, other humans weren't on his radar! But they were prepared for him and he sure wasn't their first, and wouldn't be their last. Home he came, and this time it was to be inside the house, no more alone time for Buddy, this was it, make or break. We gave him his own small room with his bed and scratching post, kept the door open but gated, and Buddy's true training began. The inside cats were less than welcoming to him I am ashamed to say! Buddy was interested, but they sure weren't. It took a month, but Buddy started to slowly sit in his doorway, and then one day he went into the room right beside his doorway which happend to be the laundry room and by the next month he was coming into the livingroom. These days Buddy is living the life pretending he's always been here, and has no interest in ever going out again! I was terrified he would bolt out the door first chance he got, but if the door opens, Buddy bolts, but in the opposite direction! The cats.. well he has one friend but his social skills are lacking and his idea of saying hello is to jump them! The old girls will have nothing to do with him, and let him know. but, bless his heart, Buddy is not giving up, and he is learning to be a bit more polite! He has to go to bed in the laundry room at nights because his night owl side causes some problems! But he really doesn't mind, he has his bed in the window, his food and some toys and he's fine with it. I say "Buddy bedtime" and off he goes!! He's very dog like! The best part is that he loves our dogs, and has from day one in the house, never once has he hissed or slapped at them, and he really welcomes their company. His best friend is our Bull Mastiff, they sleep together on the couch, they groom each other, and roll around the floor and play. The mastiff pushed his way into the room right after Buddy was neutered and layed on the floor with his head in Buddy's crate, and the love fest began then!
Anyway, I never thought it would end up like this not in my wildest dreams, I still look at Buddy stretched out on my knee and remember that wild cat who wouldn't let me anywhere near him, who would have been happy to take my eyes out and look at him now! It's been a year since my first sighting of Buddy, but with patience we now have another cat! Oh ya, and my husband who tolerates cats but doesn't love love love them.... he has this thing about Buddy, he really likes him, thank goodness!
So thanks for the words of advice I got when I first trapped him, and the encouragement when i thought maybe I had not really done him any favors.
From Buddy's new momma.
Buddy became my buddy while he was living in the cabin. He waited for me in the morning when I went to visit and get his "housework" done, and he really loved me in the evenings when I had canned food! He learned the joy of having his hair brushed, and really learned how to be a social being. In April it was time to get him neutered, so I actually taught Buddy the command "crate" he picked it up fast!! Off to the clinic he went, where he of course didn't do well, but hey, he had only met me, other humans weren't on his radar! But they were prepared for him and he sure wasn't their first, and wouldn't be their last. Home he came, and this time it was to be inside the house, no more alone time for Buddy, this was it, make or break. We gave him his own small room with his bed and scratching post, kept the door open but gated, and Buddy's true training began. The inside cats were less than welcoming to him I am ashamed to say! Buddy was interested, but they sure weren't. It took a month, but Buddy started to slowly sit in his doorway, and then one day he went into the room right beside his doorway which happend to be the laundry room and by the next month he was coming into the livingroom. These days Buddy is living the life pretending he's always been here, and has no interest in ever going out again! I was terrified he would bolt out the door first chance he got, but if the door opens, Buddy bolts, but in the opposite direction! The cats.. well he has one friend but his social skills are lacking and his idea of saying hello is to jump them! The old girls will have nothing to do with him, and let him know. but, bless his heart, Buddy is not giving up, and he is learning to be a bit more polite! He has to go to bed in the laundry room at nights because his night owl side causes some problems! But he really doesn't mind, he has his bed in the window, his food and some toys and he's fine with it. I say "Buddy bedtime" and off he goes!! He's very dog like! The best part is that he loves our dogs, and has from day one in the house, never once has he hissed or slapped at them, and he really welcomes their company. His best friend is our Bull Mastiff, they sleep together on the couch, they groom each other, and roll around the floor and play. The mastiff pushed his way into the room right after Buddy was neutered and layed on the floor with his head in Buddy's crate, and the love fest began then!
Anyway, I never thought it would end up like this not in my wildest dreams, I still look at Buddy stretched out on my knee and remember that wild cat who wouldn't let me anywhere near him, who would have been happy to take my eyes out and look at him now! It's been a year since my first sighting of Buddy, but with patience we now have another cat! Oh ya, and my husband who tolerates cats but doesn't love love love them.... he has this thing about Buddy, he really likes him, thank goodness!
So thanks for the words of advice I got when I first trapped him, and the encouragement when i thought maybe I had not really done him any favors.
From Buddy's new momma.
