Stewball .. it is a Recreational Vehicle -- a motorhome and in Europe we've found that they refer to them as Caravans. My hubby and I live and travel in one also.
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Pawley - and all of us - could use your vibes
- Thread starter ldg
- Start Date
I'm originally
Thank you. Yes in England they are called caravans. Are they big inside?
I also suspect you are right on about him being content to live solely in that cage regardless of the door open or not. By very slowly, quietly and gently taking him in and out of the cage for special attention then in his own time he will learn to expand his horizons inside and feel safe. I am sure his is still quite overwhelmed and a bit unsure of his future. I know eventually you want that space back and remove the cage but I am not sure it will be anytime quite soon either. I think with your new plan to kindly encourage him to feel safe outside of that cage and you develop, build trust slowly then I think Mr. Pawley will come around in his own time. I don't really see him as a poor little man at this point though.... 
.... I see him as a lucky, blessed boy with a very promising future indoors with his new family. What/where he came from is behind him now and in our minds we create all sorts of scenarios 
but now, his life has come full circle, he is safe and will no longer want for anything. I honestly think he loves his little cage because who knows IF he ever had anything to call his own before. His wanting small spaces tells us that he is a sensitive guy, a very, very sweet one, but very, very cautious as well as lacking some bravery. He is just content to keep his life as simple as possible because he probably has had some pretty bad experiences and has learned to move with great awareness. In time he will become brave !!!!! With your new gentle plan to teach him about life outside of that cage inside of your home, he will come around, eventually. He is still taking this all in and hoping it won't go away. :nod: (ok I am going to say it.............poor baby :lol3
It is hard to think about what he has endured in his past but that is behind him now and I am grateful to you and Gary for opening up your home to yet another. Just love you guys. :heart3: :heart3:
.... I see him as a lucky, blessed boy with a very promising future indoors with his new family. What/where he came from is behind him now and in our minds we create all sorts of scenarios but now, his life has come full circle, he is safe and will no longer want for anything. I honestly think he loves his little cage because who knows IF he ever had anything to call his own before. His wanting small spaces tells us that he is a sensitive guy, a very, very sweet one, but very, very cautious as well as lacking some bravery. He is just content to keep his life as simple as possible because he probably has had some pretty bad experiences and has learned to move with great awareness. In time he will become brave !!!!! With your new gentle plan to teach him about life outside of that cage inside of your home, he will come around, eventually. He is still taking this all in and hoping it won't go away. :nod: (ok I am going to say it.............poor baby :lol3 It is hard to think about what he has endured in his past but that is behind him now and I am grateful to you and Gary for opening up your home to yet another. Just love you guys. :heart3: :heart3:
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- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #224
stewball
There are pictures in this post: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/270195/pawley-and-all-of-us-could-use-your-vibes/90#post_3483442
And this post:
http://www.thecatsite.com/t/222037/your-home-picture-thread#post_2941804
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #225
OK - anyone want a blow-by-blow on the longest Pawley has spent out of his cage?
We took him out about noon, and he stayed out through after dinner. He went back into his cage about 6:30.
SO.... we started, as always, by bringing him into the bedroom - the one place he can't see from his cage. Put him on Gary's lap. The plan was for ALL of us to nap. And that's just what we did. There was a parade of kitties through - they all saw he was here - and not even Spooky was bothered! She leaned forward, they sniffed noses for a bit (!!) and she settled into Gary too. !!!! Sheldon decided to groom him (Sheldon's definition of "grooming" is 5 or 6 licks on the head, but still... ). Lazlo, Flowerbelle, Tuxedo, and Billy ignored him. Ming Loy and Chumley weren't part of this afternoon's parade, but they've all seen him here numerous times now.
For the first time, Pawley purred for pets out of his cage. :rub: He REALLY relaxed - and would wake up and look around alertly - not scared - curious. So making progress!
We all napped off and on until about 3:00. I got up to take care of whatever stuff in the living room and kitchen. Pawley sloooooowly got up, walked "carefully" to the end of the bed - and hopped down. And instead of BOLTING anywhere, he cautiously walked aaaaaaallllllllllllll the way up to the front of the RV! Looking around, stopping to sniff here and there along the way. He didn't stand up and walk confidently, but he didn't belly crawl either.
He did decide to go sit in the covered litter box under the cat steps that lead up to the large front dash. I went about my business. He kept poking his head out to see what was going on. And then he came out and went up on those steps - and was looking out the front window. Behind him is the cat bed on the printer - which gives him access to his cage (and the door was open). He's never left via that route (too awkward for us to pick him up and take him out that door), so I'm not sure he gets that he can get "home" that way. But he went up on the front dash - despite there being five kitties sunning themselves up there. Spooky was immediately on his right, Tuxedo immediately on his left. And he lay down on the scratcher up there for five or ten minutes. :shocker:
Then he "disappeared." He obviously took up residence in the litter box on the opposite side - because I saw Billy heading into the box (or so I thought) and then Billy "bounced" backwards, LOL. Pawley must have bopped him one - or Billy just got startled. At some point Pawley relocated to under the couch. And that where he was when I called "DINNER!" (our call for a meal).
He poked his head out far enough for me to see and murpled at me. "Hey, I'm here, don't forget about my dinner!" (How cute is THAT?)
So he ate under there. I was pretty sure that under the couch is where he'd first take up "residence" outside of his cage, being (formerly) used to dark, small spaces. :heart2:
I let him sit for a while after dinner (I assumed he cleaned up as he's grooming normally now). He relocated to the other side of under the couch at some point, in the litter box (we added a litter box there as soon as he came home). That's when I decided it was time for him to go "home" to his crate. He wasn't happy about being pulled out from under there, he still gets VERY tense being held. But I held him facing forward so he could see where we were going. I "led" him up to the steps, "up" onto the printer cat bed, and into his cage. He headed directly for his hidey bed - but was immediately relaxed.
So there you have it - Pawley's big adventure!
___________________________________________________
Given Pawley lived in such a tiny space outside for soooooo long, we thought introducing him to life outside his cage was going to be a long, likely difficult process. But this boy just keeps surprising all of us! :heart2:
We took him out about noon, and he stayed out through after dinner. He went back into his cage about 6:30.
SO.... we started, as always, by bringing him into the bedroom - the one place he can't see from his cage. Put him on Gary's lap. The plan was for ALL of us to nap. And that's just what we did. There was a parade of kitties through - they all saw he was here - and not even Spooky was bothered! She leaned forward, they sniffed noses for a bit (!!) and she settled into Gary too. !!!! Sheldon decided to groom him (Sheldon's definition of "grooming" is 5 or 6 licks on the head, but still...
). Lazlo, Flowerbelle, Tuxedo, and Billy ignored him. Ming Loy and Chumley weren't part of this afternoon's parade, but they've all seen him here numerous times now.For the first time, Pawley purred for pets out of his cage. :rub: He REALLY relaxed - and would wake up and look around alertly - not scared - curious. So making progress!
We all napped off and on until about 3:00. I got up to take care of whatever stuff in the living room and kitchen. Pawley sloooooowly got up, walked "carefully" to the end of the bed - and hopped down. And instead of BOLTING anywhere, he cautiously walked aaaaaaallllllllllllll the way up to the front of the RV! Looking around, stopping to sniff here and there along the way. He didn't stand up and walk confidently, but he didn't belly crawl either.
He did decide to go sit in the covered litter box under the cat steps that lead up to the large front dash. I went about my business. He kept poking his head out to see what was going on. And then he came out and went up on those steps - and was looking out the front window. Behind him is the cat bed on the printer - which gives him access to his cage (and the door was open). He's never left via that route (too awkward for us to pick him up and take him out that door), so I'm not sure he gets that he can get "home" that way. But he went up on the front dash - despite there being five kitties sunning themselves up there. Spooky was immediately on his right, Tuxedo immediately on his left. And he lay down on the scratcher up there for five or ten minutes. :shocker:
Then he "disappeared." He obviously took up residence in the litter box on the opposite side - because I saw Billy heading into the box (or so I thought) and then Billy "bounced" backwards, LOL. Pawley must have bopped him one - or Billy just got startled. At some point Pawley relocated to under the couch. And that where he was when I called "DINNER!" (our call for a meal).
He poked his head out far enough for me to see and murpled at me. "Hey, I'm here, don't forget about my dinner!" (How cute is THAT?)
So he ate under there. I was pretty sure that under the couch is where he'd first take up "residence" outside of his cage, being (formerly) used to dark, small spaces. :heart2:
I let him sit for a while after dinner (I assumed he cleaned up as he's grooming normally now). He relocated to the other side of under the couch at some point, in the litter box (we added a litter box there as soon as he came home). That's when I decided it was time for him to go "home" to his crate. He wasn't happy about being pulled out from under there, he still gets VERY tense being held. But I held him facing forward so he could see where we were going. I "led" him up to the steps, "up" onto the printer cat bed, and into his cage. He headed directly for his hidey bed - but was immediately relaxed.
So there you have it - Pawley's big adventure!
___________________________________________________
Given Pawley lived in such a tiny space outside for soooooo long, we thought introducing him to life outside his cage was going to be a long, likely difficult process. But this boy just keeps surprising all of us! :heart2:
I have THE BIGGEST smile on my face reading this update and some eye popping !!! :shocker: I loved your "blow by blow" of Pawley's adventurous day yesterday. Truly astonishing at how well that whole outing unfolded !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You and Gary must be on :9: :9: over this day. This feral cat introduction/socialization process is definitely such a positive, uplifting, hopeful and encouraging story for all of us to read. I bet we will be hearing soon that Pawley is out full time as it certainly sounds like he is letting you know he is comfortable doing so. You also must be so proud of your gang accepting Pawley so kindly as if they just know that they once were in his shoes. Sharing the love. :heart3: OH HAPPY DAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :lol3: :high5: :lovegrin:OH coming back to add in some vibes :lol3: that this pattern continues !!!!!!!!!!!!! :cross:
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Wow...he did have a full, adventurous day! Great update!So there you have it - Pawley's big adventure!
It was so exciting to hear how much Pawley has come around. He sounds like he is getting past fear and into curiosity. These are exciting tines and thank you so much for taking time to share with us.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #230
Laz went for an ultrasound yesterday. I brought Pawley into the bedroom to be with Gary when I left to pick him up. That was mid-afternoon. I came home to find them asleep like this. :heart2:
Gary has many challenges in life, but particularly right now - he's had oral surgeries to remove basically all of his teeth. Gary and Pawley need each other right now. :rub:
Pawley ate dinner in the bedroom (came out of his bed to eat ), and stayed for a few more hours. Then he left his bed, checked things out a VERY little bit, and went up to the front of the RV. Yep, into the covered litter box. He hadn't figured out he needs to go UP and he can easily access his crate that way.
Yes - this is Pawley, ON HIS BACK, cradled in Gary's arm.
So at some point he relocated from that litter box to UP IN THE FRONT WINDOW. That's where he was lounging for the late night meal. I used his food to "walk" him into the crate. I think I saw "the lightbulb" go on. I also think he wanted back out! He sat on the condo as usual and groomed after dinner, and then thoroughly checked out the door he used to get in... and did a little testing to see if he could get back out.
We're not ready to leave it open at night (well, not yet, anyway).
But I opened his cage door this morning as soon as I greeted the kitties. He sat on the condo looking out for a few minutes. I went about making coffee, etc. and then saw this
When it was time for breakfast, I called meal time, and Pawley ran into his crate to his eating spot.
Gary has many challenges in life, but particularly right now - he's had oral surgeries to remove basically all of his teeth. Gary and Pawley need each other right now. :rub:
Pawley ate dinner in the bedroom (came out of his bed to eat
), and stayed for a few more hours. Then he left his bed, checked things out a VERY little bit, and went up to the front of the RV. Yep, into the covered litter box. He hadn't figured out he needs to go UP and he can easily access his crate that way. Yes - this is Pawley, ON HIS BACK, cradled in Gary's arm.
So at some point he relocated from that litter box to UP IN THE FRONT WINDOW. That's where he was lounging for the late night meal.
I used his food to "walk" him into the crate. I think I saw "the lightbulb" go on. I also think he wanted back out! He sat on the condo as usual and groomed after dinner, and then thoroughly checked out the door he used to get in... and did a little testing to see if he could get back out. We're not ready to leave it open at night (well, not yet, anyway).
But I opened his cage door this morning as soon as I greeted the kitties. He sat on the condo looking out for a few minutes. I went about making coffee, etc. and then saw this
When it was time for breakfast, I called meal time, and Pawley ran into his crate to his eating spot.
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You and Gary are cat whisperers!!! Pawley has made the most amazing transformation. He looks so healthy and happy!! I look forward to reading your updates and progress with him. He is one lucky boy!!!
Such progress! Pawley is SO comfortable in Gary's arms.
What a gorgeous boy, and oh what amazing progress!
I don't know how to use those little picture things. But if I did they would show. Happy tears, Rainbows, Smiley faces and Hearts full of love and joy. Pawley rocks!
That is amazing. I fed a feral cat for a few years and the closest I got was to scratch his head with a finger. I eventually settled for the fact that solo was happy to eat and then sit with me for a while as long as I was a few feet away. Pawley is looking great ... so proud looking now. Well done you guys - you are incredible people x
Awww Pawley you are so precious!!
I Love reading about how well he's coming along.
You are so lucky Pawley to have such wonderful furparents!!!
I Love reading about how well he's coming along.
You are so lucky Pawley to have such wonderful furparents!!!
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #237
:lol3: No, we're really not.
We were chatting about this the other night. We have the feral colony - and we bring them in when they can no longer safely fend for themselves outside. :heart2: They're just ready to not have to deal with "outside" any longer. Every one of the kitties in here (other than Ming Loy) came in directly from outside - and we don't have a single door-darter. They've been there, and they don't want back out. :rub:
This is just a GLORIOUS update!!! :lol3: 
I can't help but get a gigantic smile on my face reading the positive update. I want to know how in the world you able to "train" them so quickly and really, your explanation is so right on. :bigthumb: Once they decide they have had enough of THAT life outside - then they are already in the mind set of all of the good things (scary-good :lol3 to come. Pawley looks so darn happy, Laurie. So peaceful, so relaxed, and must be so grateful :heart3: :heart3: I get all "happy" teary eyed over the thought of how his life has changed for good - for better. Love the newest photos!!! He is a very handsome boy with a gorgeous gleaming coat !!!!! :love:
I can't help but get a gigantic smile on my face reading the positive update. I want to know how in the world you able to "train" them so quickly and really, your explanation is so right on. :bigthumb: Once they decide they have had enough of THAT life outside - then they are already in the mind set of all of the good things (scary-good :lol3 to come. Pawley looks so darn happy, Laurie. So peaceful, so relaxed, and must be so grateful :heart3: :heart3: I get all "happy" teary eyed over the thought of how his life has changed for good - for better. Love the newest photos!!! He is a very handsome boy with a gorgeous gleaming coat !!!!! :love:
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- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #239
Well, we moved ahead to soon. But the genie's out of the bottle, so to speak, and I don't think there's any going back. :lol3:
We left the crate doors open as of... Saturday? Two of them, so no one can get "trapped" in there since we can't keep the other cats out. Pawley is totally comfortable moving around up in the front dash, comes to his crate for meals. Last night he even came down and walked over to the kitchen while I was prepping dinner! Of course Lazlo was on the bottom steps of the cat trees, and growled at him, so he fled back up front.
That stuff... they'll just have to manage. No, the concerning thing is that he is obsessed with the litter boxes. He sits in his crate watching - and when someone goes to use a box (three of them are there up front), he jumps down, runs over, puts the front half of his body in the box, and starts whapping them!
I KNOW I shouldn't laugh - but this is a new one on us. And of course it freaks the heck out of the other cats. This morning Flowerbelle, Sheldon, and Billy all had scratches on their noses. He did it to Shel while I was fixing breakfast. I slowly walked toward him and said "NO Pawley," not shouting or anything, just my "standard" firm NO (that he's heard me say to Billy a thousand times!), and he fled up to the crate. I'm not overly happy about him running from me. Normally I'd want to grab a wand toy and redirect him - but I can't leave food on the counter.
I closed his crate up after dinner - but he freaked trying to get out. Well - to open the door. I finally opened it, and he didn't want out. He just wanted the door open. :lol3:
He is all lovey dovey, and LOVES the pets. He's drooling, kneading and purring up a storm. I did bring him into the bedroom to be with Gary (who is sick now.
). And Spooky trotted in looking for pets. She saw Pawley, and just walked over to him and started grooming him! So things just never work out the way you expect them to. We never in a million years would have picked out Spooky as the kitty to be someone's buddy.
Yet here they were, yesterday morning:
So.... we should have kept him cooped up at night at least for a while longer. But... we didn't. Hopefully he'll get over this. I know it's a "good" thing in the sense of his feeling like this is HIS home. :heart2: But I really don't want to have to put a litter box in the bedroom. There's so little space in there, I know we'd wind up with litter in the bed!
We left the crate doors open as of... Saturday? Two of them, so no one can get "trapped" in there since we can't keep the other cats out. Pawley is totally comfortable moving around up in the front dash, comes to his crate for meals. Last night he even came down and walked over to the kitchen while I was prepping dinner! Of course Lazlo was on the bottom steps of the cat trees, and growled at him, so he fled back up front.
That stuff... they'll just have to manage. No, the concerning thing is that he is obsessed with the litter boxes. He sits in his crate watching - and when someone goes to use a box (three of them are there up front), he jumps down, runs over, puts the front half of his body in the box, and starts whapping them!
I KNOW I shouldn't laugh - but this is a new one on us. And of course it freaks the heck out of the other cats. This morning Flowerbelle, Sheldon, and Billy all had scratches on their noses. He did it to Shel while I was fixing breakfast. I slowly walked toward him and said "NO Pawley," not shouting or anything, just my "standard" firm NO (that he's heard me say to Billy a thousand times!), and he fled up to the crate. I'm not overly happy about him running from me. Normally I'd want to grab a wand toy and redirect him - but I can't leave food on the counter.I closed his crate up after dinner - but he freaked trying to get out. Well - to open the door. I finally opened it, and he didn't want out. He just wanted the door open. :lol3:
He is all lovey dovey, and LOVES the pets. He's drooling, kneading and purring up a storm. I did bring him into the bedroom to be with Gary (who is sick now.
). And Spooky trotted in looking for pets. She saw Pawley, and just walked over to him and started grooming him! So things just never work out the way you expect them to. We never in a million years would have picked out Spooky as the kitty to be someone's buddy.Yet here they were, yesterday morning:
So.... we should have kept him cooped up at night at least for a while longer. But... we didn't. Hopefully he'll get over this. I know it's a "good" thing in the sense of his feeling like this is HIS home. :heart2: But I really don't want to have to put a litter box in the bedroom. There's so little space in there, I know we'd wind up with litter in the bed!
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