The Magic Stick

piano cat

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We have had several ferals, strays, dumpees and like our own cats they love to play and one play toy I have found particularly effective is a long, skinny stick.  I wiggle it just out of their sight and invariably they come to see what the light scritching sound is.  I hide myself as much as I can.       Once they are looking I draw the stick quickly back towards myself and usually they dart out after it, then realize, "Oh my heavens, what am I doing, I ran Towards the person" and they deke back into hiding but soon come out again.  The magic stick brings them out.  :)

Right now we have two ferals we see regularly.  One is about to come in the house, I can pick him up and cuddle him.  He's been outside in our yard for a year.  The other one has been around for four years and is still very skittish but as of last Fall she is interested in the magic stick.  Now, when I go outside to play with the friendly one the skittish one comes out of hiding and wants to play as well.  She is coming much closer to me now.  The two cats even have the occasional squabble over whose turn it is to play but on the whole get along very well. 

The magic stick gets them playing with me at a distance.  I can avoid looking at them with my big scary human face and terrifying eyes.  My hands can move at a distance from them and they get used to my scary hands too.  I can touch/pet them lightly with the stick after a while and not terrorize them.  The stick is truly magic.  Do you use a magic stick?
 

jcat

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That's a good idea. A string attached to a belt loop that you drag around behind you would probably be appealing to them, too. I have a habit of stuffing things in the back pockets of my jeans - keys, a bottle of hand sanitizer, tissues, an e-cigarette, disposable gloves, etc., and some of the ferals that don't allow themselves to be touched are so fascinated that they try to fish things out of my pockets when I'm crouched down cleaning boxes or putting out food. If I turn around they might run, but if they think I'm unaware they'll become quite bold. :lol3:
 
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piano cat

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Nice breakthrough with the magic stick last night.  Was playing with the two ferals and the more skittish one reacted positively to me petting her with it.  I ran it from her head, all down her back and along part of her tail and she actually arched her back and did not try to slink away out of reach of the stick as she did the first time I touched her with it.  Then she came right up to me and sniffed my fingers.  The OH can already give her a brief, light pet, soon maybe I will be able to as well.  :)
 
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