Snowflake did something strange, any ideas?

First, Snowflake is still doing great Slow, but great. Although she won't yet come to me, and will leave towards another room if I stand up, she'll hang out a lot right outside my bedroom door if I'm in bed or sitting at the computer. She likes to eat with the others, and their food is also in the hallway oustide my bedroom door. In fact, she'll stand at the door and look at me, or look for the other cats, and will even eat treats I throw towards her. In fact, sometimes she comes to the door and gives me the "where are my treats" look. lol

And one thing I'm really happy about -- she's not only playing with and getting along famously with my other cats, she's started playing with their toys! I'm hoping in time I'll be included in the circle.

Here's what happened today. I know this is a behavior question, but it's in reference to what to make of it in regards to socializing her, so I hope it's okay to post here.

Like I said she gets along great with the other cats, especially Rocky Rockette, who she always comes looking for. She also gets along great wiht Little Big Man.

I have a community pie pan that I use for dry food (they all have their own bowls for wet food) They all enjoy eating out of it, and have no problem eating together. Just now I was watching as Little Big Man (heretofore LBM lol) and Snowflake were eating out of pie pan, when suddenly Snowflake starts rubbing her head against LBM's head, but reallly intensely. I've never seen it this enthusiastically before, she was sticking her nose in his ears, and just like she was trying to almost engulf him practically. She is spayed and LBM is neutered, but he was just neutered 12 days ago.

Then she starts rubbing the whole side of her body against the whole side of his, so affectionately that she actually pushed him down sideways with her falling on top of him sideways and even after they got up, she was just rubbing her head against his head and neck and fact like crazy. My gut felt like she just was loving him like crazy.

I took the opportunity to slowly go out. She went to the living room, but I moved the food out a bit and lay down a couple of feet back and tried to call her to take advantage of the mood. Interestingly she didn't run as far as she ususally did. She wouldn't come over, but was watching me.

I didn't stay too long. I went back in the bedroom and she came back out and is playing with the balls and feather toys now.

Does this seem like a mating thing because I know they can impregnate a month after neuter, but he's only 6 months old. She's a year at least.

Or is it just affection? It's just in all my experience with cats, I've never seen such an enthusiastic display like that. She was literally all over him with almost her whole body rubbing.

Anyone ever see this or know what it might mean? Or if and how I can use it to get her more comfortable with me?

One possibility is there was some interesting scent on him. A tiny little catnip? Or coffe... Or human sweat... Or Valeriana. There are probably also others.

Anyway. Good you have help of your own home-cats. It is always easier then to get shy ferals tame.

How CUTE!!

Well you must be getting it right that LBM didn't whack her ar try to stop her.
If that had happened at my place one of my cats would have had to lay down the law!

Some cats just get along better with others...

But it could also be that like StefanZ said she smelled something yummy on him. As a rule of thumb, it's true that your male can still impregnate a non-spayed female. But it would be impossible on a spayed female.

Snowflake is spayed, I'm very careful (as is the rescue) and a stickler for those things. Plus, LBM wasn't old enough to be sexually mature anyway, he wasn't spraying or interested in anything of the amorous sort.

Interesting thing about LBM, he is a very unique cat with an extraordinary temperament and personality. In fact, I was talking to the woman from the rescue, and from what I told her, she feels he has what it takes to be a therapy cat (which I am currently looking into possibly doing with him).

What is valerian?

I don't know what would have given him a scent different than my other two guys. They are all indoor cats, and all exposed to the same things, and all hang in pretty much the same places.

He had been not making much progress for a little while, and suddenly seems to have gotten a little braver and more comfortable since that time. She even took a few steps towards me the other day when I offered her some treats and now, instead of hanging out at the doorway of my bedroom, she'll actually come in a foot or so. When I used to get up, she'd run back under or behind the sofa, now she just runs in the living room to see where I go.

And yesterday she ran behind the sofa, but when I called her actually back out to look at me to see why I was calling her. That was a first!

So I don't know what that behavior meant (he did it a 2nd time last nigiht, but not as much, just a little sideways rub while LMB was eating). but whatever it is, I'm glad.

Considering how traumatized she was when she got here (all she would do would be to curl up in her cat bed with her head buried down, and would only eat when nobody was around, and wouldn't even use the litterbox, just go where she lay, and was very aggressive (they gave me these thick huge long gloves to use if I had to deal with her at all because she would attack anyone who came near her), she's made great progress.

She now uses the litterbox perfectly, will play with the other guys, will interact with me from afar. She'll come to the bedroom door if I'm in there and meow for treats, which I toss to her. She's even taken to laying down at the doorway, which tells me she is not as terrified anymore. And believe or not, she's actually playing with toys! From what I've heard, most ferals don't. I think she got that from the other cats. I think I have a house full of ambassadors here

I can hardly wait for the day she'll actually come over.

I almost convinced her the other day with some Arby's. LOL After tossing a little to her, I held some you. You could see the wheels turning, but she was still too cautious, so I just gave it to her.

Yet last night she came into the room father. So whatever I'm doing it's working.

Gotta get some more Arbys. LOL

Thanks guys.

She's such a sweetheart and so pretty. If I can get her to the point she's adoptable, it would probably be one of the highpoints of my own life, you know?

LBM sounds like a really interesting cat!

I guess it's hard to tell right now wether your new kitty will actually get human friendly enough to be adoptable to just about any family... It's possible that she may never be just like the other cats but i definetly think it's worth the try. I think that just about any cat is sociable so long as you know how but sounds like you're doing great!

Maybe in your case it'll be more like finding the right family for your new cat rather than the other way around. Good luck!

Well, I'm hoping. Hissy was the one who was kind enough to advise me on how to proceed and what to do with and for her, and every single thing she's suggested has worked. I'm trying to follow all her suggestions to the best of my ability.

I credit any success I have to Hissy. (Except cleaning the litterbox. I do that and insist on taking credit! LOL)

Originally Posted by Charmed654321

Well, I'm hoping. Hissy was the one who was kind enough to advise me on how to proceed and what to do with and for her, and every single thing she's suggested has worked. I'm trying to follow all her suggestions to the best of my ability.

I credit any success I have to Hissy. (Except cleaning the litterbox. I do that and insist on taking credit! LOL)

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LOL I am glad you have gotten good advise. Esp....Glad you cleaned the litterbox

My ferals have always been lovely like that to each other outdoors. It is funny to watch when they get over enthusiastic with their rubbing. One time Sylvester was kind of forgot himself, (I think), and started to rub up against one of the bully cats that come around and got popped for his efforts. I never sam him make that mistake again.

It is still pretty much a nightly ritual with most of the cats here for the aggressivwe head and body rubbing to go on outdoors and it's just as adorable to watch as the first time I saw them.

Originally Posted by tru

My ferals have always been lovely like that to each other outdoors. It is funny to watch when they get over enthusiastic with their rubbing. One time Sylvester was kind of forgot himself, (I think), and started to rub up against one of the bully cats that come around and got popped for his efforts. I never sam him make that mistake again.

It is still pretty much a nightly ritual with most of the cats here for the aggressivwe head and body rubbing to go on outdoors and it's just as adorable to watch as the first time I saw them.

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It is adorable, but I think my guys (who weren't feral) were a bit taken aback. LOL What really makes me happy (although I didn't expect it) was how well the others get along with her and visa versa. Even Deja Vu, an adult cat, took to her right away. They've done more for helping her warm up than I could ever do.

One of the few times she came right next to me was when she was looking for Rocky (who she has a special call for).

I am enjoying doing this so much. My one regret is that I didn't know about this earlier in my life.