We adopted our cat from the SPCA two years ago. I'm not too sure what her previous owners did to her but there's been a few things we've noticed (ie: scared of vacuums, like petrified... even if I move it a couple inches to get at something else, she's under the bed right away!) but one thing I noticed, perhaps it was just because she was at the shelter and was only fed once a day is when we go and feed her, she goes absolutely crazy!! She gets fed three times a day... we can't just leave food in her dish as she'll eat every last piece of food (I've caught her a few times licking her dish). Anyway, the question I'm asking is how can we "train" her to leave food in her dish? I can't even get my hand out of the way by the time the food hits her dish... she's right in there eating it as if it's her last meal! Is there a way I can let her know that it's OK to leave some food in her dish and that it's not her last meal!
Also - is there any way I can get her to not be afraid of the vacuum? We live in an apartment building and they had to come in yesterday to clean out our dryer vents but of course, they brought a vacuum in and a) she hates strangers; b) she hates the sound of a vacuum so obviously she went nuts and ran into the bedroom and I found her cowering in the corner of the closet behind a bunch of stuff. I don't know if her previous owners scared her with the vacuum? From her SPCA paper work, it says she's been with TWO other families (aside from ours!) so who knows what she's been through in the past. She really is a sweetheart if she's comfortable with you. She's fine with strangers once they come in, introduce themselves to her but she can sense when people aren't "cat friendly".. but if they are, she'll slowly come around and start to cuddle/hang out.
Also - is there any way I can get her to not be afraid of the vacuum? We live in an apartment building and they had to come in yesterday to clean out our dryer vents but of course, they brought a vacuum in and a) she hates strangers; b) she hates the sound of a vacuum so obviously she went nuts and ran into the bedroom and I found her cowering in the corner of the closet behind a bunch of stuff. I don't know if her previous owners scared her with the vacuum? From her SPCA paper work, it says she's been with TWO other families (aside from ours!) so who knows what she's been through in the past. She really is a sweetheart if she's comfortable with you. She's fine with strangers once they come in, introduce themselves to her but she can sense when people aren't "cat friendly".. but if they are, she'll slowly come around and start to cuddle/hang out.