Yes,lol indeed that was a bit long winded,wasn't it- It's kind of hard to describe things in writing - so simple to just show someone but we don't have thst luxury --- so many times I think ' oh how I wish I could be there for even 10 minutes "Hi,
Lots to answer there... yes she comes when we feed her, she often comes when called too, especially for bedtime. She takes treats straight from us and asks to be fed or to play.
She knows our routine really well and when we deviate from it, she let's us know. "Excise me, you are 5 minutes late with my food, this is unacceptable"
She behaves almost entirely the way all my other cats have behaved, except we cannot touch her. We have brushed her accidentally a couple of times when giving treats or feeding and she jumped about a foot in the air. She didn't run away, but she stopped eating and retreated to a safe distance. That was about a month ago now probably. I gave noticed when objects touch her, she freaks out less. Eg if the toy I am throwing for her touches her, she doesn't jump anymore, she just steps back and then plays.
Or if my phone charger brushes her when I'm picking up my phones, she doesn't really react anymore, when we first got her and it touched her, she'd be off back to her safe space
Interesting what you say about fingers, makes total sense! My partner says he thinks we should wait another month or so before we really attempt touching. I think he is saying that because she is making a jump forward in progress at the min and he doesn't want to trigger a set back
You have made wonderful progress and she is doing so very well,coming along nicely at an even stride forward- your boyfriend sounds like a nice fellow,very thoughtful & considerate- it's good to hear this precious baby is in a loving home
So to give you confidence and encouragement I will assure you both she's not going to go backwards and be traumatized by your efforts to make physical contact by grazing her as you have- of course it makes perfect sense thst she jumps from a brush of the " hand" & not objects- because of this many folks opt to use " extentions" to stroke or brush- it's not something I would ever do becsuse it does nothing to assure kitty the " hand" is no threat
Try just dangling your arm when she is near,be in that position already when she comes- as I mentioned,closed back of the hand ( the fist resembles a little cat head & not a giant paw with daggers)-it's okay if she jumps back ,don't react to it by pulling away- stay relaxed
I bend over and keep my arm close to my legs- just hanging down as I tap objects ....all my cats always learn my voice command" come on" using this method as well from very early on( despite their age). With fearful kitties it's always best to approach from the side (not over or straight on);but from below them grazing upward..... towards them is confrontational
If you've every observed kitties meeting other kitties they never approach directly straight on expect if they are either defending territory or displaying they are big,bad & not to be trifled with.....approach to be acceptanced they with " lower:" their heads & graze the other....... hope thst helps