meet Buggy

[tabbytom]

Nice car!

On to Bugs, patience. Dangle a toy in front of him and get him to play and lure him up the cat tree.
Has he been eating and drinking and using the litter box?

 

[ondine]

He may need you to suffer a bit more.  I know we keep saying "patience" but it really is the only thing that works.

If he's eating, peeing and pooping appropriately he's fine.

The races must have been neat.  Did you know someone who was driving?  Or do you just go for the noise, smoke and speed?

 

[bigbadbass]

I'm a longtime race fan, both pro motorcycle and auto. My first trip to Daytona Bike Week in '78, many times since.

My electrician brother lives 45 minutes from the track, I actually work for him while I'm there. I was there 9 days...we worked for 6 and went to speedway the other 3....a very busy "vacation".

As directed, I'm spending time with Bug, talking , hanging,  TT *any* attempt to lure or play with him ....he hisses and retreats.

Prior to vet and neuter he WAS becoming comfortable ....steps forward and steps back. 

Getting him to simply show himself and be comfortable in the open will be my first priority....he simply needs more time before initiating any interaction.

He is now eating again and "functioning" properly.....boy, does he ever function.  :  )   

 

[tabbytom]

Do the slow blink eyes with him and keep talking to him. He'll soon forgive you for leaving him alone.

 

[bigbadbass]

The Bug seems a bit (understandably) confused

This mornings feed he greeted me with tail up (as if he wanted me to pet him as we did while he was outdoors) then in short order....hissed then meowed.  I'm certainly no Jackson Galaxy....therefore must ask...is it me? Am i being inconsistent thereby getting mixed signals from him? I am back to keeping a consistent routine, doing everything I can, talking, spending time, napping on the floor, etc etc. Or is it him... slowly beginning to understand a bit, yet still frustrated and confused from the whole ordeal?  

Anyways, his Grace then ate a bit and went in to his cardboard box. I tossed a wand toy around in front of him (no bites) but he did look semi-interested. He was probably thinking..."what is this jackass doing? I'm no baby kitty, i'm ELVIS, dammit"    : )

Come 8AM ...his back to sleep time.  

This guy is certainly a challenge...I'm sure if he were a young kitty things would be quicker and easier. But at 3YO....he has no drive to play or show interest in interaction.....likely never being exposed to human.  

Petting or picking up? As we say in Brooklyn...fuggedaboudit (for now) but I'm not about to give up, not by a longshot.   

Jackson, where the hell are ya' , I'm sure you'd have the Bug eating from your hand by now, and doing cat tricks (backflips) on command. 

As always, feedback welcomed and appreciated. 

 

[tabbytom]

Yo, I'm no Jackson Galaxy, but it's good news that his tail was up and meowed. The hiss was proably nothing. He could have just mistaken something and after that he realized it was nothing and he meowed.
It'll take around six weeks after his neutering for him to be calmer, therefore he's still a little agitated at this point.

Keep the routine going, no changes. Have to set his mind in the direction you want him to go. In other words, break his habits.

You are on your final lap, don't give up [emoji]128077[/emoji][emoji]127995[/emoji]

 

[ondine]

I think TabbyTom is correct - the testosterone is still running around inside him, so it may take him a bit longer to decide fully that he likes the indoors.  Just keep on keeping on...

 

[bigbadbass]

Thanks good folks...good to know its not me sending mixed signals....he does come out of retreat more often now. Given a few more weeks, hopefully he'll calm further.  

The small positives are inspiring me....we're gonna do this.

Come spring, I've got to open the outside door and get the bike out (without him bolting out)    

I'm contemplating my strategy on that, but *may* let him into the next room , a laundry room. I can temporarily confine him there while removing bike....then give him run of the 2 rooms....still allowing full access to his food, L-box, safe spot, etc.

We'll see how he does between then and now.

Also thinking WAY ahead to a very slow, safe introduction to wife's other house cats and Yorkie.

All in time.          

 

[bigbadbass]

Finally some positive news to report!  AT LAST...tonight the Bug played with a wand toy for about 15 minutes. He was actually focused and engaging.   

He's finally sleeping in a cat bed !  Previously, he'd choose the hard, cold floor or a cardboard box. Perhaps the comforts available to him are finally clicking in his little brain.

His hours still whacked.. still sleeping a lot by day, up at very early hours of the AM....

As is his eating schedule...regardless I feed at normal 7-8AM and 5-6PM.

He's still batting 1000 in the use of the litterbox. I'm amazed in that regard. Everything normal...good Buggy. 

I'm ecstatic that we were able to engage in playing...we'll work on that further tomorrow! Yesssss!    

 

[tabbytom]

Alright! Yippeee! :blobgreen What can we say? Bugs has come around and your patience is paid off!

This is great news. But please keep the routine. It's normal that his hours are whacked. He's a cat after all.
Most important thing is he's doing what you want him to do.

Keep it up dude!

 

[bigbadbass]

More great news......he TWICE brushed up against my legs this morning! Tail strait up...but again both meowing and hissing. He's still scared and confused. 

I'd have attempted a pet but was in bare feet at the time...i felt quite vulnerable. I still can't fully trust him with the hissing, and confusion ...I perceive him to be unpredictable.  

Note its about 3 weeks since his neuter. And about 5 since his coming indoors, I think.

Yes, absolutely beginning to see positive changes.

He was up again, moving about at 3AM or so....asleep by 8-9AM.  i'm inclined to leave him his space....we'll attempt more playtime in later today.

 

[ondine]

Aw, his majesty has deigned to make his servant feel hopeful!  We have a cat who hisses at us often.  I realized he's just making sure we stay in our place!

 

[1CatOverTheLine]

It sounds like you and the Bug are doing really well - great thread, by the way.

Free advice from someone who's probably not the best advisor since his Life is run by cats and foxes: with male cats still jostling testosterone in their system, the closer your are to the ground, the happier he'll be approaching you.  Squatting is good; kneeling is better; lying on your side on the floor, propped up on your elbow is best.

I'll second the continuation of the slow blink.  Keep up the good work.

.

 

[bigbadbass]

^ Thanks.

Though we are far from done...he's come so far from the starving, roaming, terrified, lonely pathetic stray I encountered in late October. The vet confirmed h'es around 3 year old. But I'll never be able to confirm his origins...true feral, runaway or dumped?  Very sad..it seemed to me he was sentenced to hell via roaming....rain, snow, cold....always roaming. Obviously near starving, I felt bad for him and chose to attempt to make his life less difficult and dangerous. He really is a beautiful animal and deserves better.      

Clearly, the help offered by such knowledgeable, experienced members within this thread has helped me immensely.  In particular.....interpreting his behavior and communications.  The responses, actions and steps that were suggested...invaluable. A couple weeks ago, i actually feared for his condition, both physical and mental. After the neuter, he retreated for days...no food, no water, no pee...nuthin'.  I was quite concerned...but thankfully, as was advised...he came out of it ok.     

I'll repeat...this undertaking is completely new to me....clearly I'm no Jackson Galaxy, but with TCS help, we're getting "the job" done. I'm relieved. 

What a transformation!  And now, as you've read ...the little Elvis owns ME!   : )        I'll do my utmost to live up to his Highness' expectations.   

Sorry for the long winded response.       

 

[1CatOverTheLine]

 
I'll repeat...this undertaking is completely new to me....clearly I'm no Jackson Galaxy, but with TCS help, we're getting "the job" done. I'm relieved. 

Nonsense - you're managing splendidly, and only since October?  Developing a bond with any animal takes time, and the longer they're outside, the more difficult to forge that bond becomes.  Wildness is not a thing easily shrugged off - just look at Miley Cyrus.

Seven years ago, the Family of red foxes who dens at the river's edge in my little woods developed Mange.  By dint of my Vet's kindly intercession, and the help of Ivermectin suffused into canned dog food, the mites died off in time to save six of the seven affected.  Beyond that, I've continued feeding them at dusk each night, and their gratitude is plain and clear, but it took two full years of feeding before I was able to approach the matriarch without her bolting off, and near another year before I was able to scratch behind her ears while she had her dinner.  Feral cats - once outside for any period - are little different than any wild creature of God's making, and they require considerable attention and reinforcement of affection before they're wholly won over.  It's entirely because this is new to you that you feel your progress isn't as quick as might be, but be assured that you (and the Bug) are managing just about as well as anyone might hope.

.

 

[bigbadbass]

WOW!  Scratching the ears of a red fox....you've got guts galore!  Initiating that must have been accompanied by an elevated heartbeat, no?  Extreme timeline noted...great work! 

You must be in a country/rural setting? 

 

[1CatOverTheLine]

Her progeny, however, are thoroughly delightsome in their every facet, and this Spring past I was treated to the kits dashing 'round on the back lawn each night, and escorting me to the stone slab which serves as their feeding station.

I see you're on the Island.  Smithtown, Great South or Gardiner's side?

.

 

[tabbytom]

Brushing up your legs? That's cool! Don't worry about the hissing. As long as you sense it's not a threat to you (now you think and feel like a cat, no threat).

 

[imjustacatmom]

@bigbadbass
Hey there...so glad Bugs is coming around again...one thing came to mind is confusion...
Bugs remembers your the one who rescued him (tail up greet)and then he also remembers you as the one who took him to the vet for neutering (hissing)...
He will need time to get over the neutering...some cats bounce right back...some take time...also his routine was interupped when you left which was right after surgery....so he may also have gotten scared wondering where you went...at risk of sounding like a broken record...
Time, patience, routine love repeat not exactly in that order lolol....like mentioned above the longer they are out it may take as long for them to settle into their new found life...I personally think you are doing a fantastic job...someting else just came to my mind...maybe try and Google or you tube videos about toys/stands/trees you can make him and if not too loud make them in front of him...invite him to "help" you...with Duchess I gave her "jobs" also cats love sheets why I don't know...but I like to say to my furbabies oh thank you for helping make the bed and protecting us from the sheet monster...anyhoo...thank you for keeping us in the loop [emoji]128522[/emoji]

 

[bigbadbass]

I recognize more time is still needed...though I admit his mixed signals confuse me. Alternately meowing and hissing while rubbing up against me? Again, behavioral issues way above my understanding. 

A couple of questions for you experienced folks.....he's eating significantly less. I'm thinking between way less activity and successful deworming...both would account for his decrease in appetite? 

He's sleeping a lot....it would seem to me that neutering, the resultant decrease in sex drive, need to roam, decreasing testosterone/hormones and effective deworming all contribute to his being generally more relaxed and sleepy?  The Feliway plug in too....relax him to the point he's content sleeping all day? He is up at 3AM though.     

Does that all make sense?