got brush

:lovestruck: So i feed down under last night about 11 and go wash up for bed
I come back in to the living room and she is sitting by my chair looking at me
hmmm maybe she doesnt like her food?
I go check and she ate about half which is nomal for her, she usually comes back in a few to eat the rest.
So I come back out and she is still by my chair so i hunker down and she comes over and does a head rub on my leg!!!
Ahh haaa dumb human I am she wants a pet and a brush!!!
LEt me tell you I have raised and been owned by a few cats and dogs but
nothing has given me a greater thrill than watching this beautifull abused cat come out of her shell and start to be an unafraid cat .
So i brush her and talk to her a while and she goes back to her food with her tail high in the air.

yeaaaaaa!!!!!!

What a great story to start the morning with! :cloud9: Thanks for sharing, Jim!

I'm so happy she's begun to trust you. That's great news!:highfive:

So im a worry wart down under came out this am i gave her a brush and some of her fav food and she ate a bit and went back under the bed
then came out by me i gave her a brush and played with the laser tag
she went back to her place behind the dresser then came out again by me
and then went back under the bed
is she trying to tell me something?
she ate all her food last night and took a nice poop but she is reverting back under the bed which i do not like.
maybe she just sleepy? How do i tell if a cat is bored? :frown:

as i have said ive had cays before but never one that has had problems with abuse . could it be she not really hungry but just wants to see some food in her bowl?

So nice to hear that down under has given you the chance to get to know her somewhat. She may never be a friendly lap cat but it does sound as if she wants you to be in her space from time to time. Maybe she will surprise you and one day you will wake up and find her sleeping next to you on the bed. Since you don't know exactly what she has been through prior to living with you it's hard to determine how long it may take for her to come around to thinking you hung the moon. I don't think I would worry about her going under the bed as long as she seems normal in other areas Jim. Cat's do like to have their 17 hours of beauty sleep daily so maybe thats the only reason she had taken to hiding under there.

well she came out and ate the rest of her breakie I think she just spooked a liitle cause i had some strangers over yesterday
lol i also think she is a little picky with her food and wants variety :lovestruck:

I don't know about an abused cat, but Oksana is a very shy skittish kitty. I don't know if that's a product of Vlad trying to dominate her or what, but I've learned that many times, its HER that has to come to me. I give her love and affection, so I know when she retreats to a spot by herself she just wants some alone time, from me and Vlad.

She's probably just an independent kitty, who is happy napping and in her little spots. I think however, that the fact she does come to you, and wants you to pet her and brush her says a lot.

Don't despair, this is just the beginning. I always love that first moment when they come to you, looking for attention, the aha! moment when they finally figure out that not only are you not a threat but the source of good things. Just when you think, well, this is how she is, this is as much trust as she can manage, she will surprise you again. One of my cats went from avoiding all contact to a total snuggler, but it took well over a year to come to that point. I just waited him out.

Simon (aka Boobie), who will never leave me:

Way to go, Jim! What a great story! This little gal will be worth the slow, steady gaining of her trust.
We have a tortie who has never known anything other than outright pampering, and she still prefers to nap either in the closet, under the bed, or on a shelf in the bathroom among the towels. I think some kitties just like little hidey-holes for sleeping.

so i call up the women who runs the rescue group who had her
I told her what was going on
she says hang on she pooping she eating she playing and now your worried because she wants to get a pet ?

well put that way i now feel very much a schmuck lol

well put that way i now feel very much a schmuck lol

Haha:laughing: she will come to love you and like the others have said it can take a long time before she is comfortable with you.
I had a cat that lived 18 years and some of my family never saw a glimps of him in all that time (other than pictures I took to prove of his existence) because he was just nervous of anyone but me. With just the two of us he was the biggest suck going and loved kisses and cuddles.
Now for the stupidest thing you have ever heard but it does work....when down under looks at you just squint or close your eyes very slowly and keep them closed for half a minute or so and turn your head away. Do this every time she looks at you and it will help her feel less anxious around you. It's almost like a play-bow in dog language and tells down under that you are in no way a threat and want nothing other than to be civil and friendly. You will find that she will eventually return your squint with one of her own and you can mark one more win on your calandar when that happens.

Now for the stupidest thing you have ever heard but it does work....when down under looks at you just squint or close your eyes very slowly and keep them closed for half a minute or so and turn your head away. Do this every time she looks at you and it will help her feel less anxious around you. It's almost like a play-bow in dog language and tells down under that you are in no way a threat and want nothing other than to be civil and friendly. You will find that she will eventually return your squint with one of her own and you can mark one more win on your calandar when that happens.

This is actually the way non aggressive cats will communicate with other cats to tell them they just want to be friends.

Glad to hear you are making huge headway with this down under. Congratulations on your success!

This is actually the way non aggressive cats will communicate with other cats to tell them they just want to be friends.

Thats right Love4himies.
So the best way to communicate with a cat is to speak in terms that the cat will understand, and that is why this method is extremely effective.

yup i spent hours doing that and yawning at her under the bed when she came here i slow blink and put my head down and she blinks back
my girl friend even got a blink or two the other day

Vlad will touch his nose with mine. I read that's a way they greet each other affectionately. :)

lol i try that and ill probaly get a claw in my neck i cat a had years ago would do that in the morning when y0ou were sleeping
was a start in the am to open your eyes and get a close up ofa very furry face

LOL, no you don't need a cat claw in your neck.

Oh Jim, that's such a great story! Thanks for sharing!!! This brought a huge smile to my face! Thank you!!! :) How great to see your kitty coming out of her shell like that! :highfive:

Jim,that's great to hear,you are doing wonderfully:cat:
My 3 cats will also disappear when there are strangers in the house,after a little while they'll creep up and check the people out,that's just beeing a little cautious.

well I got a brave cat idecide trauma or no i had to vacumn
OMG NOT THAT BIGGGGG NOISY THING!!!!!!
Soo she zooomed under the bed figured ill see her in 2 days lol
she coames out about 10 min later for a quick pet
and then eats the rest of her dinner

Awww, that is so great to hear that she is finally starting to come around. :highfive: You've done wonders for her and she is starting to realize what a wonderful dad you are. :angel:

http://bestsmileys.com/happy/2.gif

So happy you're seeing progress, keep up the great patience work!

Oh no,the big monster-thingy:yell:
Since I have mostly woodfloors,the Swiffer gets more of a workout than my vaccum,but when we do vaccum,the kitties are gone,hiding somewhere in the basement.:laughing:

What a nice story. So good to hear about a wonderful kitties life getting turned around.
One of my cats actually likes to follow the vacuum cleaner, the newest puppy Bentley does too:laughing:

Cindy

My kitten used to hide from the vacuum too. Then he started watching close by...and now he tries to edge closer and closer. He's getting brave lol!!

What a wonderful heart-warming story. I was beginning to think I was the only person in the world who did the blinking thing.

Well a breakthrough of sorts, D U came out yesterday and llet my girlfriend give her a quick pet She (not maria the cat ) Is also gathering up her courage to get on the bed with me I feel her jumpinmg uo and down thourout the night
I wish dhe wouls I feel bad that she sleeps on the floor all the time when there's a nice big comfy bed

Jm,before youknow it,you'll wish she did not sleep in bed with you:laughing:
Mind you,I have 3 cats in our bed and I feel it's very comforting seeing my three curled up asleep,sort of like a sleeping-pill for me:cloud9:

I'm sure glad you clarified that it's D.U. and not your GF that's gathering up her courage. :laughing:

Sounds like you are winning her trust. Don't worry, she'll be up on your bed full time soon, taking over the whole area, and you'll be squished on one side only being allowed 1 foot on the edge :D .

:highfive: DU seems to be doing great... it sounds like she is establishing her own little routine with you so she must be getting comfortable with you and realizing that she is gonna get to stay there and be loved.... :lovestruck: