Sammie’s Tail Part 17
She was favoring my husband. The vet said that cats that are female, may favor a human male. We bought all kinds of toys to try as well. Her personality was starting to show.
I think she had been hit or had things thrown at her. I do know she was shot at with a pellet gun, but she did not like toys with sticks, or anything being thrown at her like a ball etc. All the shows say to play with the cat, but she was not for that. I found little mice and left toys out to see what she would do.
Meanwhile, we were learning more about cats. There is a kitten shelter near my house that I asked to volunteer in. I wanted to learn more about cats. However, it was too much cat for me and I started to choke again. I could only go in and play with the little baby cats. We could not pick up Sammie, so I learned how to socialize kittens and did it for a short time.
They were wonderful in this shelter to advise me. I would give a donation for free advise from a behaviorist on what to do with Sammie. We could not pick her up.
After a few months I went away to look after my sick father. I came back to find that Sammie held a grudge, yes a true grudge and would not let me near her or pet her. This is when I really became the sole food provider. I went to my pet store and was getting to know the nice man there who told me I better be careful for what I ask for, that she would come around.
So my time with Sammie became surrounded by food. My husband had long love and petting times with Sammie. I asked him to pick her up and socialize her more, but he didn’t want to upset her or have her not like him too. Gee wiz. I think it is about what is best for her. I was becoming her Mommy, really, I felt that way. I know some people have different terms for their cats, but this is mine.
As I fed her I would slowly pet her from her head to her tail, so to say, here is your food and you have to let me do this in order to feed you. Gradually she began trusting me, but it took 6 whole months. Can you believe it, 6 months. Wow! I already loved her, even though she held that grudge. How could I explain I left for a good reason, only for a week. Wow!
So the vet suggested that I only feed her. So as I fed her, I woud pet her from head to tail. This became a nice routine. I also began sitting on the floor gradually she would let me pet her. I bought some brushes and she loved to be brushed. After having bad knees and cramped legs, I sat on a small step stool and would pat the side of my thigh and she would come over to be pet. She knew her name and if she left, I would call her and she would walk back from wherever she was in the house to come and get pet and brushed.
She really loved being behind the couch in the v shaped teepee house. It was open in the front and back for perfect escapes for her. This way she could go out the back or in the front and would feel secure.
When people came over she would go under the bed in either room. We kept the basement door closed as I was afraid she would find a hole or somewhere to squeeze into.
Leave a Reply