Yesterday's blurry Jasper pics that I was too tired to look at. Boy sure loves indoors 😂
Progress on integrating w the other cats:
-Bluebell / Amber now tolerate his presence (a win)
- Miralka went from Politely Ignoring to sniffing him today (followed by a small hiss).
- Mina.. always disappears. But when I left briefly, she had jumped on the bed and was standing over him growling furiously.
(She's incredibly jealous - growled at Darcy for YEARS. Sigh)
@Earthgoddess Every time they settle down / accept each-other, the universe conspires to send me more cats 😅
(Also had 8 until last year. Then this guy showed up, and I found two kittens stuck in a hole)
Mina is the large black cat. She is part Siamese, so is clingy, vocal, and jealous around her "person".
Her sister is more outgoing, bit I didn't have to syringe feed her as kitten like for Mina. She bonded hard to me, and HATES any cat other than her sister.
@Earthgoddess 7 of my cats are ex-ferals!
They came from the large feral cat colony 2 roads away in someone's garden. A man feeds them daily, so they are a bit less scared and know people = food.
- Some I caught as kittens (the Siamese and her sister)
- One followed me home
- Two I caught as young adults (which is much harder than kittens)
I fell in love with Darcy the blue grey cat, who I saw hiding under a car one day. But he was *so scared*, it took months to get him to trust me.
@Earthgoddess 2/2 it was only that fast because a different feral cat decided he Liked Being Touched and became my friend.
Because he trusted me, Darcy began to trust me.
Feral adult cats have stressful lives, and are often traumatised. It can take a long time to fully trust a human, and allow themselves to be touched.
(It took another year after bringing him home, to touch Darcy without him hissing or slapping me in fear)
@Earthgoddess Then there are cats completely opposite in nature, like Jasper (the tabby).
He was just another young male feral last summer, visiting our garden to be fed.
Most of them were very nervous and ran away, but he was unusually bold and clever.
In a few weeks, he was letting me touch him. Then trying to follow us indoors. I don't know if he had an owner before, or was a feral cat. He was completely trusting, so quickly. But he had no collar, was thin and starving, so. My cat now! 😸
@Earthgoddess I wish you luck with your nervous ferals.
Over time, their fear and trauma will subside. Eventually they will allow you to touch them.
Once you do, they may quickly decide Ohh!! This is a nice feeling!! I ENJOY being touched!!
The most affectionate trusting cats my family has ever had, were all ex feral cats.
Herisson Rose
Earthgoddess