Flossie had to be put down about 6 weeks ago. I then got two cats. I had intended getting one but ended up with two sisters. They also came from a cat shelter. This was one where they were left in a small room with about 10 other cats all loose. It must have been very frightening for them. They had recently had kittens, been taken into the shelter, spayed and vaccinated. Marlene must only have had them a couple of weeks before I took them home. Here they are:
I was advised to buy two special cages which were not the ones the cats go to the vets in. I then had to buy more scratching posts and some catnip spray and various toys. I just pray all this works after the great expense. Dr Sands spent a long time trying to help me understand how cats function. It seems we make lots of assumptions which just are not true. Now I have to try and ignore them to make myself the dominant one again. The programme is for about 10 days and starts with all the cats being locked in cages with covers and ignored. They all have scratching posts, food and litter trays. Max is locked in my bedroom and Amber and Candy are in my lounge. As time goes on they will be put in my bedroom together.
Dr David Sands has asked me to keep a diary of what happens so I decided
to record it on here for others to see as well.
When I eventually arrived home, I took a wrong turn coming out of Wigan having got distracted when I saw a pets store, I put the cages together. I forced Max into his and stuck it in the spare bedroom as I started shifting the boxes of books etc. out of my bedroom. (I can see quite a lot of carpet again. I can't remember when I last saw it!!) I also put Amber and Candy in their cages in the lounge.
Once most of the boxes were out I put in the litter tray and toys and checked the food. I left some raw mince and water, I had forgotten the water before I left to go shopping. I then transferred Max in his cage into my bedroom. Once in the cage he was very calm but as I say he fought against going in it. The 'girls' went in much easier. Max must have been in the cage at least half an hour as I wanted him locked in whilst I moved everything out. I felt he should have some quiet time before I let him out although the advise had been to keep him in the cage and quiet for 10-20 minutes. Once out he roamed round the room and ate some more. I only stayed a few minutes with him before leaving him. He has now been loose in the room for an hour and is quite calm and settled on the window ledge. The mince has all gone. I stayed and talked with him a few minutes and stroked him. He seemed happy for me to stroke him and then he licked my fingers and went to nip me. Then he lay his head down on his paws and relaxed and I left him once more. ( I was also advised to leave treats hidden in the room for Max to find to give him some 'hunting' to do.)
The girls wandered around the room when I let them out. I have set up scratching posts, food and litter tray for them too. They soon settled after eating and are now both curled up on chairs asleep. I ignored their cries to go out through the window and they have not bothered me since.
I am surprised at how calm Max is. Last time I locked him in my
bedroom he was more anxious to get out. He is much calmer after his
spell in the cage than he was when I locked him in the bedroom before my
shopping spree. I couldn't start with the programme when Max was
brought in because I didn't have the cages and I daren't start it later
as I didn't know when I would find him again. Well I didn't find
him Jenny brought him home as he hadn't eaten all day!
He is much calmer than the last time I locked him in. (That was the night before his check up after his ear had been bitten by cats, probably Amber or Candy) I went back up after a visit to feed him. This time I had the string and paper. He watched for ages before jumping down to play. He landed on his cage and couldn't resist looking in where he found a little mince which I had left there yesterday and a few cat treat biscuits. After eating and playing with me for a few minutes he then scratched on the post, I gave him the old one he was used to ( I have new ones downstairs and will bring one up when I bring the 'girls' into the bedroom.) after I had tried to wipe it to remove Amber's scent, and then he went back on to the window ledge. As I came downstairs again he cried. He sat and watched quietly as I cleaned his litter tray.
Amber and Candy were waiting at the door when I first walked in. I then fed them and went to the computer. They ate and then ignored me and soon went back to sleep. They seem quite calm now they realize I am not letting them out. Last night Candy did cry beside the window which is one of her regular exits!
I am taking Amber to the vet in an hour to see if she has chlamydial and then going out for the morning and probably early afternoon too. Its all go!!
9.30pm I had a nice morning and afternoon shopping with a friend. When I got home I checked on Max. He was sleeping on my window ledge as normal. He was very quiet and made no attempt to go to the door or to cry or growl. I fed him and he had another sleep. Later I went back to see if he would play. He did show some interest but made very little attempt to join in. I tried an hour or so later and this time he was a little more willing but it was ages before I could get him down from the window. When he came down he ignored me and the toy I was playing with and went straight for more food. A short while later I decided to put the cats in their cages. Max had to be forced into his and he objected loudly as well as pushing hard with his legs to try and stop himself from going in. Once inside he settled down quickly. I left him there for half an hour and then rewarded him with some more raw mince and some tinned tuna when he came out.
The girls also got put in their cage but as their door is much larger it doesn't take much effort to put them in. They also were rewarded with tuna when they came out. Candy is still trying the window occasionally and tries to get through the door as I enter but otherwise they seem happy enough. Amber and Candy played for a while with string and paper. They also liked the paper carrier bag I brought back from Ikea and in fact Candy had a good sleep in it. Even Max took a good look inside his after he had eaten.
Max doesn't seem as frightened but being so quiet makes him appear rather
unhappy still. He looks longingly out of the window but seems to
have resigned himself to the fact that I mean business this time.
I will be happier when he makes some more effort to play. I am still
trying hard not to pet the cats much and to ignore them as much as possible.
Max is getting more attention than the girls but then they are seeing more
of me as I am relaxing in the lounge with them and the television.
So far so good!
Since I have got up Max has cried and hung around the door. I have returned several times and lay on the bed and tried to encourage him to play. He had one spell when he played for quite a few minutes before returning to the window. I think some of his cries must be because of what he has seen through the window, probably birds. He is getting more and more interested in the ball in the track but as yet Max has made no attempt to play with it. This morning he lay on my bed for a while because I got the string to land on my bed. Its a long time since he has sat on my bed. There is probably a smell of Amber and Candy as they had started sleeping at the foot of the bed each night before this programme started..
Amber and Candy are a little more active but not a great deal. They have had quite a lot of pleasure from that paper carrier bag. Today Candy was lying inside and Amber was playing on top of the bag!! Amber has been gazing into the garden and Candy has cried at me once or twice. They are both sleeping again now. Neither of them have shown any interest in the scratching posts yet. It is probably going to be more difficult today as it looks as if it is going to be much warmer and I am sure this will make them all long to be outside all the more..
David has written and reminded me to keep cool especially in front of the cats. I have been doing pretty well at this although it is harder when Max is crying upstairs. None of the cats have cried at all when in the cages.
Well we are all surviving better than I expected at this point so I shall keep on trying!
8pm The cats have just had about an hour in their cages tonight. This is the first time Max has gone in without struggling with me. They were all finely rewarded with a little tuna and some raw mince. This afternoon I went to my room and couldn't see Max. I am not sure if he could have fallen off the window sill or whether he jumped down but he was in a very small space between my cupboard and the window. I don't think he could have got out by himself but he didn't look distressed either and he didn't mind me getting him out.. Anyway I got him out and put him on my bed. To my surprise he stayed there. I climbed on and lay down. Max had a really good wash and then went to sleep so we slept together! This is the first time Max has stayed on my bed for any length of time since the girls arrived, he must have been there for about 40 minutes. We have had a few spells of playing this afternoon and early evening. Max was more content watching me make the ball go round and the string move. He watched intently but didn't actually go after them. Perhaps he will want to do that when I am sleeping tonight! Max has been finding some of the treats I have been leaving round the room but he still isn't roaming very much.
Candy is still not impressed that she cant get out into the garden but
otherwise the girls seem happy enough.
The worst part of this programme is definitely those litter trays in my bedroom and lounge. I can't wait to be allowed to let the cats free and use the garden once more!!
8.30pm This morning I bought new handles for my bedroom door. I managed to put the new ones in without Max once trying to escape although the door was wide open most of the time.
Round 3pm Candy managed to escape through the high window which was only slightly open. She returned about 4.30, had something to eat and then tried to get out again. She was most put out when she realized that I had closed the window!
I have just had all the cats together in my bedroom. It was too heavy and difficult to move the cage upstairs daily so I am leaving it in my landing and will have to carry the cats up next time and then put them in. I have let them outside now as a treat.
When I went upstairs Max was asleep on my bed. He had moved there himself and stayed all afternoon. He went quite happily into the cage but looked rather worried when I brought the girls in. He watched but made no sound all the time they were there. He looked a little alarmed when I opened his cage. He began by watching the girls but then curled up slightly and fell asleep. Only his ear poked out of the open door!
The girls were quiet most of the time. They didn't hiss, growl or cry but made the occasional sound but I am not sure which one it was. When I came to move the cage Amber was lying down at the back but Candy was fidgeting and had started poking at the top of the cage.
As soon as I started to take the cage out of the room Max immediately left his cage. He had an open cage for one hour but never attempted to come out. I let the girls walk downstairs themselves and then let them outside. They have been in and out since and are thoroughly enjoying themselves. Max is back on the window ledge watching to see what is going on.
So far so good!!
Max spent a much longer part of the day on my bed today. He started off this morning. He is still not playing unless I am pulling the string for him. He enjoys his treats but hasn't done much hunting around to find anything I have left hidden for him. I have finished the raw mince so they are now getting tuna and some dried treats.
The girls seemed more unsettled being in the cage, or maybe that was my imagination. It is Candy who finds it most difficult. She cries from time to time and either watches Max like a hawk or me.
Max came out of his cage within 5 minutes of me opening the door.
I think he probably felt threatened by the way the girls were staring at
him. He moved very slowly and quietly and jumped on to the window
ledge positioning himself behind the curtain. I moved so I could
see him better. He moved a round slightly for a few minutes and then
stationed himself where most of him was behind the curtain but his head
was free allowing him a clear view of the girls. He would close his
eyes for a
minute or two and then open them and look at the girls. He also
looked if they made any noise or movement. After half an hour Candy
was poking the rest of the cage like yesterday. She seemed to be
looking to see if there was any way of escape.
I suppose I might have made it harder for the girls by letting them
outside most of the day. Candy and Amber lay under a bush most of
the day. It was getting very warm in my lounge and whenever I tried
to open the window just slightly Candy would go mad trying to get out.
However they had been locked in the lounge for 3 hours before I put them
in the cage and took them to the bedroom.
I should explain that today I had carpet fitted in the bedroom next door to Max and on the stairs. I kept checking on him. He had taken residence on my bed but under the duvet. Max obviously didn't like all the noise. I put him in his cage for a short while when the bedroom door needed to be opened. But when I let him out, the man was just collecting his things together, Max went straight back under the duvet. He felt very hot when I stroked him which is not surprising as it was warm again today. A few hours later he had moved to the top of the bed. He happily went to feed and then returned to the top of the bed.
Max didn't protest at going in his cage but he stayed put today. This time he turned his back on the girls. He did look round every now and again especially if the girls made a noise. The minute I took the girls out of the room he was straight out and up to his food for his treat of raw mince.
Candy was very restless again. I've just let her and Amber outside
but they were locked in the lounge all day before that.
I went to see Michael this morning. He, my vet, was going to show me how to give Amber a tablet. I already know what you have to do. Its doing it is the problem!! Anyway having seen how she reacted at being held he said no way. There was no point in him struggling as I still had to continue daily for 6 weeks. Michael was very concerned! I am delighted to say that Amber took her tablet crushed in tuna fish with no problems at all. Candy was more difficult as she didn't eat all her food but by the end of the day she had taken hers. Max, as I expected was no trouble! Lets hope this continues!
Back to the daily meeting! Max wouldn't leave his cage yet again
tonight. Candy was very restless quite a lot of the time. When
Candy cried or made any other noise Max would turn around and look otherwise
he just lay with his back to the girls. Somebody hissed for a while but
soon stopped. Looks like this stage is going to take a long time!
I left the cats longer tonight so they were in their cages for virtually
2 hours. Again I let Amber and Candy out in the garden afterwards.
When I took the girls up tonight Candy was extremely restless again. She kept trying to catch my eye and give me that pleading look to let her out. It is definitely Candy making all the fuss and noise. Amber is soon settling down. Candy eventually settles down but it takes a good while. She fell asleep until she heard me turning over on the bed and she then started washing herself.
I was interested to note that today I put the cage in the same place
I did on day two. Max's cage has its back to the window. To
the right of his cage is the way he gets up on to the window ledge.
I have been placing the girls so they face Max but the cage is a couple
of feet away from Max. On day 1, 3 and 4 I put Amber and Candy to
the right of Max. When I lie on my bed my pillow is at the right hand side
so I cant actually see into the cage unless I move my pillow to the bottom
of the bed. Today, like day 2, I put the cage to the left of Max.
I can see the girls although they are facing Max more than me. Max
as always
faced and watched the girls whilst his door was closed. After about
5 minutes following the door being opened Max moved out slowly, keeping
an eye on the girls, and jumped on to the window. He sat on the right
hand side behind the curtain but where the window was open. This
is where he sat on day 2. I couldn't see him for most of the time.
After an hour and 20 minutes, when I was answering the telephone, Max moved
to the other side of the window, his more usual position. For a minute
or two I could only see his back and then he turned around and looked at
me and then dozed.
A visitor came to see me after about another 10 minutes or so and as the girls were unsettled again I decided it was time to move them. They are now outside again. I left Max looking out the window. It was very warm in my bedroom again.
Today and yesterday, not long after we had started the session, the
man in the house behind me started working. He had a tractor type
machine and it made noises most of the time we were there but fortunately
the cats didn't seem to mind it.
I took the cats up and placed them in the same place as last night. Again after about 5 minutes Max came out. He sniffed the food which I had placed even closer to his cage and then went on the window. He didn't move quite as tentatively as last night. After about half an hour he moved confidently to the other side of the window. Later he had a good long wash before having a sleep followed by a look out of the window. Both girls were rather noisy after the first few minutes but then quietened down. Candy didn't do any poking of the cage tonight. They stayed locked up for two hours tonight.
Earlier this morning I let the girls out. Quite quickly Candy appeared with a dead shrew and then later she had a live on which she kept playing with. I do hate it when they do that. I eventually caught her and Amber and brought them back inside.
Since being let out of her cage tonight Amber has driven me mad.
She obviously wants something but its not what I have been offering.
She has been rubbing up against me like mad. She followed me to the
bathroom and then lay down to rest until she could follow me again. Even
this morning she seemed more interested in staying with me than following
Candy outside.
I don't think this heat helps as Max doesn't move round my room much
to start with. I wonder if it is worth trying this at a different
time of day. I think tomorrow I might try putting Amber and Candy
back at the side where Max was staying in his cage and see if there is
any difference this time.
Not much to report today. I put Amber and Candy's cage back where it was originally when Max used to stay in his cage. Today he moved out immediately I opened the door. He is obviously still very frightened of the girls. He went on to the window. After 25 minutes he moved to the other side of the window where he stayed. Once I had taken the girls out I went back to my room and Max was still on the window.
Amber and Candy were very quiet nearly all the time. After an hour and a half Candy started poking at the cage and then settled down again.
For the last two days I have had a fan on as it has been so warm. I made sure that Max had been aware of the fan working before he had to face the girls. he watches it but doesn't seem too worried.
My brother and his two young daughters arrive later tonight. I wonder if that will make any difference. I think they are staying until Thursday.
The tablet taking was much easier today. I have to use tuna to
get Amber to eat hers and ordinary tinned food for Candy!
Tonight was different again. I was much later at putting the cats together with having my visitors. When Max came out of the cage he went to the food as if to eat and then moved towards the door. My bed is between the door and the cages. Max was between my bed and the door when he decided to jump on my bed. He was very relaxed up there although he turned round and his ears were pricked up when there were any noises from the girls or outside. He ended up curled up at the bottom of my bed and was snoring towards the end. We stayed there for 1 3/4 hours tonight.
I shall try letting him out again tomorrow. I am going to be out most of the day with my visitors.
I wrote to Dr Sands asking various questions. He as agreed that
it is okay to try letting Max outside in the garden. I also wondered
about taking him in his cage to the lounge and letting him out there with
the girls locked up. I have been told its okay to try any variations
to try and get Max to get along with the others!
I took Max to the lounge tonight. He cried even when his cage
was shut. As soon as I opened the cage he ran out. He moved
around the room. He went to the door first and the moved behind
the settee to the window. He cried when he realized that he
couldn't get out. Max ended up sitting near the door until I took
him back upstairs after an hour. Amber and Candy were very quiet tonight.
Oh Jenny, my neighbour, returned home from her holiday this evening.
Well not only did Max eat the food I had put out for him but after trying the window he twice went over to the girls dishes and ate their dried food. He then took himself to my piano where he walked across the top which was difficult as it is full of framed photos. Max then jumped on to the settee and then up on to the table where after a short while he curled up and fell asleep. When he jumped from the piano Amber started crying. Its not often that she has made a noise. I wonder if she was put out that he had food when she wanted some. Anyway I feel that this was a good breakthrough so I intend taking the cats to my bedroom tonight and this time to let Amber and Candy free for a while with Max locked in his cage.
9.20pm I have just had the second session. I put
some food outside the cage for Amber and Candy and gave Max some raw mince
through his cage. When I opened the door Candy came right out and
started eating. The cages were close together again. Amber was slow
to come out. She got to the door and cried and went back inside.
Then a few minutes later she tried
again. She moved very tentatively everywhere she went. Candy
went near Max's cage twice and hissed at him. She then went to the other
side of my bed and washed and lay down for a few minutes. She eventually
ended up on top of her cage. Amber cried a little when near Max.
I thought the cry sounded a little more like a warning than the pitiful
cry they all use when they want to go outside. Amber eventually lay down
the other side of my bed. We stayed upstairs for about an hour.
Max was
quiet the whole time but stayed near the door of the cage watching
carefully.
I thought I would try twice a day meetings for a while now especially
as I am at home all day and I have more visitors arriving on Monday.
I am feeling happier and believe that today has been a definite step forward.
I put the cage in a slightly different place and remembered to bring a scratching post with me. I brought the one with the platform on top as they do sit on it, although Amber and Candy still wont scratch on a post for me.
I again gave Max some raw mince in his cage and put some tuna outside the girls cage. This time when I opened the door Amber got to the food first and Candy wandered for a while. Candy had a few rests in various places, the platform, behind my bed, on top of her cage, on my bed and finally stopped on the platform. She did give one slight hiss at Max when she was wandering and was about a foot or more from him.
Amber had a wander she lay for quite a while behind my bed. I then lay down and rested my head on the pillow, I'd been reading sat up on the bed before then. Round the time I lay down Max started to cry in the same way he does at the window when he wants to be let out. Amber seemed to appear on my bed round that time. She moved slowly and lay staring down at him. Candy was also watching him at this point. After half an hour of freedom both cats lay down to sleep.
I can't remember at what point Amber cried. She cried at Max and hissed at him, it was a warning sort of cry. I think it was when she was on my bed and followed Max crying but I am not sure. Max seemed to move slightly further back in his cage. As soon as the girls were moved out of the room Max went straight to finish off any food which they had left. He also scratched on the carpet area beneath their scratching post just before I removed it.
10pm Tonight I decided to let them all three cats out together. Max had been getting more and more upset about being locked in. Earlier today he had pulled up the carpet in my bedroom. But I had felt it wasn't fair to let all three cats outside together in case they met.
Well I opened Max's door first. He came straight out to eat the raw mince I had put out. Well he did but soon went back into his cage when he realized that I had let the girls out too. Amber started eating straight away and Candy went to the platform on the scratching post where she stayed all evening, washing and sleeping.
Amber jumped onto my bed when she had finished eating. Max had by now returned to his food. He made noises warning the girls as he ate for quite a while but stayed until he had eaten everything. Max then went to look at the girls cage. He sniffed round and put his head inside. The girls watched closely and I don't think they were very happy that he was looking in their cage. Max by then remembered that Candy was just above him and slunk up to the window ledge. When he jumped up Amber came to the edge of the bed and hissed at him. Then they all stayed put and washed and slept.
Once we had done an hour I opened the door and took out the girls cage. I went to the bathroom and Candy moved out very quickly. Amber followed soon after and looked around a little. When I went back in my room Max had come down and was polishing off what food the girls had left.
I came straight downstairs to write this. The door was still left open. I had written the first paragraph when I heard a noise. I think Max must have been on his way downstairs and been frightened by the girls who followed him upstairs. He went on the window of my spare bedroom. I came up and the girls were following him in. He must have got frightened cos he went under the bed. I stayed there until the girls eventually came downstairs again.
The girls have disappeared again! ..I have just found them lying
in the landing which I suppose is their way of daring Max to come out of
the bedroom. I think he must still be under the bed. Actually
Candy has just come down and left Amber there.
I fed him and let him settle in his room before bringing the girls upstairs. Once they were let out Max moved as if he was going to jump on the window. Instead he came to me and jumped on the bed where he sat down. The girls came out and started to feed. Amber came to jump on the bed and Max hissed at her. Soon after both cats jumped on the bed and went for Max. They didn't get him as he jumped off. I said "No!" to them and then put them back in their cages.
The cats are now locked in their rooms and feeding. I am left feeling tired and not too chuffed. I suppose I was too keen to move on with having my visitors on Monday. I have also found fleas crawling on Candy which explains why I am covered in bites. I shall have to buy some flea stuff today. All the cats have had Program injections and this is the first time I have seen fleas on one my cats although I know that Program doesn't actually kill the fleas.
Well it looks as if I shall have to put up with litter trays and also being very careful every time I open or close a door for a while to come!
6.30pm I put the cats in my room again tonight and let Max out after almost 15 minutes. The girls were very vocal when they saw he intended coming out, especially Amber. Max retreated back into his cage, further back than normal, and after about 10 minutes he moved very slowly past the girls cage and then dashed for the window. He started off at the side with the open window and then about 10 minutes later he moved to the other side where he went to sleep.
Amber was definitely the more vocal tonight although Candy had a few spells too. One of the cats started poking their paws through the cage about half way through and then everyone went quiet.
I kept the girls locked up for an hour before letting them downstairs.
Everything was very quiet when I left the cage in my bedroom. Max sat and watched for a few minutes when I opened his cage door. He again came out of the cage very slowly past the girls and up on to the window. He stayed there moving to the other side of the window about half way through the session. Amber and Candy were very quiet today.
I put my book down and fell asleep for part of the time too!
6pm Tonight everything went just the same as this morning.
All were very quiet and Max, although relaxed before I opened his cage,
moved very slowly to the window where he stayed for the hour. He
was quite relaxed up there.
Candy was first to the door the minute I opened it for her to get out, just as she is when leaving her cage to go downstairs. Amber needed a nudge to get up and move, just as she does when leaving the cage at the end of a session!!
10pm My friend Pat and her two children, James 3 and Joanne 5 arrived at lunchtime. They are noisier than my nieces which has been a shock to the cats but they all seem to have coped okay.
When I opened the cats doors, together, Max thought about coming out
and eating the tuna that I had left by his door but got worried by Amber.
Candy came straight out. She jumped on my bed and then on to the
platform. Amber started eating the tuna and biscuits by her door
whilst making warning noises at Max. Max eventually got up the courage
to come
out and eat. He must have been hungry as he licked the dish clean
and even looked at Amber's dish when she left it but decided it was too
risky, well Candy was sat above it on the platform! Max looked around
and then turned around carefully and went to his favourite spot on the
window. Once Amber had eaten she came on to the bed. Candy
didn't seem interested in the tuna but ate well once back in the lounge.
I needed the bathroom towards the end so Pat came and watched the cats for me. When I opened the door to come back in Candy tried to escape. As you can imagine she didn't need much encouragement to leave when the time really was up. Again I had to nudge Amber to get her to move!!
Amber and Candy were rather distracted by the slight noise outside although
the children were very quiet at this point. Amber sat looking towards
the door with her ears pricked up for much of the time. But I was
pleased to find the session was quiet and calm. Lets hope it is the
same tomorrow morning, especially as the children are sure to be up and
playing by then!
When I opened the doors Max made a quick dash for the window where he stayed. Candy jumped on my bed and then on to the platform where she spent most of her time. Towards the end she wandered and jumped on her cage. Max thought she was going to him so he growled at her. She settled and watched him and then returned to her platform.
Amber went straight for the food. She stayed and finished most of it. Candy had a nibble just before jumping on the platform the last time. Amber had lots of wanders round the room. I thought she was going to eat Max's tuna which worried me as I had left his tablet there!! She had a nosey in Max's cage and ..well everywhere!!! Amber ended up on the bed. She tucked herself in behind my back where she stayed until I took her out!!
Actually after about 40 minutes Max moved from behind the curtain and instead of going to the other side he stayed in the middle. This was where he growled at Candy.
I was a little concerned that Amber and Candy were coming so close to me. Candy had touched my face last night and came close again this morning. I wonder if I should be doing something to avoid this? Will it be bothering Max? I have still to decide how to play tonight's session. Maybe I shall move the cages so that it would be easier for Max to jump on the bed if he wanted to.
10pm Tonight I swopped the cages round. I put Amber and Candy's under the window and then Max's cage went where the girls were yesterday. I let them all out at the same time. Max started to eat immediately but then realized that he had his back to the others. He walked by the bed, looked up at me and then went to his usual spot on the window!!
Amber ate all her food, had a good sniff at Max's cage and then ate most of his food too. She ended up on my bed where she stayed at the foot of the bed facing Max. Eventually she fell asleep.
Candy came out straight away. She moved around and then landed on the platform. The scratching post had been moved nearer to her cage and was also very close to the window. Candy lay down with her back to the window. After 35 minutes she started to wander. She sniffed at the food, came on my bed, jumped off the other side and washed. On return she jumped on Max's cage and then on to her platform. She made quite a noise doing it. After a few minutes she jumped up on the window, opposite end to Max. Max growled or made some sort of warning noise. Candy looked out the window and watched Max and then returned to the platform.
Amber and Candy made no noise at Max tonight. Now I am considering making them all meet in the lounge, after bringing down Max's litter tray and scratching post. One of the problems is when to try it as the children are rather noisy and I don't want to frighten Max or the others. Maybe I should wait until Thursday and try once I have the house to myself again.
I shall probably let the cats outside again sometime tomorrow. One of
the problems is that Max although returning doesn't come inside unless
I happen to go out looking for him or he spots me. He likes to know
that I am there to protect him. (Well I presume that is what he is doing)
Also he was getting wary before knowing that when he did come in I would
lock him in again. I don't want him to go out at night as he doesn't
return even when it rains. In the day time I have more chance of
noticing him hanging around the garden.
As I opened the doors Max jumped on my bed, before I had got there, and landed on the carpet at the other side. He lay there quietly for ages looking very relaxed. (He had his back legs in lying position but was holding his front end in a more upright position which I took as being relaxed.) Amber did her usual, food first!! Candy moved on to the platform. Amber eventually came on to my bed - the pillow end.
After about 20 minutes Max decided to move. He appeared to want
to come on the bed. (He could have jumped on his cage but may have thought
that would take him too near to Candy.) I moved to make space for
him. He looked at Candy who was watching him closely and decided
against it. Then he moved to the other end of the bed and it was a while
before he
seemed to realise that Amber was there. He moved back to the
foot of the bed. At this point I decided to encourage him.
I talked to him and patted the bed. He came up beside me and immediately
the others went for him. I think Max was heading for the window which
is where he ended up just before I took the girls out.
The problem seems to arise if Amber and Candy get jealous. They want my attention. They dislike it when they see me putting food out for Max outside his cage, talk to him or stroke him.
The cats are staying in for the day as that is the advice for the eclipse. I am off out with my friends!
9.30pm I knew as soon as I had reacted to Max this morning that I shouldn't have done so!! ( I wrote to Dr Sands and he reminded me that I was supposed to be an observer and not Max's protector!)
Well tonight I put the cats together at 8pm. Max immediately came out of his cage and on to my bed. He went to the bottom of the bed to the corner which was nearest the door and furthest away from the others. At this point I was lying against the pillow reading.
Amber and Candy came out straight away and ate. Candy ended up
eating from Max's dish. She had a good sniff around. I cant
remember what she did next! I know that at one stage I decided to
change my clothes and soon afterwards Candy jumped on my bed. I was
there by the time she came on. Max turned his head and meowed at Candy
because she sniffed at
him so Candy hissed back. Then they both lay quietly. Candy
was about a foot away from Max when they had settled. Oh I have just
remembered! Candy jumped on Max's cage, so very close to Max, and after
a while jumped to the platform and then on to the window and was looking
out the window when I started to get changed.
Now what did Amber do? She spent a long time nibbling and sniffing. Eventually she ended up on the window. So Max and Candy were on the bed and Amber on the window. Amber decided to come and join in. She climbed over all sorts of things to get to my bed, not the route taken by the others!! She was meowing and trying to get down beside me so I moved so my head was down near the foot of the bed and my feet near the pillow. Amber settled down on to the bed so then we ended up with the cats looking as if they were queuing for a bus! Amber was also about a foot from Candy!!
After they had all been out for about 50 minutes Max decided to move.
Maybe he was thinking of going to the window. Anyway the minute he jumped
off the bed, and was stuck at the bottom of the bed behind his cage, Amber
started to take notice. She jumped down so she was at the front of Max's
cage. She was trying hard to see what he was doing. I
couldn't see Max but think they must have been looking at each other
over the cage. Amber even took the opportunity to nibble at his food
again! Eventually she moved on to the platform to watch Max. Meanwhile
I moved back to my pillows to give me a better view and also because it
was more comfortable!!
The session ended with Max on the floor, Candy on the bed and Amber on the platform. I lifted Candy and Amber to the door. Max then went straight to what treats were left!
I reckon that we have now completed 3 weeks on this programme so far!!
I sat on the settee with the cats either side of me.
Max was out first and immediately went round the back of the settee to the window and meowed. After a while he came back to the settee where he jumped on the back and lay down. He stayed there for almost half an hour.
Candy moved to sniff Max's treat and his cage and then moved behind the settee and up on to the box she likes which is at about the same height as the back of the settee. She was already in place before Max settled down. She lay down and went to sleep and stayed in the same spot the whole session.
Amber ..Can you guess? Yes she ate!! She nibbled from her dish and Max's too. She then had a little wander and went behind the settee. She sat looking at Max for a few minutes and then jumped on to one of the dining table chairs, one of her favourite sleeping places. She watched Max for a short while and then slept. She didn't move again until I took Max out.
Max was restless after about half an hour. He took himself to the door where he cried and cried. Then he took himself to the window where he cried and cried. He stayed quiet for a while and then cried and cried again. At this point he had been in the room for just about an hour. He then started moving slowly, quietly and carefully. He was sniffing everything and ended up eating out of all the dishes, finishing with his own. He moved into his cage. I am not sure what he was doing but he cried again. He came out and cried bitterly yet again at the door where I decided that after about an hour and 1o minutes that he had had enough. I carried him out and then let him out into the garden. I don't suppose he will be back for ages now.
I was quite surprised at how little notice Amber and Candy took of him. They watched him less than they would when in the bedroom. I thought they would have watched more with this being 'their' room.
Max went out as soon as I got up this morning and I saw him outside after about an hour and a half and when he came to the door I opened it and encouraged him to come in. I fed Max and took him upstairs, it took him ages to come through the door though. He hasn't used the cat flap today at all!
Candy and Amber had about an hour and half outside this morning straight after Max had come in.
Candy is where she was on the box but I have noticed that Amber is now
curled up asleep on the settee exactly where I was sitting!!
It was round 10.30 when I next saw him. He was on the path in the back garden. I called him and went back inside the kitchen. When I next looked out he was approaching the door so I left it open. It didn't take very many minutes before he came in and he wasn't worried about the door being shut. Again I gave him the run of the house. I ended up taking his food up to my bedroom. Max was asleep on my bed when I collected him for a session.
I allowed Amber and Candy outside, through the window, when Max had returned. It kept raining so they didn't spend long outside. They spent much of their time on the armchair near the open window.
It was round 11.45 when I collected the cats together. I decided to
have another go in the lounge, its much easier there in terms of carrying
heavy cages! When I opened the cage Max moved like lightning!
He went round the back of the cage where he stayed for a good while.
Candy tried sitting on top of her cage and then returned to her favourite
box. Amber ate! I was sat in the armchair to start with but couldn't
see very clearly what Max was doing. Just before I moved Amber came
between
my chair and the settee with her mouth full of tuna. It would
seem she was nervous eating it with Max watching her.
I moved on to the settee. After about half an hour Max went to
the door and cried bitterly. I don't think Amber liked this.
She came round the back of the settee and when Max started walking slowly
and carefully back to the central part of the room she ran at him.
Should I have acted? Well I followed my instinct and moved forward
with my book in my hand and said No! Amber then moved to sit on a paper
bag on the floor and Max stayed put. I wasn't sure whether
I should really have stopped at this point. I waited a while and
then moved a dish of treats in front of both Amber and Max. They
both ignored them. After
about 10 minutes Amber walked to a dining table chair and went
to sleep on it. After quite a while Max ate most of the tuna in front
of him. He then crept forward, looked right inside his cage and then came
out. He then chose to settle on the floor beside the computer. He
gave a short cry there and then settled. When all had been in the
room for about an hour I took Max upstairs. He was frightened to start
with and ran under the double bed. I started putting pictures on
my wall and he came out and went to sleep on my bed next door.
10.30pm I received some answers tonight to questions I
had sent to Dr Sands. I knew I shouldn't have reacted this morning
with Max! Apparently I am just adding to the feeling of anxiety.
It has been suggested that I try a 'sound and reward' system. I need
to work at this for a week before the cats will understand. I have
to ring a bell, or something similar, and then give
the cats a treat. Once the cats are used to this reward I can
use the bell system to distract the cats from behaviour I don't want, like
fighting, without passing on my anxieties. Also trying to coax Max
inside is another way I am passing on my anxieties.
Tonight I put the cats together. Max ran to the door but didn't
cry this time. Candy went on her box. Amber ate and then sat
on the platform where she sat watching Max. Once Amber started washing
herself Max crept back in front of his cage and started eating. He
had finished eating when Amber went behind the settee from her side and
Max went behind the settee on his side. I couldn't see the cats.
After a couple of minutes I heard a noise and there was movement.
I don't know whether
Amber actually hurt Max or whether she just chased him. The result
was Max went behind the armchair which hasn't been mentioned so far.
Amber watched him for a while and then returned to her dining table chair.
She stopped there for a while and then came on the settee behind me so
I moved to the other armchair. Amber stopped on the arm of the settee
watching the spot where Max had gone although she wont have been able
to see him.
It took a while for me to get Max out once I decided the session had
finished. In the end the only way to get him out was to open the
lounge door, I was then between him and the other cats so he was safe.
I found some sleighbells and decided to use them. Max was frightened at first but maybe hunger took over! I rang them by him and by Candy and then gave them a dried treat. After the first couple of times Max stayed put whilst I rang. I returned to the kitchen and my washing up in between each attempt to ring the bells and give the reward. On the last return to the washing up Max appeared inside. He actually came in after the food and ignored Candy. Well she shouldn't have been a threat as she has ignored him on most of our sessions. I had held the door open with my bin so I removed it and closed the door. Max carried on eating and did try the cat flap but by that time I had put the lock on it. I have left him eating now. I really feel as if that has been a big milestone crossed. I wonder how long it will be before he will use the cat flap to come in on his own. I am keeping the lounge door shut even when leaving the window open for the girls, well for now at least.
1.15pm Just finished a session. Max went straight to the door and cried. Amber ate and then went to Max's dish and then decided to lie in front of her cage. Candy sniffed her food, not the treat food, and then went to sit on the table. Later she moved to my armchair near the window. She had checked that the window was closed first.
I moved to the computer for a minute. Amber immediately came over to me and rubbed against my feet. I moved away and she went under the piano where she spent a long time crying at Max, warning sort of cry. Max was just a foot or tow from her. Amber eventually gave up and went to sleep on the dining table chair where she stayed for the rest of the session.
Max eventually moved. He ate the tuna off his dish, leaving the
raw mince and then ate the rest of the tuna off the dish for Amber and
Candy. He sniffed their cage and then had a wander. He moved
to the window passing right in front of Candy. He even stopped to look
at her on his return. Amber was still asleep on the chair behind
the armchair and didn't look up at all. Max rested in the middle
of the room and played with a toy mouse for a few seconds. He walked
behind the other armchair where I thought he was going to stop. Then
he cried very bitterly by the lounge door. He moved back to his cage,
cried and then appeared to be either kneading at my cardigan or rubbing
against the toy mouse in his cage. I then let him outside as the
cats had had over an hour together. I had the bells and treats beside
me but didn't need to use them. (I had shown Amber before the session
that the bells brought treats!)
This morning and tonight Amber saw Candy eat so went and ate from Max's dish and so was very very close to him. Max didn't make a sound. (Amber ate her own food tonight before starting on Max's)
Max eventually came out and cried by the door. Tonight he went to the window and so was again very close to Amber who was asleep on the dining table chair. He went to Amber and Candy's ordinary food and ate what dried food was left and sampled some of the other food too. Max had another spell in his cage where I could only see his tail. He cried there too. At this point Amber heard him. He went back to the door and she sneaked behind the settee and positioned herself under the piano where she cried at him. I was convinced that she was going to jump on him but after a while she changed her mind and sat on her cage. She then got distracted by a daddy long legs. I let Max out soon after that.
Max still refuses to come in by the cat flap although he will sometimes leave the house that way. This evening he came to the open window in the lounge and nearly jumped in that way, I was sat on the armchair beside the window reading. Amber was sleeping on the chair behind me. Max changed his mind so I went and opened the back door for him. I waited to see if he would use the flap but he just sat there!
This afternoon Max went to my neighbour and slipped in the house as she hung out her clothes. He went back out with her only to slip in again when she wasn't looking. She put him out and closed the window. Apparently he had appeared earlier so she went back to bed so that she couldn't see or hear him crying to get in. I know how she felt!!
It is slow progress but I feel as if we are getting there although Max
is still very frightened.
Max took ages to come out of his cage. Candy decided to sit on top of
her cage and look down at him. Max eventually came out and had a
wander. I cant remember what time/order everything happened as I
was trying to chat with my friends online. Max ate some of the dried
food in the girls main dishes. Candy was in the armchair asleep and ignored
him. Amber moved in front of the armchair and watched closely before
she crept behind the settee and then sat on it. Max went behind the
armchair and then came out again. He played with a toy mouse
after sniffing the girls litter tray and then finally ended up by the settee
and walked right under where Amber sat. Amber decided to go for him
so Max ran and hid behind the armchair. I let Max out soon after
this.
Amber was longer coming out than usual. She grabbed a piece of tuna and dashed with it to the side of the room. She then polished off the contents of her and Candy's dishes. Next she sniffed at Max's food. I think she ate a little. She looked at Max and I think he growled at her. She then moved behind the settee and jumped up close to me. I thought she was going to stay by me but she moved off and settled down on the arm of the settee away from me.
Max took a very long time coming out. He ate the contents of his
dish with Amber watching him closely. He moved to the centre of the
room and looked around and then hid behind his usual armchair. He
stayed there for ages. He did come and cry a little. Then he moved
to his cage. I could see his back end but couldn't see what he was
doing. Soon there was a crunching as he had obviously found the dried treats
which had been in his cage from the days when he stayed in my bedroom.
After
just after an hour I took him out. Everything seemed very calm
tonight.
Max was out a long time today as he didn't eat before leaving early
this morning despite me offering him food. The decorator came and
I was out all morning. It was 8.30pm before Max finally appeared although
I had been looking out for him every half an hour or so.
Big news!! Tonight, after my swim and after the girls were locked
in the lounge, MAX CAME THROUGH THE CAT FLAP!! I had been upstairs
following my swim and then went to the kitchen to get my drink and in he
came!! I had looked outside to see if I could see him a couple of
times before going up to get changed. I hope he continues with this.
It was
pouring outside and he was very wet but he has been out in the wet
before and not come in.
Tonight the girls must have been very hungry, I have cut down on all the cats food to try and get them to take their tablets in their food. Candy ate her own treat and then leapt over Amber to get at Max's dish. She completely polished that dish too.
At present when I see Max hanging around the house I lock the others in the lounge as Max wont come near if they are around. Max has the run of the house when he is inside which means the girls are locked up then, which includes all night. Once Max has been out a while I then let the girls have the run of the house and they are now using the cat flap, for ages I was letting them out through the window so they couldn't get upstairs and upset Max. I don't know how to get Max inside if I don't lock the girls up.
Tonight Max was obviously very hungry as he hadn't eaten his breakfast.
I didn't have time to wait while he decided he would come inside.
He came in and sniffed the door and dish. He then ran out again,
Candy had got to Max's food earlier and nibbled a little of it before I
lifted it. He came back in when he saw me add some food to the dish.
Tonight Max came out after the other two had eaten and moved. I hadn't realized that Amber was behind me until she raced across the settee crying at Max. I thought she might have jumped at Max but she didn't. She stayed on the settee. Max jumped and moved back. They stayed looking at each other for ages and Amber kept crying in a warning manner. Max eventually hid behind the armchair. After a long while he came out to cry and cry at the door. At one point he attempted to come near the food again but got frightened by Amber watching him so he went back behind the door again.
It is getting harder to move away from the girls. It seems to be a regular feature now of Candy's to try and sit on my knee and yet it is extremely rare at any other point. When I move from her Amber usually comes after me!
Max hasn't made any attempt to come through the cat flap on his own again. I don't see him until late at night from the point he goes out in the morning. I suppose this is partly due to the other cats spending long times out of doors with the weather being nice.
Max seems to be spending much more time in his cage than he did before. For the last few nights he has made no attempt to eat his treat until the other two have eaten theirs and moved. I have started putting mince out again for him as the others wont eat that and Max seems to love it. I either give them all tuna or a little ham. Max eats everything so he still has a taste of what the others are eating with his mince.
I need some more bells as I don't always remember to have them at hand.
I need to use them more with Max but he isn't around much for them. Amber
positively lights up when she hears them and comes to look for the treat.
On the whole Max is staying in his cage. He hisses and sometimes
growls as I put him in his cage. In fact I think it is only Amber
whole likes going in and that is because of the food she gets when she
comes out! Most nights are very quiet. Max comes out to eat
and sometimes slinks and hides behind the armchair but he has stopped crying
to get out now. Amber occasionally decides to run at Max. I
haven't been able to work out if there is a pattern or anything which sparks
that reaction. Max just cowers away from her. As far as I can
tell Amber is not making any attempt to actually touch Max she just moves
quickly and sometimes hisses at him. My next door neighbour has seen
one of the girls chase Max, well run at him and he always runs off.
I am much happier about the sessions together although Max is still very frightened. He is coming out to eat and sometimes leaving the cage to hide behind the armchair, from there he goes to the door once in a while just to check that it is closed. Last night was the first time in a few days in which Amber went for him. He has returned to eating at the same time as the girls, he had got so that he waited for about 30 minutes before venturing out to the dish beside his cage. Last night he ate some of his food and then decided to move. At that point Amber was still eating. She ran at him, made a noise and put her paw out but as usual didn't touch him. Max retreated into his cage and Amber returned to her food. They had chicken for their treat last night. I wonder if that made a difference or perhaps she thought he was going to eat from her dish.
A couple of nights ago I was very excited because Max came through the cat flap and I wasn't in the kitchen at the time!! At that point the girls had been locked up in the lounge for about an hour. Last night he waited for me to open the door. It was dark and I don't know if he had been around for long.
I am at last feeling really confident that a truce will eventually be
brought about. I hate to think that I might still be doing this in
a few months time!
Yesterday I decided that I would try leaving the cats loose at night as the sessions together seem to have reached a stale mate now.
Max took quite a while before he would actually come in. He was
hanging around when I got home at 8. I had quickly locked Amber in
the lounge but Candy came down the stairs just as he was about to come
in so he wandered off again. After about half an hour or perhaps
a little longer Max cried to be let out but I was on the computer so ignored
him for a while. Just as I was intending to open the door Max came
back into the centre of the room and ate what was left in the girls dishes,
near where
Candy slept, and then finished his own food which was very close to
Amber. I was surprised to see him so relaxed after his cries a few
minutes earlier. When he had finished eating he started crying again.
Once the session had finished I left the lounge door open. Amber and Candy did go upstairs after Max but nothing appeared to happen. I went to bed and Candy and Amber came and slept the night on my bed. Max was asleep in the spare bedroom as usual. I was interested that he was in his usual place on the bed and that he hadn't tried to hide.
This morning was a little more touch and go. I fed the girls first
in the lounge so they followed me through and ate. Max ate in the
kitchen. That is all the norm these days too. Candy came through.
Max wasn't sure but carried on eating keeping an eye on her. Candy did
her norm and sat by the cat flap. When I returned to the kitchen
Candy was still by the door and Max was sat watching her. He didn't
know how to get out. In the end I opened the door, Candy would rather use
the door than the
flap. She did go out. Max was anxious but when he felt she had
moved far enough he went out rather quickly. Amber had come out to
watch but she doesn't often go outside early in the morning so she stayed
put.
So a night together and no fights or problems. I shall try and build on this now.
I feel like this is the breakthrough I have been waiting for!!
Programme and advice is from Dr David Sands PhD. The programme
is from The Animal Behavioural Clinic
148 Blackburn Road
Heapey
Chorley
Lancs.
PR6 8EL