He follows me around during barn chores, or more accurately, leads me on my barn chores. He stays just a few kitty-steps ahead of me and close enough that I could actually punt him if I were to be so inclined.
Meowing for some milk when I'm in the barn. Rolling around on the ground, looking like he wants to be petted, but just out of reach. And when I reach down he zips away.
About two weeks ago I was able to do a "drive-by" petting. Once I get my hand on his back, he's all like, "Oh scratch me, no....don't, but oh, please scratch a little more", but I have to do it all stealth-like. I can't reach my hand up to his head, but instead have to make my petting move by ambush, reaching from behind and scratching.
Until a few days ago. He's been letting me get all touchy feely with him now when he's eating. But only when he's eating. If he's not on the table where his food is, petting is out of the question again.
I've been trying to pick him up, but he's not going for it yet. I'm hoping to eventually gain his trust enough that I can get him in a cat carrier (and probably lose that trust again) in order to get him fixed. Because I'm thinking kitty condoms are out of the question and goodness knows we don't need any more pregnant cats around the neighborhood.
What a beautiful cat he is!
ReplyDeletePatience and persistence and a few good meals!
ReplyDelete"Slow and easy wins the race." Good goin', Kitty Mojo Mama!
ReplyDeleteOr is it "slow and STEADY wins the race"? (Geesh, I'm not up for any hard questions this morning.)
ReplyDeleteHe sounds like my OnceSlimmie. Stealth-petting only, although he head-butts me like nobody's business. Not to worry, he'll have you trained in no time... :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! That's major progress. I love the concept of the "drive by" pet - that technique worked for Princess, my latest rescue. Only once she got a taste of it, all she wanted was more. She now sleeps under the covers with me and demands to be in my lap all day.
ReplyDeleteDrive-by petting. :)
ReplyDeleteWe have one like that too.
Does your outside kitty go after the chicks? I wonder how you train barns cats to leave the foul alone?
ReplyDeleteThat's pretty funny! I had a "Porch Kitty" once, at the time I was working at the vet hospital still so I took him in and neutered him and then didn't see him for months... I then moved to San Diego for a year while renting my house out, came back a year later and Porch Kitty came back LOL so there is hope!
ReplyDeleteDrive by petting used to get me in a lot of trouble once upon a time. Looks like he is coming around though.
ReplyDeleteCute boy, try some catnip!
ReplyDeleteOur Barn Kitty will sit on the front porch and meow and let me talk to him through the window but if one of us approaches the front door, off he goes. You are doing GREAT with your kitty, send me some of that Mojo!
ReplyDelete