Hello Fellow Savannites

[Carykd7kau]

Great news Cary! She is falling for your charms. This is a good time to see if she'll take a chicken treat from the palm of your hand.

That is my plan tomorrow. I tried that Sunday and she was just not ready. Ate it when I put it down. But she is much more at ease with me now. We shall see...

 

[WitchyWoman]

If she won't eat it out of your hand, don't give it to her at all. She'll soon learn that certain behaviors are rewarded. You never want to reward for an unwanted behavior. Right now, ignoring you or feeling unsure around you is an unwanted behavior. No lovey daddy, no getty kitty crack.

 

[Carykd7kau]

OK. I will try. I am too much of a softie but ... Grrr I will be tough. ( Yeah right...) I know. Reward and denial. Gonna be a new thing for me. Kilifi responds to a simple "No No" She is such a good girl. Zidi will be too, when she learns I am not an enemy.

 

[WitchyWoman]

Think of it in terms of what is best for Azidi. The more disciplined you can be in modifying her behavior, the more confident and balanced she will be. The time to be a softie is after she is fully integrated into the household. You're doing a good job, just need to step up the game an eensy teensy bit.

 

[Patti]

Wonderful to hear she is continuing to make baby steps. It's really good that you resist trying to pet her when she sniffs you, I know how hard that is! But also agree with Deborah - don't reward her for unwanted behavior. Now is the time for her to learn that if she wants more treats she has to eat them out of your hand - good luck!!

 

[Carykd7kau]

Azidi was not up to her previous curiousity tonight, so I did not try the eating from the hand thing. I did try Catnip... Let's just say she is rather fond of it. AS is Miss Kilifi. Now they are both smiling, and lying in the window sills watching the birds.
Azidi is getting less skittish when I come into the room. And she was rolling and showing her belly about 3 feet away from me. So I think she is feelng a bit more secure here. I am seeing some developing trust. I do NOT want to betray that trust. She wants to be friends but there is that subconscious fear of people that she must overcome. Keeping on keeping on. Confidence is high.

 

[Patti]

Rolling on her back and showing her belly is definitely a show of trust and a very good sign! Of course, the catnip may have had a role in her behavior... But still, baby steps are baby steps, as long as they're going in the right direction, doesn't much matter how they get there...

 

[Carykd7kau]

This morning before I left for work, I put down Zidi's bowl of food and when I opened the door to leave, my little turkey darted in again. I was quick enough to grab the first available handle ( her tail ) and was able to keep her from going under the bed. She was hissing the whole time. I fussed at her and put her out and closed the door and Zidi slinked out from under the bed and went into her cat carrier. ( Her safe place ) I talked to her a bit and she settled down. That Kilifi. She is showing a side I have not seen nor do I particulaly care for. She was laid back before with Merlin. Now she is exhibiting real Alpha tendancies. Azidi does not need to be bullied. I guess I need to get out the water bottle for Kiki.
SIGH...

 

[WitchyWoman]

Cary have you exchanged bedding & toys between the two? If not, you should do so and maybe that will move along the two of them getting used to each other's smell. Then in a few days after the exchange of beds & toys, you can also try feeding them with their dishes right next to the closed door.

Is Kilifi spayed?

 

[Carykd7kau]

Never thought of that. I will do that. Although there is really no bedding. Kilifi sleeps on me, or my rocking chair. Azidi on the floor under the bed in her room.
Toys on the other hand... YES! Ther's a bunch of them.
Yes Kilifi is spayed. Both are.