Pets

Siwsan

(27,300 posts) Thu Oct 6, 2022, 06:25 AM Oct 2022

I think I'm developing a communication skill with the ferals [View all]

Spooky has always been VERY aggressive, in the morning, hissing and spitting at everything that moves. For the past two days I gave her a stern lecture about being so mean. She'd back way off and wait for me to put down her bowl while giving me a death glare.

This morning, instead of hissing and spitting, she MEOWED at me. Not an aggressive meow. Just a 'please may I have my food' type meow. And when I started to put the bowl down she didn't back off. She just sat down, gave me another meow, and then started to eat.

I always give her a little extra wet food as a repayment for all of her beautiful kittens.

I've also notice if I use a very moderate tone of voice and say 'you're ok' to them when they start to get nervous and run, they seem to calm down.

49 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

I think I'm developing a communication skill with the ferals [View all] Siwsan Oct 2022 OP

I would PM you, but I don't know how :( I have been feeding a feral and would like patricia92243 Oct 2022 #1

I've actually been wondering the same thing Siwsan Oct 2022 #2

Crush the pill, mix it into some of the food. In my house, I'd also add the ever irresistible Karadeniz Oct 2022 #12

This message was self-deleted by its author Karadeniz Oct 2022 #13

When I have to give my cat medicine, wnylib Oct 2022 #15

Good morn, Siwsan... MiHale Oct 2022 #3

Progress! calimary Oct 2022 #4

Will do! Reinforcements arrive on Sunday Siwsan Oct 2022 #6

You're becoming a cat whisperer! MyMission Oct 2022 #5

Does Spooky live in the house with you? JohnnyRingo Oct 2022 #7

Spooky is totally feral Siwsan Oct 2022 #9

I wouldn't try moving an adult into the house JohnnyRingo Oct 2022 #14

+1 2naSalit Oct 2022 #21

Yea, the odds of socializing an adult feral to be an indoor cat are probably slim to none Siwsan Oct 2022 #25

I've forgotten which one is the matriarch of this feral clan. wnylib Oct 2022 #18

What a sweet, sweet baby. niyad Oct 2022 #20

Use the eye blink Roy Rolling Oct 2022 #8

"Use the eye blink" BumRushDaShow Oct 2022 #11

I do, with all of my fur babies Siwsan Oct 2022 #26

I try to do that to them BumRushDaShow Oct 2022 #34

Great suggestion! 2naSalit Oct 2022 #22

Yay! My wife & I love your kitty updates. CaptainTruth Oct 2022 #10

My husband could mimic Marthe48 Oct 2022 #16

I use that... 2naSalit Oct 2022 #24

You are so kind Marthe48 Oct 2022 #35

Thanks! 2naSalit Oct 2022 #37

"she MEOWED at me." BumRushDaShow Oct 2022 #17

Ember is 7 years old this month and she wnylib Oct 2022 #23

My other sister who has a senior long hair tortie who I have taken care of BumRushDaShow Oct 2022 #27

I had a cat several years ago who was wnylib Oct 2022 #31

LOL BumRushDaShow Oct 2022 #33

All I needed to do was to say, "Is that right?" Or wnylib Oct 2022 #36

OMG to be a fly on the wall for that! BumRushDaShow Oct 2022 #38

BTW, there is one vocalization that Ember does wnylib Oct 2022 #39

My sister's tuxie growled BumRushDaShow Oct 2022 #40

Ember's growl at things outside the window wnylib Oct 2022 #41

I have seen my sister's tortie do that BumRushDaShow Oct 2022 #42

Ember is a tortie, but I chalk her behavior up to wnylib Oct 2022 #43

Yup BumRushDaShow Oct 2022 #44

Ember's mother was half Mau, an wnylib Oct 2022 #45

I know my sister's tuxie BumRushDaShow Oct 2022 #46

Did the ginger and white cat end up with wnylib Oct 2022 #47

Just before I had moved BumRushDaShow Oct 2022 #48

I was surprised that Ember remembered the coworker wnylib Oct 2022 #49

Madoc and Arthur meow for food. Gryff stays quiet Siwsan Oct 2022 #28

You are a cat whisperer! And yes, the calm, "It's okay" works well. niyad Oct 2022 #19

Well done!! 2naSalit Oct 2022 #29

I sit out on the back step Siwsan Oct 2022 #30

You've got it, then. 2naSalit Oct 2022 #32