Cat Training

Today begins Week 3 of cat training. Beginning two Saturdays ago we have been closing off parts of the house where cats can hide, arming ourselves with squirt bottles and "sight blockers" and letting boy kitten roam free. Mrguy and I each guard one of the older cats, and we intervene when things go haywire.

I can happily report that things are progressing in a positive direction and we're taking it slowly. We humans are doing better, as well. Now that we can see that the older cats are (mostly) defending themselves when necessary and just "shaking it off" after a dustup, it's easier for us to let things happen.

Here are a few photos from the first week. Two cats in one room!

And two cats on one chaise! Things were looking good here, until boy kitten jumped on his sister and he chased her under the bed. But then she fended him off after much staring and hissing. In the grand scheme of things, this is great. Last year when they were face to face he choked her, so this is a huuuuuge improvement.

Yesterday ended week two. I let our big boy cat, known in these circumstances as "big no-fun guy", get some licks in. Boy kitten gently nestled big no-fun guy's larynx between his teeth (!), and big no-fun guy gave him some major growls and hisses. Boy kitten backed off and cried. Then he wandered around the house and cried. I think he just wants to play, and the big kids are *not* having it. Boy kitten cries in frustration when he doesn't get what he wants.

Anyway, you can tell that the big kids are a bit friskier (especially the little girl) and maybe like this just a bit. And the boy kitten is definitely liking his supervised house freedom and cat interactions. He's been sleeping really well in the evenings.

It's slow and incremental, but we're feeling super positive. And if you wonder what we're doing with our time these days, this is it. Cats aren't the only ones who are a bit sleepy!