July 2021 Updates -- The Boy

First, the boy.

For a month or so we've been feeding the cats on either side of a screen door. This is part of the incremental cat reintroduction plan that will hopefully lead to peace *and togetherness* in the kingdom. We met with our cat guru again on zoom so he could talk us through next steps for our boy. He watched us feed them, and offered advice. A few things became clear -- we need to use clicker training, and our own state of mind factors into how the cats behave. As they say in Pidgin, "Cool head main t'ing".

The thing about our cats is that they're all a little wiggy to start with. The little girl is both flirty and fraidy. The big boy is glamorous and fragile. Plus, we're adjusting to their new personalities. The cat guru said that we needed to be feeding the big cats at the same time of the day as the kitten, and the result of feeding three times a day is that the little girl started coming out of her shell. Surprising us all, she sometimes even taunts the wee beastie from the other side of the screen.

On Tuesday we had our last phone call with the guru. My goal was for him to tell us the next three steps for the boy. After our consultation, which made us feel like a million bucks, we had a number of options available to us, but he helped us realize that a) we're doing a good job, b) the steps are our choice, c) if it doesn't work out, just try it again at the next meal. We've been building trust among the cats and one bad day is one bad day.

We had initially hoped to put the beastie in his cat harness with the leash on it, and then try feeding them with the screen door open (we were afraid he'd lunge at the other cats). But the harness makes him miserable. And we have seen him be a good boy without the harness. So we tried without. Worked really well. On our side of the screen door I was prepped with a bowl of smelly cat treats and a clicker. Any time he stared at the other cats I would give a command and lure him away with the treat and a clicker. It worked for a few minutes. We are extending the time every day.

Wiggy little girl is afraid of the sound of the screen door opening (really?! yes) so mrguy got a large piece of cardboard that he uses as a barrier, and then moves out of the way after she's started eating. But before he figured that one out, we had a meal where she ran away, and the beastie walked into the dining room and ate her bowl side-by-side with glamor boy. I didn't stop him (cool head) and they ate in peace. When big brother finished his bowl, he went behind his little brother, sniffed his butt, and hissed. Little boy did not even flinch. We are on a roll, people. Today we got up to 6 minutes of peaceful eating, and they really ignore one another. The beastie loves his treats now (a tip of the hat to Bravo! brand Mariner's Medley. Super stenchy in a way that cats like) and when he's not eating the bowl he is begging for treats or trading tricks for them. We're 4 days in.

He does look really handsome in his harness, but he is unmotivated to move while wearing it.