Re: Sharing food

[anzajaguar]

In a message dated 1/12/2005 5:34:38 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Nina, any tips you can share re successful socializing? You make it seem so easy! I'm embarrassed to say, despite all the wonderful input I've had from listmembers, I'm finding it a long uphill struggle. Thanks, Kerry Kerry, I can let you know what I have had to do..Ive had to perfect 4 different ways to accomodate 4 different kitties!!  Hope it helps... Akira was the first one I found...I had to socialize her to the dogs...At first she would cuddle with my dachshund..then she started feeling better and was terrified of them both...so I took her and isolated her in my bedroom..where we spend most of our time anyways...after a few days I brought the dogs in..but put them in their crates..she took about 5-6 days before she would feel comfy coming out with them in their crates...she slowly decided to  sniff them..that took about another week..then I took them out on leashes..and held the close...she was nervous..but didn't hide this time..that was for about 3 days..then I took my dachshund off his leash..he is the calmer of the 2...she was not to happy...but stayed around..then I took Bowite out too..he was too hyper for her..she hid...I finally decided that this was as far as they were going to get in the small room..she felt to crowded to feel safe..so I let her out into the rest of the house...with the dogs on leashes...she was nervous..but stilll explored.... then let Lance off his leash..and kept a CLOSE eye one him...and kept telling him to leave her alone..he just wanted to make friends...then one day he took off running..I was screaming at him..I thought he was chasing her!!!  I thought..all my work..down the drain..well turns out she was chasing him....tail held high...happy as could be..then he would turn around and chase her..they were playing tag...and then she would hide up on the couch adn pounce him....I was extatic!!!  So...for her I just took it slow...with very controlled situations   NEXT intro...Indy...he was kept in a LARGE cage until I could get him vet checked, neutered and vaccinated.  So I let Akira stay out loose...she HATED him...she would sit there and HISS and HISS and HISS...he would just  "coo" to her...finally after I got him 100% vaccinated and tested I just let him loose..he was VERY easy going..and sweet..he loved Akira..even though she hated him...she would attack him, bat him on the head and HISS for walking by..he would jsut softly  "coo" to her and take it...he would slowly move in and try to clean her....now they are best friends...so I didn't do too much there...Indy took care of himself...he is what I now call my "peacemaker"   NEXT intro...Mona...Mona was a work of art...she was down right viscious to other animals..she was kept in a small part of the house away from the others after numerous attacks..she even attacked Bowtie (dog) when he got into her room by accident one day..and she ended up tearing me up REAL GOOD too for trying to break it up..poor Bowtie was cornered under the computer table...and was being such a good boy...just trying to get away from teh "blue demon".  I tried crating teh other animals and letting her come to them..she would just ignore them...wanted nothing to do with them in their crates...Then I tried crating her..which is how I had to do it...for a VERY long time..she would hiss and attack the cage door and sides whenever any of teh animals walked by...I kept Akira seperated from the rest of teh house during this..as I felt it would be too stressful on her...Indy came to the rescue again...he would just  PLOP right down in front of her cage and sit there..while she hissed away and tried to attack him through the cage....As she finally started to calm down....2 weeks?...he would move closer..and she would start again....then finally he got to sitting on top of her cage...with ehr just sitting there looking up,  growling VERY quitely...she finally got to where she just looked at him..very suspiciously....I finally decided to take her out...BUT on a leash....so I could easily separate her if she attacked the others...and so I could force her to keep her distance..I did this for about 3 weeks..then I left the harness on and took the leash off...she knew she was free..she went to attacking the others again...leash back on...3 more weeks Indy during this period was working his magic...inching closer and closer to her trying to start grooming her..she would let him..then realized what he was doing..and attack him....Ive had her about 8 months now...almost 5 of those were spent ENTIRELY in socializing her....Again..paitients...taking it slowly..and respecting her, while trying to prove to her she didn't need to attack all the animals.....by the way..she was always SUPER affectionate to humans...LOVED kids...   L:AST intro.,..Spooky...he is a very outgoing guy...much like Indy..but a bit more hellionish...if that makes sence?  After he was UTD I just let him loose...he had been crated, while not UTD, and in a room they could play paws with under the door some too....so they just had to get used to him...   Hope any of that helps...I know its not really techniques...but I find I learn better by examples...so...   Lisa and fur-brats Akira--FeLV miracle baby www.geocities.com/anzajaguar Indy-- Truley Indian Jones as a cat..FEARLESS Lance- Mini wire haired dashchund Bow-Tie- 2yr old (ssshhhh he doesnt know he is 15 :) ) jack russel cross Bennie Bird-- Vampire cockatiel Anza-- sexist Senegal parrot..deffinantly a ladies bird :)