We’ve made real progress in the last nine days. I’ve gone into Magic’s room as often as possible, and kept the door open between her room and where I work – with a grate up instead of a door. I’ve made sure we have a play session at least once a day, and usually twice.
I’d worked with Magic quite a bit before, in the 2 months she’s been here. I’ve used a clicker – click and treat, I’ve put food down close to her. I was even able to touch her haunches lightly with two fingers. Then we had to capture her and put her in a carrier for a vet visit. All the trust was gone after that.
Once her kittens were all adopted, I started to see how much I could regain. I can’t get close to touching her any longer, but sometimes if she was in the cat tree when I would come in, she’d stay there and not run to her favorite safe spot.
When she’s on the cat tree, I can swing the cat toy within her reach, so that’s what I’m concentrating on.
At first, she would only stay on the top level. She likes being up, and that’s where she felt safest. On that level, she was willing to lower her guard and bat at the toy. She would not come down, and she didn’t want me too close, but she was really happy to be able to play, and I think to have someone to play “with” her.
Gradually, over the last nine days, she has become more relaxed. She has been slowing coming down, first just her front feet on the next level down, then all of her, then the next level. Finally she was willing to follow the toy to the floor. This morning was the biggest breakthrough so far – she ran right to my foot to grab the toy and take it away. Real progress!