Pets

Cats socializing

Burmese cats

I first fell in love with Burmese cats ten years ago when I went to the home of an acquaintance to see his new cat, a beautiful purebred Burmese male named Darshan. Darshan sat majestically atop a very tall cat tree that looked like it was made for a king, alongside another beautiful Burmese woman.

I was captivated by its beauty, and when I learned more about this breed, its folk tradition and its history, I promised myself that my next cat would be a Burmese. However, I put that thought in the back of my mind and finally forgot about it.

How I won the heart of my unsocialized Burmese cat

A few years later, my cat died, and since I always have a cat in my house, I went looking for a new cat companion almost immediately. I strongly believe in adopting shelter or sanctuary pets due to the huge problem of cat and dog overpopulation. So, I started looking on the Pet Finders website and was surprised to see a cat that looked almost identical to the Darshan available at a local pet sanctuary. I immediately got on the phone and asked if he was still available. The owner told me that the cat’s name was Leanne and that it was a Himalayan mix. However, when I went to see her, I could see that she was Burmese.

Purebred Burmese are very expensive and can range from $ 500 to $ 700. I was excited and immediately wanted to adopt her despite the fact that she had a history of neglect and socialization problems; She was extremely shy and hid from people all the time. It was almost impossible to find her when I first came to meet her at the sanctuary, and no one had been able to bond with her after months of trying. The sanctuary director warned that Leanne would never be able to socialize.

When I adopted Leanne, she was two years old, and now at six, she is a fully socialized member of my household who loves my dog, Beardog, greets people who come by, and loves to sit on my lap and sleep with me in the morning. evening. It took me many months to help her out of her shell, and she continued to hide for a long time. But now he has all the wonderful features of Burmese cats. They are friendly cats that generally like people and other animals, they are strong and healthy with few genetic problems, and they are charming and very sociable.

These were my strategies to make Leanne love me and come out of the closet:

I bribed her with toys and playtime. – I found out that if I brought her toys at the end of the day, she was willing to play with me (this was amazing because she absolutely refused to interact with anyone at the sanctuary). Every day when she came home from work, I would bring her some new interactive toy and sit on the floor with her for about an hour while she jumped like any normal kitten who loves to play.

By far the best and best toy I found was Da Bird. A friend who had recently adopted two cats recommended Da Bird, and it really brought her out of her shell. While I was relaxing and watching TV, I kept my unsocialized cat busy, literally for hours, jumping and doing incredible backflips that I didn’t know were possible even for gymnastic felines. The way to my Birman’s heart was gymnastics!

I found some cat furniture that I could call your own. – All cats must scratch to exercise their muscles and sharpen their claws (please don’t remove your cat’s nails!). Therefore, you must provide adequate scratching posts. Found a great post online!

Cats, like dogs, children, and most adults, are easily impressed by treats – Treats are a great way to teach your cat to come when you call. After they know there are treats in a bag, just shake the bag and call, and it can usually make even non-socialized cats appear. Get treats that are good for your cat!

Catnip makes cats happy – Catnip is to cats like chocolate to humans. It makes their brains feel good and seems to elicit a positive response in felines. Buying catnip toys, providing fresh and dried catnip or catnip plants is a great way to show your non-socialized cat that you have a lot to offer and that you are a great provider.

In addition to cat toys, cat furniture, cat treats, and catnip, I also employed some important feline psychology to build confidence in my skittish Birman. Money alone cannot buy the love of an unsocialized cat. Leanne, despite all the treats, toys, and bribes, was still hiding in the basement ceiling more often than she wanted. Here are some tips for developing a long-term, healthy relationship with a cat:

  • Never yell at a cat, it doesn’t work, especially if a cat is already scared.
  • If you must discipline a feline, it is best to clap loudly when he is mischievous so that he associates an awkward sound with his behavior rather than blaming the discipline directly on you.
  • Never hit a cat – Cats will never forgive any kind of physical discipline and they will lose the confidence you’ve worked hard for.
  • Be patient and don’t expect socialization to happen quickly – it took Leanne about 3 months to walk freely around my room and another month before she was able to move freely around my house. For a long time, he would run with his tail down from one hiding place to another, simply going out to play and receive treats and then retreating to his safe hiding places.
  • Don’t take cats out of hiding; let them go out alone when they are ready.
  • Once you’ve set up your litter box and sleeping and eating areas, don’t change them! Cats hate changes and when they are just beginning to socialize, it is best not to make too many changes.
  • Brush your cat frequently and show him as much affection as you can tolerate. Leanne loved being brushed even when she was still in hiding. Grooming is a great way to bond with animals.

It is true that many cats, such as wild ones, cannot socialize and it is not a good idea to bring one home. But there are cats that you find in a shelter that can be very shy, but still have the opportunity to have a happy domestic life. If you have the patience and time to work with such a cat, you can make a wonderful companion. These tips will make a difference.