Here is a straightforward video (made on an iPhone 4s) showing Gabriel on my lap and letting me stroke him. He purrs. He is still nervous of being touched. He’ll forget I can be trusted and flinch sometimes if my hand is even slowly brought towards him to stroke him but, that said, this is progress…
He is becoming socialised to me. That does not mean he is socialised to anyone and everyone. It should be that way but it won’t. I have a feeling Gabriel will end up very trusting of me and totally relaxed around me but not with other people or perhaps with a small number of people.
He might well end up as one of those cats who run for cover when the door bell rings or someone else comes to the home.
His appearance has changed bit. He is more adult – unsurprisingly 😉 . He’s growing up physically and mentally.
Soon after I videotaped this, he ran for cover when the postman came. He saw the postman through the window and heard him. The sound of outside activity spooks him.
This video indicates a step in the right direction but he has a way to go.
This is a bit of info about Gabriel’s history:
I can tell you about where he came from – a old lady’s garden who called three weeks prior to us actually starting to trap them. Despite asking for help she wouldn’t answer calls or messages. I suspect she wanted to keep them for a while but it meant that they were three weeks older when we got them. Their [stray cat] mum was a black 8 month old or so kitten (the rescue organisation)
I COULD HARDLY WAIT TO GET HOME AND CHECK ON THE LITTLE SWEETIES PROGRESS.I THINK HE IS GOING TO BE YOUR KITTY.
He’s making remarkable progress Michael. I’m impressed that he’s already sitting on your lap, looking very relaxed.
Well that didn’t take long did it! What a little darling bless him I love his markings almost spotted and his eyes are that grey/blue they seem to be when they are changing from Blue. I just love the way he has the confidence to nip you he trusts you Michael 🙂
I’m hoping that the next step you experience is him nudging your idle hands for a pet.
That’s a biggie.
“Gabriel will end up very trusting of me and totally relaxed around me but not with other people”
I’m happy that you know that fostering a semi-feral is nearly impossible if the goal is to have them eventually adopted out.
It’s not so much about your attachment to him as it is his to you, and only you.
I was a little surprised that he was sent out to be fostered at all, because it is usually considered best for semi’s to be outright adopted if possible, so they can learn to bond with their adoptees and not have to go through the agony of starting all over with new people.
A lot of people assume that a kit like Gabriel, who will be socialized with you, will automatically be socialized with all humans then. Ofcourse, that’s not true. Every other human who enters the picture starts anew. And, the same is true for other cats.
No doubt that Cats Protection knows all of that and, guess what? You have become the chosen Papa to a beautiful baby boy!
Wow, great progress for such a small amount of time. I know because I have socialized these babies. He is a good looking boy.