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Noseeums
15 years ago
General
I've been trying to get a Siberian Cat for a while now, looking at different websites, e-classifieds, all kinds like that. They all were either too far away or had some kind of social problem with dogs or other animals. We've been in contact with a semi-local breeder who kept an ear open for anything available earlier than waiting for a kitten. Earlier this month, she told us about a pregnant woman in Kentucky who had developed trouble with her asthma and had to get rid of her two 18-month-old Siberian brothers.
We brought them home Saturday night (after they put up one hell of a fight transferring between crates), and like most cats they've been prone to hide whever they could. I opened the empty drawers on the other side of my platform bed and they'd rather hide under them. Sunday they both retreated under the bed, which is no easy task, really. First they have to squeeze behind the headboard and then move to the 15x16" space. The bed's held together by three pieces of plywood and supported by X-shaped beams. It's too small to fit through and too deep to pull them out. They stayed down there for a good day and a half before we had to remove the plywood to pull them out, then seal them out. They weren't happy. The dominent of the two hissed as I picked him up and struggled to get away. I'm amazed I didn't get scratched or bitten then.
Today (technically) I kept waking up to the random sounds they made during the night. Eventually, around 4:30, I gave up and got the laptop out. After a while the more dominent of the two sat by the door and began meowing. I figured he was hungry so I tried giving him a treat. He wouldn't touch it. I tried wet food. He wouldn't come near it. My room doesn't have a lot of other good hiding spots so I think he wants to go find one. Nope, sorry, big guy, you're gonna be in there until you learn to be affectionate.
Yeah, so most cats I've had before were more friendly and wanted to be petted after a day or two, but we're heading into four. I'm thinking maybe I should get some of those "calming" collars or sprays I've seen to see if that'll help them relax, feel less afraid. I'll post pictures when they're more social. Until then, they are referred to by the family as "Noseeums," because they keep hiding.
We brought them home Saturday night (after they put up one hell of a fight transferring between crates), and like most cats they've been prone to hide whever they could. I opened the empty drawers on the other side of my platform bed and they'd rather hide under them. Sunday they both retreated under the bed, which is no easy task, really. First they have to squeeze behind the headboard and then move to the 15x16" space. The bed's held together by three pieces of plywood and supported by X-shaped beams. It's too small to fit through and too deep to pull them out. They stayed down there for a good day and a half before we had to remove the plywood to pull them out, then seal them out. They weren't happy. The dominent of the two hissed as I picked him up and struggled to get away. I'm amazed I didn't get scratched or bitten then.
Today (technically) I kept waking up to the random sounds they made during the night. Eventually, around 4:30, I gave up and got the laptop out. After a while the more dominent of the two sat by the door and began meowing. I figured he was hungry so I tried giving him a treat. He wouldn't touch it. I tried wet food. He wouldn't come near it. My room doesn't have a lot of other good hiding spots so I think he wants to go find one. Nope, sorry, big guy, you're gonna be in there until you learn to be affectionate.
Yeah, so most cats I've had before were more friendly and wanted to be petted after a day or two, but we're heading into four. I'm thinking maybe I should get some of those "calming" collars or sprays I've seen to see if that'll help them relax, feel less afraid. I'll post pictures when they're more social. Until then, they are referred to by the family as "Noseeums," because they keep hiding.
LadyNell
~ladynell
Actually, they'd do better with some hiding space. Without a place to hide when you're in the room, they'll be on edge whenever you're around. Give them a spot to hide and let them take their time. My current cat, Nina, took a week before she would come out from underneath the bed, and she knew me since I volunteered often at the shelter I got her from. We had to build a little tent next to the bed with towels to put her food and litter box in, otherwise she was too scared to come out to eat and go to the bathroom. Nina eventually got over her fear and is now obnoxiously affectionate.
KatneySK
~katneysk
OP
Oh, I know they're gonna want to hide... but my Dad wanted to get them out from under my bed before they decided to go to the bathroom underneathe. My parents are rushing things, though, and Ma keeps picking up the bigger of the two and getting mauled. XP Blood on my bed...
