Shadow's wary

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Adrian A - 06 May 2007 16:11 GMT

Shadow's still living in the summer house which I'm happy about but when I
go in to feed him he leaves via the window. This is what he used to do I
think it's going to take awhile to get his trust back but I'm sure I will.
At least he's healthy and has food and shelter.

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Adrian (Owned by Snoopy and Bagheera)
Cats leave pawprints on your heart.
http://community.webshots.com/user/clowderuk

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Christina Websell - 06 May 2007 17:04 GMT

> Shadow's still living in the summer house which I'm happy about but when I
> go in to feed him he leaves via the window. This is what he used to do

There is such a similarity between Shadow's behaviour and Boyfriend's
previous behaviour. Boyfie started off living/sleeping in my conservatory
and he too would leave via the window even if I touched the handle of the
back door at first. When I started to feed him in there he wouldn't
approach the dish before glancing up at the top of the stable-type kitchen
door, which has small panes of glass in, to make sure I wasn't looking at
him. It was weeks before he would eat if he could see me.
He is by nature a very timid cat anyway and although he could not have been
feral because he had a posh collar on, I have no way of knowing how long he
had actually been "lost" for prior to that. Presumably the longer they are
lost, the shyer they become.
Do you think Shadow is a feral-born cat, or has become semi-feral through
lack of human touch for a long time? Did the vet suggest how old he might
be? Boyfie was just an adolescent, a teenager just growing into his long
legs ;-) but he was not neutered, so even having a previous home like he
obviously had doesn't guarantee that Shadow might not have been previously
owned at some point in his life.

> I think it's going to take awhile to get his trust back but I'm sure I
> will.

I suspect it will take a few weeks, but I am sure you will too.

> At least he's healthy and has food and shelter.

He's a *very* lucky boy. He doesn't know it of course!

I hope one day he will become an indoor/outdoor cat like Boyfie, who is at
this moment fast asleep on the duvet in the spare bedroom. If you had asked
me if this was possible when he first arrived, I would have said most
definitely NO.
Good luck with him, Adrian.

Tweed

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Adrian A - 06 May 2007 17:52 GMT

<snip>

> Do you think Shadow is a feral-born cat, or has become semi-feral
> through lack of human touch for a long time? Did the vet suggest
> how old he might be? Boyfie was just an adolescent, a teenager just
> growing into his long legs ;-) but he was not neutered, so even
> having a previous home like he obviously had doesn't guarantee that
> Shadow might not have been previously owned at some point in his life.

I think it's very likely he was born in one of the nearby farms, I doubt
he's known much human contact.
I think he's the same cat I saw as a kitten about six years ago, at that
time he was eating cold potatoes that I'd thrown out for the birds. He fled
as soon as he saw me looking at him, he was about six months old then and
obviously entire. I saw him sporadically after that but only in the last
couple of years he's hung around more.
I don't know if he'll come in with Snoopy about, she swears at all other
cats including Baggy, Baggy wants to be friends with everybody and a couple
of times has tried to get Shadow to play with him, Shadow just looks
confused. It will be great if he learns to play and have fun.

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Adrian (Owned by Snoopy and Bagheera)
Cats leave pawprints on your heart.
http://community.webshots.com/user/clowderuk

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Takayuki - 07 May 2007 06:55 GMT

>I don't know if he'll come in with Snoopy about, she swears at all other
>cats including Baggy, Baggy wants to be friends with everybody and a couple
>of times has tried to get Shadow to play with him, Shadow just looks
>confused. It will be great if he learns to play and have fun.

It would be wonderful if that happens. He was such a wonderful friend
and littermate to Milo.

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Adrian A - 07 May 2007 09:15 GMT

>> I don't know if he'll come in with Snoopy about, she swears at all
>> other cats including Baggy, Baggy wants to be friends with everybody
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> It would be wonderful if that happens. He was such a wonderful friend
> and littermate to Milo.

You're so right, even though Milo has been gone nearly three years he's
still greatly missed.

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Adrian (Owned by Snoopy and Bagheera)
Cats leave pawprints on your heart.
http://community.webshots.com/user/clowderuk

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Kreisleriana - 06 May 2007 17:29 GMT

>Shadow's still living in the summer house which I'm happy about but when I
>go in to feed him he leaves via the window. This is what he used to do I
>think it's going to take awhile to get his trust back but I'm sure I will.
>At least he's healthy and has food and shelter.

Here's purrs he chills out soon. And bless you again and again for
your generosity and patience.

Theresa
Stinky Pictures: http://community.webshots.com/album/125591586JWEFwh

Make Levees, Not War

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polonca12000 - 09 May 2007 21:55 GMT

> Shadow's still living in the summer house which I'm happy about but when I
> go in to feed him he leaves via the window. This is what he used to do I
> think it's going to take awhile to get his trust back but I'm sure I will.
> At least he's healthy and has food and shelter.

I'm sure he'll trust you really soon, Adrian. Thanks for all you are
doing for him.
Best wishes,
Polonca and Soncek

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