Squirrel
26-02-2011, 11:39 AM
Well! I decided that seeing I've heard so many stories of cats preferring harnesses to boxes for travelling with, that I'd see how cloud took to it. Vet trips would be far easier if she wasn't crying all the way there and back again to get out of her box!
So I ordered a travel harness online, and proceeded to try her out with it. Of course, not being used to it as yet (and Mummy being a bit ham fisted at it, not being sure how best to put it on) it was a bit of a trial yesterday, and we had a few disagreements over it - though it did go on for a short time once or twoce. This mornings performance shows that it is still a bit loose, but that possibly a good thing for the moment!
Yesterday I was chewed upon a few times - gently. Methinks someone was looking to express her displeasure at the practice! Unfortunately the latest treats I've tried her on have not gone down well, so that part of it was a bit of a failure - will need to get some of her absolute favourites (Bob Martin treats I can get in Morrisons) when I'm next at work on Tues.
Having read up on Eileens experiences, I decided to try and see what she thought about going out in the big outside world with the harness on. So with needing to post off her chip registration, I decided to take us both down to the nearest postbox (about 2 mins away) and see how that went.
Harness on, with a bit of wriggling, I picked her up, and took her outside. Walked a bit to get out of the garden (there is a dog downstairs who is regularly out there), and put her gently down on the path on the right side of the road to go to the post box.
My poor wee girl crouched down and started to shake - in a way I've never seen her do - her back legs did a little after she got home post surgery, but this was completely different to that.
Anyway, I picked her up, held her close and posted my letter before bringing her back home. She slowly recovered her confidence on the way back - enough to start looking around from the safety of my arms.
I guess she might get a bit more confidence with that big world out there over time, but my guess is that she'll never be totally confident with it.
Since we've been home, I've petted her, furminated her a bit as she likes that, and she now seems to be settling down for a bit of a sleep.
Poor baby girlie - might try her in the car with the harness on, but outside doesn't seem to be a treat for her, even if she does sometimes call at the windows!
So I ordered a travel harness online, and proceeded to try her out with it. Of course, not being used to it as yet (and Mummy being a bit ham fisted at it, not being sure how best to put it on) it was a bit of a trial yesterday, and we had a few disagreements over it - though it did go on for a short time once or twoce. This mornings performance shows that it is still a bit loose, but that possibly a good thing for the moment!
Yesterday I was chewed upon a few times - gently. Methinks someone was looking to express her displeasure at the practice! Unfortunately the latest treats I've tried her on have not gone down well, so that part of it was a bit of a failure - will need to get some of her absolute favourites (Bob Martin treats I can get in Morrisons) when I'm next at work on Tues.
Having read up on Eileens experiences, I decided to try and see what she thought about going out in the big outside world with the harness on. So with needing to post off her chip registration, I decided to take us both down to the nearest postbox (about 2 mins away) and see how that went.
Harness on, with a bit of wriggling, I picked her up, and took her outside. Walked a bit to get out of the garden (there is a dog downstairs who is regularly out there), and put her gently down on the path on the right side of the road to go to the post box.
My poor wee girl crouched down and started to shake - in a way I've never seen her do - her back legs did a little after she got home post surgery, but this was completely different to that.
Anyway, I picked her up, held her close and posted my letter before bringing her back home. She slowly recovered her confidence on the way back - enough to start looking around from the safety of my arms.
I guess she might get a bit more confidence with that big world out there over time, but my guess is that she'll never be totally confident with it.
Since we've been home, I've petted her, furminated her a bit as she likes that, and she now seems to be settling down for a bit of a sleep.
Poor baby girlie - might try her in the car with the harness on, but outside doesn't seem to be a treat for her, even if she does sometimes call at the windows!