Kitty Korner


Bonding with your feline friend


Dogs don’t take much effort–they’re your best friends almost instantly. With kitties…well, it isn’t always that way. With my Tony and Missy, for example,  it took a couple of years before they felt comfortable enough to be my devoted pals. They were wary. They were shy. They were cold customers and refused to sit on my lap. Gatito was much easier to befriend, for some reason. But even he took his time checking me out and learning to trust. I admit that there were moments when I thought I would never succeed in making  my three little ferals into pets. Yet, today one couldn’t ask for better animal companions or a more devoted trio. Our feline/human bond isn’t just strong, it’s unbreakable.

How did the bonding happen?

I credit three things: time, patience and love. Oh, yes, and one other thing helped  the bonding procedure: treats. I served a lot of “rewards” as my cats learned the ropes of pet behavior. But most of all, I think it was the love I felt and will always feel for them that made them decide I was OK. Cats have a way of picking up on human emotions and I think they ultimately realized I truly cared for them and that it would be  safe to let down their defenses and care for me.

So, anyway, that’s our bonding story. And a nifty online site,, confirms the steps we took toward forging a tie that binds. The savvy site also offers a few other pointers that might help as you welcome a new feline into your life.

What’s advised:

–Bond with a new cat slowly and don’t feel offended if at first you’re rebuffed. Remember that no cat will want to make immediate friends with a large, unfamiliar creature.

–Get down on your cat’s level as often as you can. The lower you are, the less threatening you will be to the kitty. So, opt to sit on the floor instead of the couch at first if you’re trying to entice a new cat to crawl into your lap.

–Introduce your scent to the kitty. A piece of old, worn clothing placed where the cat can sleep on it will make you a familiar, comforting object and not something to be feared.

–Be timely with food. The cat will soon expect this ritual and associate it with you. (Purr!)

–Pet your cat as often as you can and as often as it will allow.  (We’ve found it pays to start out slow and gradually increase the petting time.)

–Play games with your cat.  Throwing a catnip mouse can bring kitty into your corner as can inviting the feline snooze on your bed.

Let the bonding begin!

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Rose Mary Budge Budge

Rose Mary Budge Budge