Update on the MandyCats - Now with video!

[guppiecat]

Since it took over a year for the cats to get comfortable enough to come out from under the bed, I've given up all idea of just fostering them. They're going to live with me now. And, if they're going to live with me, they need their own stuff.

I recently picked up a Go Pro camera for a future project and thought, "What better way to test it than record the cats exploring their new tower?" I'm not very good at editing video yet, so please forgive the obvious amateur quality here.

More seriously, I want them to be happier and, for that to happen, they have to get out from under the bed more often. I had this tower custom-made with two hidey holes so I can start blocking off the under bed access without freaking them out. With luck, I'll be able to get them to leave the bedroom sometime within the next year.

And, with that, here they are.

Comments

[mle292.livejournal.com]

Sniffing the camera is cute. :) Time for my CLOSE UP! It took a few years for Dusty to come out from the basement, but it did happen. He is now a happy fellow who loves to sit at the screen door and look outside at the squirrels, but he still doesn't like strangers and will run to the back of the closet when he's concerned about something strange. It's good to have a well protected hiding spot.

[guppiecat]

I am hopeful that this tree will provide enough secrecy for them. I may have to create* little curtains for them, so they feel safer.

* By which I, of course, mean "ask my friendly crafting friends to knit or crochet me something" in exchange for sushi and such.

[pameladean]

What gorgeous cats. You must have coated the entire cat tree with catnip.

Cassie watched the majority of the video very intently, but had to wash before it was over.

P.

[guppiecat]

Some catnip may have been involved. ;)

I wanted them to rub on it more than my little cats, so they knew it was theirs.

[hitchhiker.livejournal.com]

aww :) cute kitties

[maiac.livejournal.com]

You are very good catstaff.

They look very pleased with their new hideyhole.

[birdfigment.livejournal.com]

They are adorable. I agree, you are very good catstaff.

[laurel]

Very attractive cats with a new hideout. Yay!

And your reasons are very much the same reasons that we wound up keeping Ibsen & Inalise here; I mean, I'd thought maybe we were merely fostering them, but they were so very scared that it would've seemed cruel to up and have them start over in yet another new space.

I went from having super friendly cats to having extreme scaredy cats, which is weird and certainly takes a lot of patience as I'm sure you well know. But it's also nice to give them a safe space and really nice when they make progress.

Inalise has recently discovered a hideout in a corner bookshelf in my office which I now refer to as her lair as she takes to leaping into it when scared (there's a box in front of the bookshelf so the entrance is secluded enough Isbjorn usually doesn't try getting down there).

I have ideas for cat shelters and towers that have me pondering taking up carpentry or finding someone who does that sort of thing who'd collaborate with me.

[carbonel]

They appear to be fine fluffy cats who are very happy with the new architecture. You wouldn't guess what scaredy cats they are from the video.