Vince finished Cat’s new tree. It’s very nice but she is not happy with the tree; not happy with Vince and not happy with me but she’s not been my friend for a while. I thought this afternoon might be a good time to try to win her over, and maybe get to pet her a little but no, she is angry at the whole world.
Vince found some moving blankets he had bought but never used so I cut one of those up and made “pads” that he stapled to the wood. He has the heating pad made for outdoor cats that will go on the top ledge. She’ll probably just get used to it like it is and then he’ll put the heating pad up there and she’ll be mad again.
It’s so weird. I left the pieces of the moving blanket in the sewing room. I went back in there and Boots was curled up on it. Cat won’t go anywhere near anything new . . Boots loves new stuff.
Hopefully by tomorrow Cat will decide it’s safe and a good place for her. It’s going to be cold Monday night and colder Tuesday night so I hope she decides it isn’t so scary.
Pandy Lolos says
Judy, Maybe you should leave an empty box on the bottom shelf of the cat tree for cat to go into. Or my original thought was a loose piece of the moving blanket left on one of the ledges with a corner lifted up so cat might get the idea that she could go under it. I don’t have cats but my daughter does and hers seem to like to be covered and think empty boxes are the best thing ever. Pandy
Judy Laquidara says
She doesn’t like getting into anything. She likes to sleep on top of the well house or on top of my car.
Carolyn says
If the blanket doesn’t sit her maybe you can find some carpet remenants and pad it a bit better. She needs needs something enclosed. My heart breaks for animals during cold and stormy weather.
Judy Laquidara says
She will not go into anything enclosed Maybe it’s part of being a feral cat. It’s all actually up against the shop and under a 6 car carport so she’s pretty much out of the wind and definitely out of the rain. She does not like anything where she feels closed in. Her favorite sleeping spot is on top of my car but I know that gets cold.
vivoaks says
Cats are so funny… Sometimes you just can’t please them. I was just on Skype with my sisters and the one had a cat outside the bedroom door (where she was) that wanted in. As soon as she got up and let him in, he wanted back out. She let him back out, and a few minutes later he’s meowing at the door, wanting back in! Typical cat…. At least Cat is still hanging around, so even if she appears to be mad at both of you, she’s still there. Enjoy!! If I was a cat, I’d love a heated pad to lay on in the cold!!! 🙂
Heather Sedlacek says
Try putting her food on the middle platform. That might encourage her to try it out a little sooner! Or you could just pretend you dont want her on it at all…that usually works like a magnet for my cats!
Nelle Coursey says
This is a nice perch for her! Keeps her away from those creepy crawley things on the ground! She probably will go there when you are not looking. She doesn’t want you to know she likes it!
Ann says
She needs something enclosed and with heavy padding, like cushy batting or something that will hold the heat. Cedar shavings that she can nestle down into would be helpful in keeping her warm. If there is something from where she has laid before, even some of her hair would be good, then place it on the standing areas of the tree. That would put her scent on it and she’d get upon it but if it’s cold she will not stay there.
Judy Laquidara says
Maybe it’s because she’s a feral cat but she does not like to get inside anything. Her preferred sleeping places are on top of the well house, which is 8″ tall, metal roof, or on top of my car. She has a heated cat house but she will not go into that. We’ve put boxes out there and she will sleep on top of them but not inside them.
Joyce says
Outdoor cats are quite resilient. As long as she has options for getting out of the wind and weather, she will be fine. If she gets really cold, she will use the new stand. It may just take a while for her to get used to it. Once she realizes it’s not “that new evil thing”, she may hang out on it frequently. She just has to get over being suspicious of it, or she may always totally snub it. With cats you just never know. She may also just prefer a piece of carpet or old blanket on the floor in the carport.
Carolyn says
I agree with Joyce….cats definitely have an attitude of take a number and wait.
dezertsuz says
It’s a very nice cat tree, and if she doesn’t use it, maybe Boots will like it. LOL I know, no room inside for it. I hope she will like it.
Rebecca in SoCal says
She doesn’t know how good she has it, silly cat. It’s almost like she’ll snub it if she has any idea Vince made it for her!
I wonder if it might help to put a piece of that blanket in a place that you know she likes (so she can smell it/get used to it)…like on top of your car (maybe over the driver’s door to make it easier to remove before you drive!)
Sheryl Till says
Since this isn’t her first winter, I’m thinking she will be just fine. Cats are very independent. I’ve always said that we can train a dog but a cat trains us. She will probably adapt to her new tree but it will be on her own time schedule. Good job, Vince!