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It's been nearly two weeks of my constantly trying to coax him out of the storage space, but last night he finally clamored out of hiding in search of food. Yesterday, I figured that one of the issues was that he didn't leave the room was that everything he needed was in there -- litter box, food, and water. So I removed the food and water to where they should be -- the kitchen. I figured if he got hungry, he'd explore more.
I was right. He started meowing in the late evening, like he was bellowing for his dinner. I talked to him (like he could understand me), explaining that this was not a restaurant but a home. I shook his bowl of food to let him know where it is, but I went to bed.
About 2 AM, I awoke to his loud yelling. I went to the bathroom, then to the edge of the stairs to find at the very bottom, just peeking around the corner. I called for him and crouched down at the end. Slowly, he carefully crawled up the steps to where I could pet him. Any sudden move on my part would send him back down the stairs, but then I managed to convince him to come back.
I went to bed, thinking we'd see how it went in the morning, but in the dark, he kept meowing. I called for him and he came into my room. I patted the edge and he jumped up on the bed with me, rubbing his face against my beard and collapsing when I scratched his ears. I was amazed, but also really sleepy. Eventually, I just decided to roll over and he went back downstairs.
I saw him again this morning with his continuing to be vocal. I could pet him if I carefully approached him. I got dressed and went to softball practice. When I got home, he'd returned to the storage space for the bulk of the day while I cleaned house and vacuumed.
This evening, he came back out again, meowing and wondering where his dinner was. I led him to the kitchen with a trail of cat treats. He was still cautious, but he'd roll around on the floor. Milo jumped up on the couch while I was watching TV. He kept kneading me with those claws, but it was nice.
Look How Cute I Am!
Milo the Cat Kneading
He's still skittish, but I definitely consider this great strides. When he stops hiding in the storage space, I'll consider him truly at home.
I was right. He started meowing in the late evening, like he was bellowing for his dinner. I talked to him (like he could understand me), explaining that this was not a restaurant but a home. I shook his bowl of food to let him know where it is, but I went to bed.
About 2 AM, I awoke to his loud yelling. I went to the bathroom, then to the edge of the stairs to find at the very bottom, just peeking around the corner. I called for him and crouched down at the end. Slowly, he carefully crawled up the steps to where I could pet him. Any sudden move on my part would send him back down the stairs, but then I managed to convince him to come back.
I went to bed, thinking we'd see how it went in the morning, but in the dark, he kept meowing. I called for him and he came into my room. I patted the edge and he jumped up on the bed with me, rubbing his face against my beard and collapsing when I scratched his ears. I was amazed, but also really sleepy. Eventually, I just decided to roll over and he went back downstairs.
I saw him again this morning with his continuing to be vocal. I could pet him if I carefully approached him. I got dressed and went to softball practice. When I got home, he'd returned to the storage space for the bulk of the day while I cleaned house and vacuumed.
This evening, he came back out again, meowing and wondering where his dinner was. I led him to the kitchen with a trail of cat treats. He was still cautious, but he'd roll around on the floor. Milo jumped up on the couch while I was watching TV. He kept kneading me with those claws, but it was nice.
Look How Cute I Am!
Milo the Cat Kneading
He's still skittish, but I definitely consider this great strides. When he stops hiding in the storage space, I'll consider him truly at home.
