My cat took 6 weeks to feel comfortable coming out from under my bed after I adopted him. He only came out at night to eat and use the litter box. Suddenly one morning I woke up and he was snuggling next to me. He has been the cuddliest thing ever since.
I adopted siblings semi feral cats. And the Tomcat escorted the half sized terrified female. It took her 7 months to sleep in my bedroom. Because Tomcat drug her sheepskin bed around rooms on tile floor. So she would wake up in a new space with big brother with her always. I am now her human. Only me. Me and her brother are only ones to see her. 😅❤
I adopted a second cat, she was terrified and I’m currently waiting for results for feLv so she’s isolated from my healthy boy. I’m terrified, I cry often and I just want my girl to be healthy so i can give both of them all the love I have in my heart. Your comment made me tear up because I’m praying for the results to come back clear and gain her trust so I can get my first cuddle that’s actually from her. She keeps hiding but I’ll come into her room and just speak to her softly hoping one day she’ll trust me and come out. She only comes out to eat, drink and use her litter. ❤
That's amazing. I have had Tim for almost two weeks now and he is still *very* skittish. Having to take him to the vet a few days in didn't help!! I won't lie -- sometimes I wonder if he will ever trust me but I know he has come a very long way since day one. He is eating his dinner now and complaining at 4.30 in the morning about "where did the food go?" (Like, where do you think it went, brainiac?? Lol,)
My mother-in-law found a cat who was almost dead. He had broken ribs, many infections and was Felv positive. She couldn't leave him to die, so she brought him to me. I took care of him and he is very healthy now (as much as he can be) but he was a feral cat from the beginning. We tried to give him space but he wouldn't let us touch him or come close after he got his health back. It took a lot of love and patience, but I choose to keep him, because I was afraid that other people wouldn't have the patience he needed to be a great cat. It took FOUR years, many mistakes but today he is one of the nicests cats I have ever had. He follows me everywhere, loves being around, loves play time, sleeps on my legs, is very chatty and loving. I never thought he would be like this, I just wanted him to be comfortable around the house, but it's amazing what time and love can do for a cat.
This is a wonderful story, thank you for sharing. It makes my heart happy knowing there are people like you and your mother-in-law out there. You gave that cat a loving home even though it wasn’t easy, that takes a lot of patience and understanding :)
I used to sing lullabies to my scaredy cat when he first came home from the shelter. I absolutely observed that he would begin to react to my voice in situations where he was scared, it was that first encouraging sign that he was starting to warm up to me. I also remember having to play “statue” whenever he would come out of hiding to explore the environment, he was so SUPER aware of every twitch of my hand and would startle easily. He’s a total lap cat now, he runs the house!! 😁
I have always had special songs for each of my cats, but I have never composed something for my current cat, yet. I sing random songs to him, but nothing personalized...he usually looks at me like I'm a bit nuts. Well. Your comment inspired me to start composing something special for this boy. So far it's "boo boo bear, boo boo bear...he's the best cat anywhere" sung to the bat man theme. OK now I might be crazy to think he's really enjoying it, but he was sitting across the room, ignoring me, when I let out the first few notes. He whipped his head around and stared. A few more notes...he's purring so loud I can hear him all the way over here. By the time I get to "anywhere..." he has run over and is sitting next to me, purring and looking at me expectantly. I may be crazy, but I'm really not exaggerating his response. Sing to your cats, people! They love it :D
You give me hope! I make meow sounds at my cat, and I have a certain one I make whenever I open a can of food. It’s still hiding and I don’t want to traumatize it. My last cats I rescued from the cold as kittens so they just took to me. I just hate that it’s hiding, scared of this big man stomping around dropping things and stuff. It probably feels totally justified to hide. It’s an orange cat. Probably gonna name it cringe. Gender unknown, but has yet to piss toxic fumes so assuming female?
When I adopted my cat, Hope, two years ago, I had all sorts of things set up for her - hiding places and cat beds, etc. The shelter said she was an escape artist and freaked out over anything, so I figured I'd have a long road to win her trust. She showed she liked head rubs when we were at the shelter, nudging me a little when I'd stop, so I knew we'd get there eventually. Well, I get her home, open up the carrier, and go sit on the floor on the other side of the apartment. She came right out, did a slight sight-seeing meander, then came right up to me and flopped down beside me hard into my leg. I started to cry. A shelter cat, in her new home for not even five minutes, just flopped down and showed me her belly. Best thank you ever!
Everything about this is so wholesome! Bora is such a caring and responsible cat dad and Jackson is so kind and encouraging, I got emotional as well. I rescued my tortie cat from under a truck and it took her around two months to feel comfortable enough in my house to come out of her base and hang out. Two years later, she's a little devil full of fire and spice and everything nice. Time and love heal everything!
I LOVE my Tortie! She too is a rescue who mysteriously showed up on our patio 5yrs ago in Sept on my birthday. Her face and body shape looks just like a black feral tom who I feed and winter shelter. I'm sure he dropped her off. Best birthday present ever 😘🐈⬛🐾♥️
Same with my adorable torbie- she went under the bed and hissed and growled at everything. Now she comes demanding to be brushed, and falls asleep on my lap. I adore her. Patience and play helped us💕
In Turkey, it's socially very normal to be cat-oriented. Feral cats are kept fed and cared for. Bora went one step more & opened his home & heart to a feral kitty. That is beautiful!
I can totally see why Jackson got emotional with this particular cat case - Bora is such a kind and gentle soul, and loves his kitty so much and the way he has tried to provide everything that could possibly make the kitty happy... it's just the sweetest thing, it kinda melted my heart too tbh. :)
I don’t know if you’ll ever read this but can you please release videos every once in a while updating us on these little help videos if possible? There are some from months ago that I would love to see the progress from!
His hat may scare his cat. Cats are very aware of things that they’ve never seen before. He may not have been with a man before, or maybe afraid of men Bora is doing a great job , the advice Bora was given is perfect. Look luck Bora. Your cat will learn to love you. All you’re doing is worth the loving cat you will have.
We just got 3 months ago two 10.5 year old bonded female cats. One is a tortie, the other a tabby. The tabby is still shy and runs to a hiding place if you stand up. She will let you pet her if you are sitting. The tortie has started to bond with me and lets my husband pet her. We realize they are mourning for their former owner so we hope they will adjust totally to our home. We hope to give them a long life.
I used to have 6 cats. Two of them were really attached, they had a special bond, well one of them developed diabetes and four years later he lost the battle to diabetes and his best friend morned him for about four months. It was so heartbreaking. When the vet came to pick him up in the middle of the night it’s as if she knew it was the last time she was going to see him and she was headbutting him, rubbing her face all over his face and licking his face, like she was saying goodbye. The first month she would search my apartment looking for him and then she would go under the bed and come out later and look for him again. She would put his favorite toy in her mouth and search for him to play. Like I said it was heartbreaking. But I just gave her a lot of love and when she needed space I gave her that space and I was just patient with her. Now she is good and back to causing chaos in my plants every day! So it just takes time but they’ll come around.
I adopted a pair of black and white siblings (then 4 1/2) over 4 years ago. I was looking for an older, less adoptable bonded pair and as ordinary black and white cats, they fit the bill. Their previous guardian of 3 1/2 years was leaving Korea and was desperate to keep them together. When I had picked them up, they were already in their carriers (I had visited about a week before to meet them). My apt was much larger than his one room; he had given me their tower, their two litter boxes, toys, etc, but the first week was awful. The girl stayed on my wardrobe when I was in the apt and hissed if I came near. (Clearly when I wasn't she came down to eat and use the litter box.) The boy walked in circles and meowed loudly. I was so sad that I finally committed to cats (after many years as an expatriate) and they hated me! I contacted the previous guardian and he took the train over an hour to my place, talked to me about their behavior and talked to them. He stayed about an hour and a half and it was magic. They immediately relaxed around me! Now they are going on 9 (as is th eir adopted street-kitty brother) and they all go to bed with me and wake up with me. We eat and play in the morning, and they nap in the afternoon while I work. We eat and play again in the evening. Keeping the pair together was worth it. They are so highly bonded and are together 90% of the time! From time to time I play them a video their previous guardian made, and I send him photos and videos every month or so.
Bora is also probably fighting against a language barrier to give Diego a better life, as in Turkey we have a lot of shyness around not speaking the perfect English. I’m so happy for them both. Congrats Bora 👏🏻👏🏻🐱 and best of luck on your cat journey
I adopted a TNR cat from a shelter a couple of years ago and it took over a year for him to be comfortable with me and now he is the sweetest boy...Sometimes it just takes time, some longer than others.
I adopted a 1.5 yr old cat just over a year ago and he’s taken a while to gain his confidence, too. My boy is also so sweet, he’s just been through a lot in the past. It’s so sweet to see them become happier. I’m so glad your boy has settled in and he’s lucky to have you as his family ❤️
About 8 years ago, my mama adopted a 1 yr old feral kitty who had just weaned her kittens. It took over a year, but she would come out and lay down next to mama when mama was sleeping. Probably another year rolled around before she'd come to mama's recliner and lay with mama while she was awake. Then mama's Parkinson's got bad. Suddenly, mama's kitty became really protective when I'd come over to help mama. She didn't want me messing with mama at all. Luckily, she got used to me coming over daily and stopped hissing and growling. When mama died, it surprised all of us at how quickly kitty bonded with daddy. Unfortunately, daddy had to go to a nursing home less than a year after mama died. I couldn't take kitty and had to give her to a friend. My friend says kitty still has nothing to do with her or anyone else in the house. It's been 8 months, but kitty wants nothing to do with leaving base camp.
My gf had a stray black cat they took in years ago before I even knew her. The guy was as feral as a domestic cat could get, come for food and then bolt outside or hide out in the house, once in a blue moon he may have let you pet him for two seconds. One night, probably about 4-5 years after his is taken in it changes. One night he approaches the bed myself and my girlfriend were laying in, pops his two paws up onto the bed and meows for the first time (of MANY going forward). It's like a switch went off in his head, went from avoidant to chasing people around the house to hang out. Has been that way sense, from Nervous to Needy Nelly. Cats are weird and unique, treat them right though and they will come around, even if it's a few years down the line and seemingly the cat is attempting to make up for lost time
Hey Jackson. I am an older guy. I worked with dogs for forty some years. There was rarely a time when I didn't have my own dog and my personality and understanding of different breeds and what they needed to be happy and stable I worked with other dog owners to help them have a great relationship with their best friends. I also had a saying big dogs are the best dogs and worked with rescues helping them overcome issues that impacted them with previous owners and situations. At one point my daughter at 13 came home and said daddy we have to rescue this dog. I said absolutely and asked what breed. When she said pit bull I said no. She replied daddy you have to meet him first. She was correct so I went to meet him. He was a wonderful boy trapped in a horrible situation so we brought him home and I learned everything I could about a breed I never worked with but had heard all the terrible things that people said about them. For the next 20 + years I worked with bully breeds taking them to my farm and helping them to get back to being stable. At 65 I came to realize I didn't have the energy to do these wonderful dogs justice. When my last adopted pit bull passed away it was difficult. One night on my farm I was in a back field in the rain and saw a black lump in the feid that didn't belong there. After watching for about 10 minutes I said " are you a cat" and this black cat ran to me. He became a good companion. He lived a couple farms over but adopted me and would stay three to five days with me then go back to his other home for a few days. A year and a half later he came out of the woods with a tiny baby cat in his mouth. He carried him up to the patio, showed him the food and water bowls then placed him between my feet to introduce him to me. After four weeks when the little one settled in he went back to his house but would visit frequently to check in. I knew nothing about caring for a cat but found you and learned as much as I could from your videos. This was the beginning of a new chapter in my life and shadow is my favorite companion. He and I both thank you for everything I've learned. You are a hero. Once again thank you very much
Oh so exciting! I did the same 2 years ago before I got my two sister cats. I followed all the advice I got from JG videos. They are the best cats on the planet 😻
@@Marcus99998 There's always got to be one of you that doesn't realize that Jackson isn't watched by just people whose primary language is English. I, for one, am very glad Jackson can teach people all over the world, and grammar isn't the focus here.
It’s only been a week. I think he’s doing a great job as a new cat dad. Just give the cat more time, he will eventually decide that Bora is one of the good ones.
Bora seems like such a sweet guy and Diego is so lucky to have him as his new family! He’s doing so much right and has put so much effort into giving Diego such a wonderful home. I’m sure with Bora’s care and love that Diego will open up, gain confidence and live an incredibly happy life. Bora, you are awesome 🤩
If Bora ever needs a partner (if he doesn’t already have or want one) he should use this video as his dating profile! Who wouldn’t want someone who is this caring!! ❤️
@J H Please don't worry too much about him/her - I've rescued five cats over my lifetime and none have responded the same way. Some hide for months, others adjust really fast. Like the one that broke out of his cosy little nest within the hour and was purring on my neck... A really useful tip the vet gave me was to talk to them. I had a very shy little girl who hid under the coffee-table and as I sat on the sofa I'd just witter away at her. Then I started lying on the floor and she'd come out just far enough to check me out. But them getting used to the everyday sound of your living is important and that's why the one-room thing doesn't always work (that's relatively new anyway and this little one was long before the internet and the vast wealth of knowledge we have access to now.) As long as they're eatimg, drinking and using the litter-box there's really not much you can do until they decide they're comfortable. And yes, I worry myself stupid every time but it's always worked out when they decide I'm not scary after all. So just let her head you and get comfortable with your routine and hear your everyday noises and eventually she'll come and investigate even out of sheet nosiness - I went from two months on the floor talking to Flossie to waking up with her sitting on the side of the bed staring at me one morning! Best of luck.
@J H You're more than welcome - we're all kind of on this mad cat journey together and sometimes we just need to be told we're doing fine. I really worried about Flossie even though I knew logically she was ok. We can't logic ourselves out of emotion tho and the advice from the vet was really just about chilling me out. I HATE that first stage when they're so scared and all you want is to tell them it'll be alright. But we can't, so we just have to tell each other 🤗
@@Momma_AL When Jackson said it's usually men that have done something bad to them, I just felt a huge hammer hit my heart.. There are so many AMAZING cat dads out there, my husband being one of them, I just don't understand why people think it's ok to be mean to animals like they have no soul or emotions just because they cannot speak.. If you stop and think about it, it seems that is a reason people abuse them and think nothing of it.. If an animal could SAY, please stop, you're hurting me, I think people would get it..
We got a cat couple years ago with the same problem. She was always hiding under the bed, avoided us like we were a predator. It took some time but one thing we did and for some strange reason it did help but we would take turns quietly singing calm songs to her close by. We always allowed her to smell us before we touched her, hand fed her favorite treats and naturally had toys around to help bring out the play. We kept the noise in the house to a minimum with music, TV etc.... however, we did play the kitty channel with calming music and bird sounds. Well that was two years ago and it didn't take that long, only a few months but she's queen of the house now. We now have four cats and they all know she's the boss. She loves her cuddles and even alerts us when my daughter is about to have an asthma attack. Face rubs are also calming for them. Good luck that's a beautiful cat🥰💞🥰💞🥰💞
Yep!! Such a similar story! I posted mine so I won't bore you in the reply lol, but the only thing different is we didn't do the singing part, that might have helped too, didn't even think of that. It definitely takes more than a week with scaredies like ours. The time and patience is SOOO worth it though! I'm glad yours came around too and is such an integral part of your family now 😻
@@Amarianee It's actually fun to sing to them😊😊. When we take them to the vet they absolutely hate the car ride so we sing all the way there (30 minutes drive) and they love it, remain calm the whole ride 👍😊👍. Glad it worked out with your kitty too😻. You're right.... It's totally worth it even though it takes time.
@@theknightswhosay 👌😊 lol cats don't care if we're good singers , they just find their human voices soothing. To my cats I'm a famous singer. To my children, when I sing they get excited and go looking for the walrus 😂😂
Something I learned: my cat has stranger danger around my dad more than the rest of the family. What worked best was him watching tv with 1 hand dropped down beside the chair when the cat walked in. It took a bunch of daily sniffs, but she sits with him now.
I have found when I bring a new cat home, they almost all go through a period of what looks like depression. They eat, but most of the time they are withdrawn, kind of sad. But that adjustment period passes. In time, I've had great success with lying down on the floor next to them, or on the bed next to them, and just taking a short nap near them. Seems to be a real bonding experience. When they're awake I'll stick my hand out toward them, see if they reach for me. Just using physical, non-verbal communication in addition to soothing whispers. I had a cat once who loved my husband but anytime I came near her she ran away - for years. That's when I just started quietly lying down next to her, napping, and ever after that she was cool with me!
My cat had been in a shelter for months, poor gal was so scared of things I hadn't considered bedides the usual (doorbelll, vacuum etc) Rotating ceiling fans, ringing phones esp landline, flushing a toilet, bless her heart. She stayed in a guest room for 2 mos, kept her food & litter in there too (under the bed in case she was having a cocoon day) . I would sleep in there sometimes too. A few months later, she was queen.of the house & our 2 older boxers knew it too.
I too rescued a horribly abused cat. I even had to introduce him slowly to light as he had lived in a room with black out curtains. I will spare you the details but 4 years later he is healthy and goofy and silly and downright loving. I fell in cat love with Bora and Diego. This video is 6 months old and I wonder how the pair are doing. I have had cats for 50 years and my guess is they are doing wonderful. God speed to them both!!!
Thank you so much Jackson for this video. I just adopted a very undersocialized and independent cat, and I was in tears last night from the lack of progress I'm having with her. Now that I've watched your video I can see she actually is doing better since day 1, just in millimeters!! Please keep the videos coming 💕
@@lunaraydue1340 She's doing sooo much better! We had a few peeing on couch/bed incidents, but she's stopped that. She's gotten comfortable around my apartment, and is super vocal, especially right after I get home from work! Just yesterday I was able to give her some quick pats and chin scritches. It's so rewarding to see her progress every single day!
GOODNESS !!!!! Thinking you're CRAZY??? I cried a river of tears witnessing your vulnerability and how you valued the guy sharing! Wow I'm in love with who you are! Only a servant leader would see that! 💙💙💙
One of my cats had been abused previously and he was terrified when he came to live with me. He used to hide in the bedroom. I would go, sit in bed and read out loud to him(it was something BCR had done with Jumanji). He would come closer and closer and I would keep ignoring him while I read. Eventually he was in bed with me. Those were my first steps at least.
Not Crazy. You're being the best human you can be. Some people think I'm crazy, in how I love my two cats so deeply. I get the whole, "they're not humans attitude". No, they are not. Being a guardian is a truly special thing.
I have been a dog person for 30 years and now I am about to be a cat father in 3 days. My dog died 2 years ago and I haven't had a pet since then coz I felt I was not ready yet. When my dog died, I felt something in me died as well. I stopped seeing my friends and colleagues for 2 years as well. As I was looking at local posts for pets I came across a munchkin cat that I fell in love instantly. I am about to get her 3 days from now. I have been binge watching all cat 101 videos for 2 days now and bought the essentials (I think) based on all videos I have watched including this. Everything is ready; food, litterbox, bed, house, tree house, scratch post, treats, catnip (didn't even know what this was until today), shampoo, comb etc. I have already visited the nearest vet to schedule a visit. I am excited and anxious at the same time. I am afraid that I might end up like this nice dude. All I wish is for the cat to be happy. Do you have any tips on making a great 1st expression to a cat? This might sound like a funny question but I wanted to be prepared. 😅
Hope it went well and that you're both happy! ❤️🩹 Best way to introduce yourself to a cat (and you should always do that, not just the 1st time) is to let them sniff at your hand and wait until they give you a head sign it's okay to pet them :)
@@cynthiagola-bazzi55411st day my cat was shy and scared. Hid under the bed or couch. I was worried at first but I gave her time and respected her space. It was when I have her treats that she started warming up. Fast forward now, we are inseparable 😅. My cat is the sweetest cat. She would let me cuddle, kiss, hug, carry her and dance her around. She won't complain even if I know it would be annoying if I were her. She understands that if she would just let me do it, I would be exhausted eventually and stop. 🤣 She loves to sleep right next to me. I'd sing her the "Soft Kitty, Warm Kitty" song from the BigBang Theory Series and she'd fall asleep. My cat has reminded me that I am capable of love and I deserved to be loved as well. My house is now blessed with happiness and joy. ❤️
I have two kittens Evie is 9 months and Sacha is 12 weeks. Both rescue kittens. Cat lovers are a special breed of human. The gentleness of this chap with Diego is very beautiful. Jackson becoming emotional is very beautiful too. We feel the emotions of cats. It’s a special thing 🐈
Also speak to your cat in a high pitch voice or high tone voice baby talk! It is comforting to them. I have complete confidence that this man who’s story was featured today will someday raise great children!
I don't baby talk to mine and haven't except for playtime or treats for over 15yrs. There's no way I could keep up baby talk all the time with my cat He knows my voice and he knows my tones of voice My female cat that passed away 2 years ago was actually scared of high-pitched baby talk
NUMBER ONE VIDEO!!! Bora's concern and efforts to make Diego feel "home" and "safe" are phenomenal. After 3 years (we rescued) our 4-year-old Navi, is just NOW doing the "Otter". We still only pet her head, ears, and tip of her tail. Bora, it's all about loving patience. And, BLESS YOU and Jackson.
Omg, I'm excited for this! We had the EXACT same problem with my Coco. We adopted her when she was 4 (she just turned 8 in May) and it took a good month for her to start semi-confidently just wandering through the house while we were home. Had to get a collar with a bell just so we could make sure we knew where she was because she flat out would not come out from under the bed with us around for the first week, but then she'd also hide behind the washer and dryer. She wouldn't sit on laps, she had some kind of fear (we think there may have been abuse at a previous home), and she was afraid of EVERYTHING. It was a long process, but now she begs to cuddle, lap sit (no blanket needed to cover the legs anymore either) meows and trills all the time, follows me everywhere (even to the bathroom. Thank goodness for doors...which she patiently waits outside of 😆). It just took a lot of patience and positive reinforcement. She needed to know she was safe and loved and that she wasn't going back to the foster home a 4th time. Yep, 3 different people adopted and returned this sweet girl, who doesn't bite, doesn't claw, doesn't knock things over because falling objects scare her, almost NEVER hisses (except when strays get too close to the screen door at night), and is just the most loving beautiful black dlh. Just be patient. You never know what kind of past trauma an adoptee might have had to endure before you found them.
@@RayRayfrfr Awww, yeah she came with that name. She's black, but a cinnamon, so when the light hits her right, she's actually really dark brown. I don't know what/who she was named after, but because of her colour she was re-christened Coco Bean lol. I treat it more like a middle/nickname, but it suits her. Since she was 4 already, so I didn't want to try to rename her. I personally think that's really confusing for animals who have had one name for years then just have to try to start responding to something different. So, I just added to it 😁
I can't believe your kitty went through four foster homes!! 😔. How lucky to have found you 😻😻😻 It takes patience to work with scared kitties, most people just don't realize that. Happy your baby is in a safe stable home now🥰💞🥰💞🥰
@@StompMom5 Same! Yeah, one person found out her son was allergic after getting her as a birthday present, an older lady just couldn't take care of her, and the one I think the abuse happened at was a college guy who ended up locking her in his room because his roommate hated cats, and she "tore up his furniture." The foster mum was really shocked because that's not her temperament, then he mentioned the locking her in there all day, and it made sense. Poor thing. So, I misspoke a little. She only had 1 foster home, but she was returned 3x. The lady was super sweet though and really wanted to make sure this would be her forever home, because she had gone through a lot.
@@Amarianee Locking up a cat is just so sad😢. So glad she has you now in a good home 🥰. One of Jackson's episodes of my cat from hell, there was a couple who locked their cat up when it missed the litter box. Man he let them have it and for good reason.
My grandma said once that "if a Man loves cat's you know that he is a good man " and it sometimes with dogs but definitely all the men I know is very nice that own a cat Edit: don't want to be that person but I've never really had 30 likes on a comment 😅
It took 8 years before one of my cats would let me walk up to her and pet her. She would let me pet her with my feet, but she wanted nothing to do with hands. I just gave her all the time she needed. So now at 8 years old, she loves being petted with my hands. Sometimes if I'm not paying attention to her, she'll insist that I pet her. We are all much happier now. It's too bad it took so long, but it is what it is.
I have a feral who I began to feed on my front porch. He would eat beside me outside but no touching. Tricked him in when it got too cold to sit outside. I have horrible arthritis so I'm not as mobile as I would like. So this Dec will be 4 years! He still rums but then slept at the bottom of my bed this past winter...then stopped & began running again. I do have a spayed female but the Empress is another long story & she will tap me for attention.
This video is coming in clutch for me. I just adopted a bonded pair and we're making progress but it's slow. I just want my new babies to feel safe in their new home.
I love the Turkish Gentleman who sent Jackson the video asking for help also. I think you could tell he is a genuine cat lover. You feel that sense of respect and admiration he has for the species. Jackson thank you for talking time with the fans and offering your expert knowledge on these awesome creatures.
Our cat started the same way. He was born in the shelter and lived there for 1 1/2 years before we adopted him so he'd never known a home. He hid under the bed for days. Slowly he started coming out and exploring, but we couldn't get close to him. Shortly after he started exploring we saw he had conjunctivitis in 1 eye. The vet gave us drops, but a few days later it was both eyes and he could barely see. We kept him close to us to feel safer and brought him to bed with us at night. Fortunately another vet visit to an eye specialist showed it was a feline herpes flareup and a medication adjustment cleared up his eyes. After that he really bonded with us and still sleeps in bed with us every night over 9 years later. I think us keeping him feeling safe and secure near us when he was ill and so vulnerable really helped him bond with us so strongly. The downside is I should put the house in his name at this point.
I found this today because I am going through a similar situation I adopted a 10 year old cat and we are the 3rd owners the first had health issues the second had a cat that would attack him . I set climbing and scratching areas for him high window boxes for him to look out of but Charlie just wants to hide my husband and I are being gentle while talking and he did play a little today but still hiding he makes me cry. knowing he must feel lost . He is barely eating or drinking I am leaving water and food in many places for him I hope in time he will realize that this is his forever home and I will love and care for him for as long as he needs me.
@@msheart2 Yes Charlie is eating and drinking he is sleeping with us and is loving his space it took a little while but he really ins very interactive he is such a joy we love him and hope he will live a long life with us. Thank you for your concern for Charlie .
Jackson, a tear fell my eye too!! I love when I see a cat owner that truly cares about their cat rather than their own selfish needs. This guy is doing everything right and as long as he keeps doing that his cat will warm up to him. I have a tiger striped kitty and he is very sensitive too!! But over the years he learned he is safe with me but he still startles easily 10 years later. All they need is love and as long as you can provide that love they will love you back!
The cat I’m fostering, the foster coordinator really wanted to get her out of the shelter because she was so terrified, she had pressed herself as far away from the cage door and into the corner & refused to move & was barely eating. Idk I saw her photo & even though I’m a first time foster and there were other less scared cats, I just knew I had to pick her up. I just resonated with her, I’m neurodivergent & have been diagnosed with ADHD & in the diagnosis process for Autism & that feeling of absolute fear & overwhelm of the senses I know too well. Thank you so much for this video, I have my cat setup much like Bora but didn’t block off under the bed & that is where she stays all the time. She’s eating super well & I can hear her exploring at night having fun with the toys I got her (which makes me very happy) but I was scared to block under the bed since she loves it. She already has a cosy corner I made for her so I think I will block under the bed. It’s been a month & she still seems to not want to leave under the bed if I’m there. She even dragged her bed under there. She seems like she understands that I’m not trying to hurt her so that makes me happy. I also just found out she was surrendered by her previous owner which breaks my heart. 😢 I was worried that I was doing something wrong to stress her out but I’m happy knowing that we are making progress & she’s getting more comfy
Are you going to keep her or just fostering until they find the right home for her? Sometimes fostering turns into a permanent situation. It can't always because then every foster guardian would end up with 30 cats and as much as that sound wonderful it would be very expensive. How are things now, it's been two weeks, is she better?
@@Kyarrix Hi! I'm still planning to just foster but I'm planning to keep her as long as it takes to get her a forever home unless something major happens. The video by the Kitten Lady "goodbye is the goal when fostering kittens" is what inspired me to be a foster mama so I want to try to find her a home so I can help even more kitties. We've made some progress! Only was able to block off half the space under the bed because when I tried to gently push her out she would not move and looked terrified so I didn't want to hurt her/traumatize her. I did though move her bed into a corner with blanket hanging over it and blocked off the under the bed portion right next to it. So she has a safe space but isn't huddling underneath the bed so much. She still doesn't come out where I can see her but she can see me when I feed her and I'm in the room and she's started gently meowing at me and we kind of "talk" back and forth where before she was always so dead silent. It makes me so happy that she's being vocal now! I think she's got severe anxiety so I think we're going to take it as slow as she needs to. She's gained weight too which I'm super happy about as she was underweight when I picked her up.
@@warmlavender5525 You are also helping though when you adopt a cat that is difficult or has been harmed or abused. You never know if the home they will go to will be as good as yours. I can see an argument for either side. You help more in terms of numbers by fostering but you permanently help the kitten you have by adopting. I don't want to discourage you from your current path, you're doing a lot of good. If you can permanently adopt though, that is also doing something wonderful for the cat and for yourself.
@@Kyarrix For sure! There are benefits to both. I'm planning to eventually adopt at some point down the road so if it turns out that this cat becomes a foster fail, just like you said, it will be good for me and her. We can never know completely how other adopters will be but I do get to meet and screen people and have them meet her to see if they're compatible so that makes me feel good. We'll see what the future holds for us.
I let several ferrel cats in from outside when I lived in my apartment and was going to school for my biology degree. I worried if they were happy inside my apartment because they'd always run from me but they seemed to want to stay. I didn't have time to do anything extra special beyond what I had already done for the cats I had had before, only one of whom was still alive then, but I had built a cat tree and had a bunch of different cat toys. The cat I still had before these other cats decided to come into my apartment was still pretty young and he would actually play fetch with me because he'd get bored and bring me his toy so that I'd throw it because I was in the middle of studying so he had a bunch of toys like that. I would always take a little time before bed to pay attention to him but I was kind of glad when other cats wanted to come in and play with him. I only had to catch one of the stray cats because she started getting in heat, which is probably why she wanted to come in and play with my boy (who was fixed but still). I felt really bad having to catch her to get fixed but I did. She was scared of me for a very long time. What really made her less afraid of me was that I would do yoga every morning so that I wouldn't be standing on just my legs, but I'd be on all fours like her for a number of different poses. That made her and other ferrel cats I had calm down a lot. I didn't even really realize it at first because yoga has a tendency to take your focus off of scaredy cats while also making you less imposing since you aren't on your feet. I lost my apartment when I graduated from college and I had to move in with my mom again, who has a dog. All my cats at the time where terrified and they literally hid inside their litter box for a couple of days. It literally took my most frightened cat several years to hang out where the dog could get her but she does now. What stray cats fear is that you, as a much larger animal, will eventually eat them so you have to show them for a while that you're literally not interesting in eating them at all. The cat I was talking about actually cuddled me during the time last year when I literally nearly died of COVID-19 so that connection will happen. Sometimes you have to give love to another being for a long time before they stop being afraid and that goes for us humans as much as any other living being.
My cat was afraid of me for all of one day, but I was going through a full on mental breakdown even in those few hours. It can be incredibly mentally taxing when your furry baby doesn't return your feelings yet. Strength to everyone to get through this period if it lasts long!
I have the same situation with a cat I rescued 6 MONTHS ago. After watching this video, I blocked off the futon he always hides under & created a separate hideout. I feel terrible taking away his safe space but I’m trusting Jackson’s advice!
"probably think I'm crazy." Please do not dismiss or downplay the positive emotions we desperately need to feel and share. Do no let toxic masculinity win. We ( men, women, dogs, society ) NEED to start understanding that emotions are universal and when we finally start regulating them, we can start properly societing.
It's sometimes the very shy, fearful cats who fall the absolute hardest in love with you once they come around. You will be that safe place and person for the cat, just have to chip away each day at his walls.
A few years ago, my partner and I of nearly a decade split up. We'd had a dog together. When I got my own place, I was taken aback at just how lonely I felt without either of them in my life. I was living alone for the first time ever, working overnights. I quickly grew depressed and had been considering the "final" option. Just as I was hitting my lowest point, Cirilla showed up on my doorstep; clearly malnourished. She'd literally been scratching at my front door. I took her to my nearest shelter to try and ensure nobody had lost her. When nobody claimed her, I told the shelter I was very interested in adoption. Since I'd brought her in, they gave me the first choice. When I brought her home, she was sort of like this; very shy. I knew she'd been having a rough go of it, just like me. Here we both are, years later. Happier and healthier than we were on that fateful day of meeting. I think we saved each other's lives, and I'll be eternally grateful to her for that. She has no idea just how much she means to me, and I like to think that I'm as important to her too. Hang in there, Bora. You seem like you have all the best intentions, and I know that Diego will see that and warm up to you. (For any wondering, Ciri was adopted at about 9 months old. She is a Sealpoint Siamese. I just wanted to share our story.)
I felt so emotional too, so many people treat pets as if they're a toy meant to entertain you and don't actually care about their happiness. It's so good to see
So true- I foster cats to find them their forever home, they always hide when they first come in but I just make sure they have somewhere safe to hide, I spend lots of time talking to them and I make sure they know where their food, water and kitty litter is (and it’s not too far away) so they can start establishing their own space
Thank you Jackson for your kind guidance on integrating my rescue cat Lacey into my home. Lacey had been adopted by another rescuer and they brought her back because she was not showing affection, apparently. I visited her room at our local shelter and let her come to me rather than go to her. She scooted right up to my ankle and started purring. Two days after, she was more reticent when I took her home. I brought Lacey home expecting that she would have some anxiety after her recent episode in a new home and then the return to the shelter. I resolved to welcome Lacey as she was: dislocated, unmoored and all. I blocked a couple corners but granted her chosen space underneath the couch, in addition to setting up a private condo under the staircase with litter and food stations in the corners. I kept to a firm schedule. I chanted some gooey pet version of her name over and over, but usually from the next room. A wet/dry food combo got her eating on day two. I planted Temptations around to get her exploring. The cat showed little sense of belonging or comfort after a few patient days. Lacey was frightened and reluctant to emerge from her spots under the couch and under the stairs. I changed nothing to the approach or the schedule. On the third night, she emerged from her nook to eat with her back turned to me, and then I just knew things would be okay for her. Fifth morning she had disappeared. I found her upstairs behind clothes in my closet that I left open. This is where your insight guided me, Jackson. Although I did not touch her, I insisted that she leave her new hiding place, and now I keep the door to it closed. Your condition that new places that a cat exlores in their new home should be associated with socialization rather than solitude was an important point that did not occur to me watching your videos. Anyway, Lacey's ejection from the space behind my coats in the bedroom closet set our welcome week back a day or two. I then left Temptations on all four tiers of her new cat tree upstairs, and she scarfed them. The problem was not an aversion to exploring, clearly, but a solid foundation of trust and understanding with her new caretaker. Lacey was brave enough to emerge, but always by slinking around the margins to avoid my detection. So last night, I laid on my floor for two hours about five feet away from Lacey while she checked me out from under the couch. We listened to the chill new Andre 3000 album. As I spaced out and tried to be as chill as an American can be, she scooted past my head and onto the stairs. Lacey had the high ground now, and intuiting a moment of receptivity, I made my move. As she grilled me from the 7th stair, I looked right back at her and said, "Lacey, I love you and I will always take care of you.". Then I smiled at her and looked away at the ceiling. Then I went to bed. This morning, Lacey came right up to me and meowed sweetly as I moved slowly away from her to the wall. She came right up to my leg again, like when we first met, and started eagerly rubbing her coat against my leg, leading with an eager headbutt and pressing against me as she snuggled past all the way to the tip of her tail. Now, after some determined exploring, Lacey is snuggling with me on the couch that she had hid under since Monday, and I know that we have turned another corner. I'm thankful for this new friend, thankful for UA-cam offering so very much to people, and to you Jackson for your generous instruction.
Turks really LOVE their cats! Kedi live wonderful lives on the streets of Istanbul and Turkey in general. I am not surprised by Bora’s tenderness with his Kedi.
Oh Bora l believe you are doing SO much nice for Diego. He is a lucky boy to have you as such a loving caring and patient Dad. Keep going he will come to love you VERY much 💖
Omg I desperately needed this video, I just adopted my baby and was feeling so sad and discouraged for her and myself but this gave me hope that we will get through it.
I was literally teary eyed already, then Jackson got teary eyed, and it made me cry. It's just so heartwarming when people are being genuine and when cats are getting actual help.
This dude is a rockstar 🤩🤩🤩. What a kind, sweet, gentleman who has such a huge heart. It's true, you don't see this often with men. Kiddos to you and your new kitty 🥰💕🥰💕. Be patient, we went through the same thing with our oldest cat and it totally paid off. Totally worth it!!! 😻😻😻 keep up the great effort👌
Bora and Diego's story, and the fact Jackson is so happy at how well he did preparing for a cat, is making me emotional. I spent a lot of time preparing too. Nearly exactly how Bora did. I just adopted Holly a couple of days ago, and she's so sweet, only darting under the bed if one of my neighbors makes a noise she doesn't know. I want so bad for her to be happy. On day 2, she was bringing me her favorite shoelace, asking to play. Yeah, I'm in tears now.
It took a full four months for my bonded pair to warm up to me. I ga ve them the time knowing their history…travel from the UK to Canada, then four years later one of their humans passes on, a couple weeks in foster care on a farm then move to another city to live with me. Now, we are inseparable! They are both crazy kitties but they’re mine and I love them both.
One week ago we adopted an extremely timid traumatized female cat. She's gone from hiding under our bed (we carefully blocked all access under our bed.... so we thought) to having her engage with us with love head butts/rubs and loud purring. Today she sat in my lap and we've played several times with a toy on a string. With what you've shared here we know how to best care for and love Mia. Thank you so very much.I had no idea a cat could give love like this.
That was an amazing video! It made me cry. Thank you Cat Daddy. YOU ARE AMAZING. I hope to hear more about Borah and Diego. What a beautiful relationship they have, such love!
I love your videos, you teach me so much about cat. Your videos help me deals with the grieve of losing two cats in less than 3 months. I now it's not the subject of the video but I just have to say thank you
you know we’ve been through a lot in our home over the past few months. one cat passed, as did my dad and now another of ours is in the hospice stage and she could pass any time. making these videos for you all helps me as much as it helps you ❤️
Our pets seem to love us more than they love themselves as well. It's a two-way stream. Sometimes we feel like we've rescued them but as time passes and the pet-gardian rapport grows deeper, it suddenly hits us that that pet actually rescued us and not the other way round. Animals have very strong soul-connections with humans. They're simply a Godsend.
Bora was just an amazing caring young man. I would love an update. I had tears over how wonderful Bora is. And your response was so touching. Thank you so much. I just brought a 2 yr old female into my home, and was looking for some ideas, because she is so shy, I layed on the floor and took a few pieces of her food and she ate it. She hasn't moved from under the book case, but think I am now on the right path.
The local pound took my cat once ( She was around the corner of the house) I almost went beside myself. I went to get her the next day, I could tell she was so scared. Needless to say I took her home and since then we got even closer. It's like she knows I will always come back to her, no matter what.
This video gives me hope. Our cat has been with us for about a year now and he still will not come out of hiding if we're standing up, and he will not let us touch him whatsoever. I hope one day we'll be able to bond!
We just now adopted a 6'ish month old semi feral kitty. She's in our front room with a small light shining on her wet food and water. We also put a litter box there but I highly doubt she will use it, which is totaly fine because she was an outdoor kitty that kept getting beat up by other cats..... So ya, I HAD to get her and now she's gonna be an indoor kitty with the whole house all to herself! LOVE your channel!!
This reminds me so much of my feral kitty when I first got her 🥺. She was so small, and so scared, and wouldn’t let anyone approach her. She would play, but if she caught me looking at her she would run and hide. Now she’s the brave little queen of my apartment and follows me around all day long. But I will never forget those first few days trying to get used to eachother. It does get better! ❤
You aren't crazy, Jackson. I'm a middle aged man who has been to war and policed our streets here at home and I was tearing up big time! I was never a cat person, in fact I thought they were a pain. However, as a means of helping me combat the ptsd I picked up along the way I decided on a cat as a therapy animal. Two weeks ago I rescued two 4 mo. old orange tabbies from the local shelter (paperwork says they were strays), and let me tell you they are my world now. Both brother and sister so I did not have to worry about introductions. I feel for the submitter of the video. I lucked out big time. Both Sir George and Lady Meredith get along extremely well, and were cuddling eachother when I first laid eyes on them. It took me almost three weeks to get them home due to having to wait for them to get fixed, and even though I tried really hard not to get attached, especially since adoptions there are first come first serve, I still checked the website each night to see if they had been put up for adoption and went to visit them in the shelter. This paid off, I believe, since as soon as I brough them home and feed them and let them explore around I could see the cat mojo returning. Within ten minutes I laid down to rest and George walked right up on my chest and began purring and head butting me. My heart absolutely melted. Another ten minutes and he had moved on, but his sister took his place! We have been a tight knit family ever since. Leash training started today and they are doing awesome already. BTW, I've set up my home a lot like this guy, even hanging steps and a cat lounge along the wall in the master bedroom where I usually spend my time. Guys can be parents to fur babies as well!
I grew up watching you on animal planet. My first cat i adopted last year, and you were the catalyst for all of the changes i made to my house to accommodate her. She's so happy and confident now, it's incredible to see her getting along with my dogs.
No you are not crazy to find Bora's concern for Diego so special! It is indeed beautiful, and it's absolutely worthy of getting a little verklempt about when you see it. I think that with time and Jackson's excellent advice, Bora and Diego are going to be absolute besties :D
I adopted a 8 years old cat at the end of december and it took a week of me and my SO Going in the room hanging out with him. He would imadiately go under the bed. It would take 10 to 15 minutes for him, to come to us. And i'm proud to say that today. Tiger is hyer confident and is not shy to demand some affection🥰
Young people today give me so much faith in the future. They know that emotions aren’t shameful. Speaking truth to power. Strength through vulnerability. I knew my husband, 20 years younger than me was a keeper as he had 3 cats when I met him, who all adored him and he treated them with such affection and respect. He and his fur tribe brought so much joy into my life. We now have a rescue tabby. Our sweet girl. His little princess, my funny bunny 😻
Who shed a tear? You can freely raise your hand ✋ 🥰
🙋♀️😿
✋❤️
✋
😺💗
✋❤️💙💛💚💜🧡🐈 🇺🇸
My cat took 6 weeks to feel comfortable coming out from under my bed after I adopted him. He only came out at night to eat and use the litter box. Suddenly one morning I woke up and he was snuggling next to me. He has been the cuddliest thing ever since.
Adopted my cat last Wednesday (14/2/2024) he has been hiding and eating at night too.
I adopted siblings semi feral cats. And the Tomcat escorted the half sized terrified female. It took her 7 months to sleep in my bedroom. Because Tomcat drug her sheepskin bed around rooms on tile floor. So she would wake up in a new space with big brother with her always. I am now her human. Only me. Me and her brother are only ones to see her. 😅❤
I adopted a second cat, she was terrified and I’m currently waiting for results for feLv so she’s isolated from my healthy boy. I’m terrified, I cry often and I just want my girl to be healthy so i can give both of them all the love I have in my heart. Your comment made me tear up because I’m praying for the results to come back clear and gain her trust so I can get my first cuddle that’s actually from her. She keeps hiding but I’ll come into her room and just speak to her softly hoping one day she’ll trust me and come out. She only comes out to eat, drink and use her litter. ❤
That's amazing. I have had Tim for almost two weeks now and he is still *very* skittish. Having to take him to the vet a few days in didn't help!! I won't lie -- sometimes I wonder if he will ever trust me but I know he has come a very long way since day one. He is eating his dinner now and complaining at 4.30 in the morning about "where did the food go?" (Like, where do you think it went, brainiac?? Lol,)
I've watched almost all of the Jackson videos and I don't own a cat
Edit: in 3 months I’m getting a kitten!
Edit 2: Pepper is here!
😂 You must be a animal lover!!!!!
Not yet, you mean…
@@JacksonGalaxy yeah not yet XD
@@JacksonGalaxy
Me neither :D but the videos are just so cool
I hope Bora and Diego are safe considering the very recent devastating earthquake.
Fr
My mother-in-law found a cat who was almost dead. He had broken ribs, many infections and was Felv positive. She couldn't leave him to die, so she brought him to me. I took care of him and he is very healthy now (as much as he can be) but he was a feral cat from the beginning. We tried to give him space but he wouldn't let us touch him or come close after he got his health back. It took a lot of love and patience, but I choose to keep him, because I was afraid that other people wouldn't have the patience he needed to be a great cat. It took FOUR years, many mistakes but today he is one of the nicests cats I have ever had. He follows me everywhere, loves being around, loves play time, sleeps on my legs, is very chatty and loving. I never thought he would be like this, I just wanted him to be comfortable around the house, but it's amazing what time and love can do for a cat.
This is a wonderful story, thank you for sharing. It makes my heart happy knowing there are people like you and your mother-in-law out there. You gave that cat a loving home even though it wasn’t easy, that takes a lot of patience and understanding :)
Or a person .
Love this. Thank you Ana Domelas.
Ahaa,.... I didn't read the comment because just because idk 😶
You're an amazing human!!!
Your not crazy Jackson, we love you! We need more people like you and Bora in the world.
Darn right!
We are in the comment section. You are one too.
Unconditional love and compassion shouldn't be a crazy thing in this crazy world
AMEN! 😻
I love a good bromance and men that love cats.
"When a man loves cats, I am his friend and comrade, without further introduction." - Mark Twain 💖
@@em0_tion Perfect or purrrrrrfect. 😻
That’s how you know he a good one
Oh yes totally 💯
Yes! Men who live cats are where it’s at! I love this video! Thanks Jackson!
I used to sing lullabies to my scaredy cat when he first came home from the shelter. I absolutely observed that he would begin to react to my voice in situations where he was scared, it was that first encouraging sign that he was starting to warm up to me. I also remember having to play “statue” whenever he would come out of hiding to explore the environment, he was so SUPER aware of every twitch of my hand and would startle easily.
He’s a total lap cat now, he runs the house!! 😁
I have always had special songs for each of my cats, but I have never composed something for my current cat, yet. I sing random songs to him, but nothing personalized...he usually looks at me like I'm a bit nuts.
Well. Your comment inspired me to start composing something special for this boy. So far it's "boo boo bear, boo boo bear...he's the best cat anywhere" sung to the bat man theme. OK now I might be crazy to think he's really enjoying it, but he was sitting across the room, ignoring me, when I let out the first few notes. He whipped his head around and stared. A few more notes...he's purring so loud I can hear him all the way over here. By the time I get to "anywhere..." he has run over and is sitting next to me, purring and looking at me expectantly.
I may be crazy, but I'm really not exaggerating his response. Sing to your cats, people! They love it :D
You give me hope! I make meow sounds at my cat, and I have a certain one I make whenever I open a can of food. It’s still hiding and I don’t want to traumatize it. My last cats I rescued from the cold as kittens so they just took to me.
I just hate that it’s hiding, scared of this big man stomping around dropping things and stuff. It probably feels totally justified to hide.
It’s an orange cat. Probably gonna name it cringe. Gender unknown, but has yet to piss toxic fumes so assuming female?
P@@lisar3944
When I adopted my cat, Hope, two years ago, I had all sorts of things set up for her - hiding places and cat beds, etc. The shelter said she was an escape artist and freaked out over anything, so I figured I'd have a long road to win her trust. She showed she liked head rubs when we were at the shelter, nudging me a little when I'd stop, so I knew we'd get there eventually. Well, I get her home, open up the carrier, and go sit on the floor on the other side of the apartment. She came right out, did a slight sight-seeing meander, then came right up to me and flopped down beside me hard into my leg. I started to cry. A shelter cat, in her new home for not even five minutes, just flopped down and showed me her belly. Best thank you ever!
^^'
^^'
She was just SO grateful to you for getting her out of that scary jail! I am grateful you did also.
AWWH love to hear that
My little guy I adopted a month ago showed me belly the first day I took him home as well I also cried lol
A real man isn't afraid of kindness.
Everything about this is so wholesome! Bora is such a caring and responsible cat dad and Jackson is so kind and encouraging, I got emotional as well. I rescued my tortie cat from under a truck and it took her around two months to feel comfortable enough in my house to come out of her base and hang out. Two years later, she's a little devil full of fire and spice and everything nice. Time and love heal everything!
I LOVE my Tortie! She too is a rescue who mysteriously showed up on our patio 5yrs ago in Sept on my birthday. Her face and body shape looks just like a black feral tom who I feed and winter shelter. I'm sure he dropped her off. Best birthday present ever 😘🐈⬛🐾♥️
Honestly It's cool that he brought in grass just to make his cat comfortable, something most people wouldn't do.
@@leagueaddict8357 That was so sweet, I thought the same.
Same with my adorable torbie- she went under the bed and hissed and growled at everything. Now she comes demanding to be brushed, and falls asleep on my lap. I adore her. Patience and play helped us💕
@@sylviekins I bet she's like velcro now. That's a happy ending
In Turkey, it's socially very normal to be cat-oriented. Feral cats are kept fed and cared for. Bora went one step more & opened his home & heart to a feral kitty. That is beautiful!
I can totally see why Jackson got emotional with this particular cat case - Bora is such a kind and gentle soul, and loves his kitty so much and the way he has tried to provide everything that could possibly make the kitty happy... it's just the sweetest thing, it kinda melted my heart too tbh. :)
Also make him a house cat. Its dangerous outside. Let him explore your place
Let him sleep with you
Bora comes across as an absolute gem of a human. I’m sure Diego came around in time. Would love to see an update about these two ❤️🐾
Definitely!
I vote for a Bora - Diego update also!
yeah
I hope they weren't affected by the February earthquake in Turkey 😢
I don’t know if you’ll ever read this but can you please release videos every once in a while updating us on these little help videos if possible? There are some from months ago that I would love to see the progress from!
Good idea!
I would love that!
Yes!!!
UPPP!!!!
Yes, great idea!
Nothing wrong with happy tears Jackson. I’ll even join in because of Bora’s kindness...
His hat may scare his cat. Cats are very aware of things that they’ve never seen before. He may not have been with a man before, or maybe afraid of men Bora is doing a great job , the advice Bora was given is perfect. Look luck Bora. Your cat will learn to love you. All you’re doing is worth the loving cat you will have.
We just got 3 months ago two 10.5 year old bonded female cats. One is a tortie, the other a tabby. The tabby is still shy and runs to a hiding place if you stand up. She will let you pet her if you are sitting. The tortie has started to bond with me and lets my husband pet her. We realize they are mourning for their former owner so we hope they will adjust totally to our home. We hope to give them a long life.
I love that you rescued 2 older cats, so awesome! I also adopted a senior in April, its just so rewarding!
I used to have 6 cats. Two of them were really attached, they had a special bond, well one of them developed diabetes and four years later he lost the battle to diabetes and his best friend morned him for about four months. It was so heartbreaking. When the vet came to pick him up in the middle of the night it’s as if she knew it was the last time she was going to see him and she was headbutting him, rubbing her face all over his face and licking his face, like she was saying goodbye. The first month she would search my apartment looking for him and then she would go under the bed and come out later and look for him again. She would put his favorite toy in her mouth and search for him to play. Like I said it was heartbreaking. But I just gave her a lot of love and when she needed space I gave her that space and I was just patient with her. Now she is good and back to causing chaos in my plants every day! So it just takes time but they’ll come around.
You are amazing and these two cats sound so adorable! Wishing you all the best for a long and happy future💕💕
I adopted a pair of black and white siblings (then 4 1/2) over 4 years ago. I was looking for an older, less adoptable bonded pair and as ordinary black and white cats, they fit the bill. Their previous guardian of 3 1/2 years was leaving Korea and was desperate to keep them together. When I had picked them up, they were already in their carriers (I had visited about a week before to meet them). My apt was much larger than his one room; he had given me their tower, their two litter boxes, toys, etc, but the first week was awful. The girl stayed on my wardrobe when I was in the apt and hissed if I came near. (Clearly when I wasn't she came down to eat and use the litter box.) The boy walked in circles and meowed loudly. I was so sad that I finally committed to cats (after many years as an expatriate) and they hated me! I contacted the previous guardian and he took the train over an hour to my place, talked to me about their behavior and talked to them. He stayed about an hour and a half and it was magic. They immediately relaxed around me! Now they are going on 9 (as is th
eir adopted street-kitty brother) and they all go to bed with me and wake up with me. We eat and play in the morning, and they nap in the afternoon while I work. We eat and play again in the evening. Keeping the pair together was worth it. They are so highly bonded and are together 90% of the time! From time to time I play them a video their previous guardian made, and I send him photos and videos every month or so.
Bora is also probably fighting against a language barrier to give Diego a better life, as in Turkey we have a lot of shyness around not speaking the perfect English. I’m so happy for them both. Congrats Bora 👏🏻👏🏻🐱 and best of luck on your cat journey
I adopted a TNR cat from a shelter a couple of years ago and it took over a year for him to be comfortable with me and now he is the sweetest boy...Sometimes it just takes time, some longer than others.
I adopted a 1.5 yr old cat just over a year ago and he’s taken a while to gain his confidence, too. My boy is also so sweet, he’s just been through a lot in the past. It’s so sweet to see them become happier. I’m so glad your boy has settled in and he’s lucky to have you as his family ❤️
About 8 years ago, my mama adopted a 1 yr old feral kitty who had just weaned her kittens. It took over a year, but she would come out and lay down next to mama when mama was sleeping. Probably another year rolled around before she'd come to mama's recliner and lay with mama while she was awake. Then mama's Parkinson's got bad. Suddenly, mama's kitty became really protective when I'd come over to help mama. She didn't want me messing with mama at all. Luckily, she got used to me coming over daily and stopped hissing and growling. When mama died, it surprised all of us at how quickly kitty bonded with daddy. Unfortunately, daddy had to go to a nursing home less than a year after mama died. I couldn't take kitty and had to give her to a friend. My friend says kitty still has nothing to do with her or anyone else in the house. It's been 8 months, but kitty wants nothing to do with leaving base camp.
My gf had a stray black cat they took in years ago before I even knew her. The guy was as feral as a domestic cat could get, come for food and then bolt outside or hide out in the house, once in a blue moon he may have let you pet him for two seconds. One night, probably about 4-5 years after his is taken in it changes. One night he approaches the bed myself and my girlfriend were laying in, pops his two paws up onto the bed and meows for the first time (of MANY going forward). It's like a switch went off in his head, went from avoidant to chasing people around the house to hang out. Has been that way sense, from Nervous to Needy Nelly. Cats are weird and unique, treat them right though and they will come around, even if it's a few years down the line and seemingly the cat is attempting to make up for lost time
Hey Jackson. I am an older guy. I worked with dogs for forty some years. There was rarely a time when I didn't have my own dog and my personality and understanding of different breeds and what they needed to be happy and stable I worked with other dog owners to help them have a great relationship with their best friends. I also had a saying big dogs are the best dogs and worked with rescues helping them overcome issues that impacted them with previous owners and situations. At one point my daughter at 13 came home and said daddy we have to rescue this dog. I said absolutely and asked what breed. When she said pit bull I said no. She replied daddy you have to meet him first. She was correct so I went to meet him. He was a wonderful boy trapped in a horrible situation so we brought him home and I learned everything I could about a breed I never worked with but had heard all the terrible things that people said about them. For the next 20 + years I worked with bully breeds taking them to my farm and helping them to get back to being stable. At 65 I came to realize I didn't have the energy to do these wonderful dogs justice. When my last adopted pit bull passed away it was difficult. One night on my farm I was in a back field in the rain and saw a black lump in the feid that didn't belong there. After watching for about 10 minutes I said " are you a cat" and this black cat ran to me. He became a good companion. He lived a couple farms over but adopted me and would stay three to five days with me then go back to his other home for a few days. A year and a half later he came out of the woods with a tiny baby cat in his mouth. He carried him up to the patio, showed him the food and water bowls then placed him between my feet to introduce him to me. After four weeks when the little one settled in he went back to his house but would visit frequently to check in. I knew nothing about caring for a cat but found you and learned as much as I could from your videos. This was the beginning of a new chapter in my life and shadow is my favorite companion. He and I both thank you for everything I've learned. You are a hero. Once again thank you very much
i love this channel! i’m getting my first kitten in a few weeks! i’m gonna give it the most luxurious life thanks to you
@taberoo me too!! Altho it's not my first I'm so excited! Congratulations, you are now a pre-cat mom/dad!
@@skyrimsiceprincess9664 thank you!
I'm on the same boat! Good luck and enjoy your cat adventure!!!
Oh so exciting! I did the same 2 years ago before I got my two sister cats. I followed all the advice I got from JG videos. They are the best cats on the planet 😻
Same. Best of luck to you
"I care about you more than I care about me." Wow! Did Jackson Galaxy define love in words? Because that's how it looks in action and results. ❤️ cats
💯!!
Getting a cat was one of the best chooses I’ve ever made.
Me, too 😊 I never thought I will loved a feline so much like my Niki ❤️
Exactly! and still lot of people thinks I am "crazy"... stupid people...
I love my cats very much. They love unconditionally and provide the best companionship. ❤
Choice?
@@Marcus99998 There's always got to be one of you that doesn't realize that Jackson isn't watched by just people whose primary language is English. I, for one, am very glad Jackson can teach people all over the world, and grammar isn't the focus here.
It’s only been a week. I think he’s doing a great job as a new cat dad. Just give the cat more time, he will eventually decide that Bora is one of the good ones.
For all the Cat Daddies out there.
Happy Father's Day 🐾
Salutations 💌
Cats in Turkey are like royalty. Everyone loves them and i love that. I think its the coolest.
Bora seems like such a sweet guy and Diego is so lucky to have him as his new family! He’s doing so much right and has put so much effort into giving Diego such a wonderful home. I’m sure with Bora’s care and love that Diego will open up, gain confidence and live an incredibly happy life. Bora, you are awesome 🤩
If Bora ever needs a partner (if he doesn’t already have or want one) he should use this video as his dating profile! Who wouldn’t want someone who is this caring!! ❤️
@@zombiemeg oh yes, a perfect profile
It has been nine months since this video was published.
By now, Diego runs the house and trusts his dad 100%.
I hope Bora sends you a progress report in awhile with Diego's progress. Time. Patience. Love. Works wonders. Great video!
Yes I want an update!!
Yes, please I just brought home a 6 month boy and I am going through nearly the exact scenario. In time, I hope his cat will be as sweet as he is 💕😻
@J H
Please don't worry too much about him/her - I've rescued five cats over my lifetime and none have responded the same way. Some hide for months, others adjust really fast. Like the one that broke out of his cosy little nest within the hour and was purring on my neck...
A really useful tip the vet gave me was to talk to them. I had a very shy little girl who hid under the coffee-table and as I sat on the sofa I'd just witter away at her. Then I started lying on the floor and she'd come out just far enough to check me out. But them getting used to the everyday sound of your living is important and that's why the one-room thing doesn't always work (that's relatively new anyway and this little one was long before the internet and the vast wealth of knowledge we have access to now.)
As long as they're eatimg, drinking and using the litter-box there's really not much you can do until they decide they're comfortable. And yes, I worry myself stupid every time but it's always worked out when they decide I'm not scary after all. So just let her head you and get comfortable with your routine and hear your everyday noises and eventually she'll come and investigate even out of sheet nosiness - I went from two months on the floor talking to Flossie to waking up with her sitting on the side of the bed staring at me one morning!
Best of luck.
@@randomhumanoidblob4506 Thank you for your comforting advice--it really helps :-)
@J H
You're more than welcome - we're all kind of on this mad cat journey together and sometimes we just need to be told we're doing fine.
I really worried about Flossie even though I knew logically she was ok. We can't logic ourselves out of emotion tho and the advice from the vet was really just about chilling me out. I HATE that first stage when they're so scared and all you want is to tell them it'll be alright. But we can't, so we just have to tell each other 🤗
2 caring gentle Men with a common cause 🤗
I always feel so very bad when animals are so scared.. It just breaks my heart so much.
Me too. Makes me wonder what happened to make them so afraid 😞
@@Momma_AL When Jackson said it's usually men that have done something bad to them, I just felt a huge hammer hit my heart.. There are so many AMAZING cat dads out there, my husband being one of them, I just don't understand why people think it's ok to be mean to animals like they have no soul or emotions just because they cannot speak..
If you stop and think about it, it seems that is a reason people abuse them and think nothing of it.. If an animal could SAY, please stop, you're hurting me, I think people would get it..
@@Swnsasy sadly many people are ignorant and egoistical in that part, in many parts honestly
@@Swnsasy Plenty of children tell their abusive parents "stop, you're hurting me!" That doesn't stop the abuse.
It just takes time for stranded cats to get used to thier new home.
Reading everyone’s breakthrough with their cats is so touching 😭😭😭 I love this community so much
We got a cat couple years ago with the same problem. She was always hiding under the bed, avoided us like we were a predator. It took some time but one thing we did and for some strange reason it did help but we would take turns quietly singing calm songs to her close by. We always allowed her to smell us before we touched her, hand fed her favorite treats and naturally had toys around to help bring out the play. We kept the noise in the house to a minimum with music, TV etc.... however, we did play the kitty channel with calming music and bird sounds. Well that was two years ago and it didn't take that long, only a few months but she's queen of the house now. We now have four cats and they all know she's the boss. She loves her cuddles and even alerts us when my daughter is about to have an asthma attack. Face rubs are also calming for them. Good luck that's a beautiful cat🥰💞🥰💞🥰💞
Yep!! Such a similar story! I posted mine so I won't bore you in the reply lol, but the only thing different is we didn't do the singing part, that might have helped too, didn't even think of that. It definitely takes more than a week with scaredies like ours. The time and patience is SOOO worth it though! I'm glad yours came around too and is such an integral part of your family now 😻
@@Amarianee It's actually fun to sing to them😊😊. When we take them to the vet they absolutely hate the car ride so we sing all the way there (30 minutes drive) and they love it, remain calm the whole ride 👍😊👍. Glad it worked out with your kitty too😻. You're right.... It's totally worth it even though it takes time.
That is amazing!!
I’m not a good singer, but it helps my cats when they’re unhappy about something. I’ve found some soothing music online too.
@@theknightswhosay 👌😊 lol cats don't care if we're good singers , they just find their human voices soothing. To my cats I'm a famous singer. To my children, when I sing they get excited and go looking for the walrus 😂😂
I think we'd all like to have an update from Bora and Diego to see how they've got on?
Something I learned: my cat has stranger danger around my dad more than the rest of the family. What worked best was him watching tv with 1 hand dropped down beside the chair when the cat walked in. It took a bunch of daily sniffs, but she sits with him now.
That’s such a small thing, fantastic that this worked!
I have found when I bring a new cat home, they almost all go through a period of what looks like depression. They eat, but most of the time they are withdrawn, kind of sad. But that adjustment period passes. In time, I've had great success with lying down on the floor next to them, or on the bed next to them, and just taking a short nap near them. Seems to be a real bonding experience. When they're awake I'll stick my hand out toward them, see if they reach for me. Just using physical, non-verbal communication in addition to soothing whispers. I had a cat once who loved my husband but anytime I came near her she ran away - for years. That's when I just started quietly lying down next to her, napping, and ever after that she was cool with me!
My cat had been in a shelter for months, poor gal was so scared of things I hadn't considered bedides the usual (doorbelll, vacuum etc) Rotating ceiling fans, ringing phones esp landline, flushing a toilet, bless her heart. She stayed in a guest room for 2 mos, kept her food & litter in there too (under the bed in case she was having a cocoon day) . I would sleep in there sometimes too. A few months later, she was queen.of the house & our 2 older boxers knew it too.
Lololol, I fricking love this. Ur great.
I too rescued a horribly abused cat. I even had to introduce him slowly to light as he had lived in a room with black out curtains. I will spare you the details but 4 years later he is healthy and goofy and silly and downright loving. I fell in cat love with Bora and Diego. This video is 6 months old and I wonder how the pair are doing. I have had cats for 50 years and my guess is they are doing wonderful. God speed to them both!!!
Thank you so much Jackson for this video. I just adopted a very undersocialized and independent cat, and I was in tears last night from the lack of progress I'm having with her. Now that I've watched your video I can see she actually is doing better since day 1, just in millimeters!! Please keep the videos coming 💕
Hang in there !
I hope it had gotten better !
Any advice?
6 months later how is she doing? I hope all's going well!
@@lunaraydue1340 She's doing sooo much better! We had a few peeing on couch/bed incidents, but she's stopped that. She's gotten comfortable around my apartment, and is super vocal, especially right after I get home from work! Just yesterday I was able to give her some quick pats and chin scritches. It's so rewarding to see her progress every single day!
I’m verklempt, too 🥲
Bora’s sweet kindness will win over Diego, no doubt. I have hope for humanity just knowing there are people like Bora out there 🥰
Bora: The future cat daddy of Turkey!
GOODNESS !!!!! Thinking you're CRAZY??? I cried a river of tears witnessing your vulnerability and how you valued the guy sharing! Wow I'm in love with who you are! Only a servant leader would see that! 💙💙💙
One of my cats had been abused previously and he was terrified when he came to live with me. He used to hide in the bedroom. I would go, sit in bed and read out loud to him(it was something BCR had done with Jumanji). He would come closer and closer and I would keep ignoring him while I read. Eventually he was in bed with me. Those were my first steps at least.
Great idea!💕
Not Crazy. You're being the best human you can be. Some people think I'm crazy, in how I love my two cats so deeply. I get the whole, "they're not humans attitude". No, they are not. Being a guardian is a truly special thing.
I want to hear an update for Bora! Definitely! Love to Diego!
I have been a dog person for 30 years and now I am about to be a cat father in 3 days. My dog died 2 years ago and I haven't had a pet since then coz I felt I was not ready yet. When my dog died, I felt something in me died as well. I stopped seeing my friends and colleagues for 2 years as well. As I was looking at local posts for pets I came across a munchkin cat that I fell in love instantly. I am about to get her 3 days from now. I have been binge watching all cat 101 videos for 2 days now and bought the essentials (I think) based on all videos I have watched including this. Everything is ready; food, litterbox, bed, house, tree house, scratch post, treats, catnip (didn't even know what this was until today), shampoo, comb etc. I have already visited the nearest vet to schedule a visit. I am excited and anxious at the same time. I am afraid that I might end up like this nice dude. All I wish is for the cat to be happy.
Do you have any tips on making a great 1st expression to a cat? This might sound like a funny question but I wanted to be prepared. 😅
Hope it went well and that you're both happy! ❤️🩹
Best way to introduce yourself to a cat (and you should always do that, not just the 1st time) is to let them sniff at your hand and wait until they give you a head sign it's okay to pet them :)
@@cynthiagola-bazzi55411st day my cat was shy and scared. Hid under the bed or couch. I was worried at first but I gave her time and respected her space. It was when I have her treats that she started warming up. Fast forward now, we are inseparable 😅. My cat is the sweetest cat. She would let me cuddle, kiss, hug, carry her and dance her around. She won't complain even if I know it would be annoying if I were her. She understands that if she would just let me do it, I would be exhausted eventually and stop. 🤣
She loves to sleep right next to me. I'd sing her the "Soft Kitty, Warm Kitty" song from the BigBang Theory Series and she'd fall asleep.
My cat has reminded me that I am capable of love and I deserved to be loved as well. My house is now blessed with happiness and joy. ❤️
why am I crying? 😭
you're doing a great job, Bora! Diego is going to be less shy and hang out with you more and more ❤
I have two kittens Evie is 9 months and Sacha is 12 weeks. Both rescue kittens. Cat lovers are a special breed of human. The gentleness of this chap with Diego is very beautiful. Jackson becoming emotional is very beautiful too. We feel the emotions of cats. It’s a special thing 🐈
Also speak to your cat in a high pitch voice or high tone voice baby talk! It is comforting to them. I have complete confidence that this man who’s story was featured today will someday raise great children!
I don't baby talk to mine and haven't except for playtime or treats for over 15yrs. There's no way I could keep up baby talk all the time with my cat He knows my voice and he knows my tones of voice My female cat that passed away 2 years ago was actually scared of high-pitched baby talk
NUMBER ONE VIDEO!!! Bora's concern and efforts to make Diego feel "home" and "safe" are phenomenal. After 3 years (we rescued) our 4-year-old Navi, is just NOW doing the "Otter". We still only pet her head, ears, and tip of her tail. Bora, it's all about loving patience. And, BLESS YOU and Jackson.
Omg, I'm excited for this! We had the EXACT same problem with my Coco. We adopted her when she was 4 (she just turned 8 in May) and it took a good month for her to start semi-confidently just wandering through the house while we were home. Had to get a collar with a bell just so we could make sure we knew where she was because she flat out would not come out from under the bed with us around for the first week, but then she'd also hide behind the washer and dryer. She wouldn't sit on laps, she had some kind of fear (we think there may have been abuse at a previous home), and she was afraid of EVERYTHING. It was a long process, but now she begs to cuddle, lap sit (no blanket needed to cover the legs anymore either) meows and trills all the time, follows me everywhere (even to the bathroom. Thank goodness for doors...which she patiently waits outside of 😆). It just took a lot of patience and positive reinforcement. She needed to know she was safe and loved and that she wasn't going back to the foster home a 4th time. Yep, 3 different people adopted and returned this sweet girl, who doesn't bite, doesn't claw, doesn't knock things over because falling objects scare her, almost NEVER hisses (except when strays get too close to the screen door at night), and is just the most loving beautiful black dlh. Just be patient. You never know what kind of past trauma an adoptee might have had to endure before you found them.
Omg, my cat is named coco too, and we got her at 4 months old! What a coincidence
@@RayRayfrfr Awww, yeah she came with that name. She's black, but a cinnamon, so when the light hits her right, she's actually really dark brown. I don't know what/who she was named after, but because of her colour she was re-christened Coco Bean lol. I treat it more like a middle/nickname, but it suits her. Since she was 4 already, so I didn't want to try to rename her. I personally think that's really confusing for animals who have had one name for years then just have to try to start responding to something different. So, I just added to it 😁
I can't believe your kitty went through four foster homes!! 😔. How lucky to have found you 😻😻😻 It takes patience to work with scared kitties, most people just don't realize that. Happy your baby is in a safe stable home now🥰💞🥰💞🥰
@@StompMom5 Same! Yeah, one person found out her son was allergic after getting her as a birthday present, an older lady just couldn't take care of her, and the one I think the abuse happened at was a college guy who ended up locking her in his room because his roommate hated cats, and she "tore up his furniture." The foster mum was really shocked because that's not her temperament, then he mentioned the locking her in there all day, and it made sense. Poor thing. So, I misspoke a little. She only had 1 foster home, but she was returned 3x. The lady was super sweet though and really wanted to make sure this would be her forever home, because she had gone through a lot.
@@Amarianee Locking up a cat is just so sad😢. So glad she has you now in a good home 🥰. One of Jackson's episodes of my cat from hell, there was a couple who locked their cat up when it missed the litter box. Man he let them have it and for good reason.
Bora is an amazing person! I wish everyone on our planet were as kind as Jackson and Bora😻
My grandma said once that "if a Man loves cat's you know that he is a good man " and it sometimes with dogs but definitely all the men I know is very nice that own a cat
Edit: don't want to be that person but I've never really had 30 likes on a comment 😅
Oh yes
Absolutely!!! Your grandma speaks the truth.
No, I don't think you're crazy. Bora's approach to Diego is genuinely beautiful. I got teary eyed too.
It took 8 years before one of my cats would let me walk up to her and pet her. She would let me pet her with my feet, but she wanted nothing to do with hands. I just gave her all the time she needed. So now at 8 years old, she loves being petted with my hands. Sometimes if I'm not paying attention to her, she'll insist that I pet her. We are all much happier now. It's too bad it took so long, but it is what it is.
Dang, that's dedication. Isn't it funny how stubborn a cat can be, only took 8 years.. haha. Great job!
I have a feral who I began to feed on my front porch. He would eat beside me outside but no touching. Tricked him in when it got too cold to sit outside. I have horrible arthritis so I'm not as mobile as I would like. So this Dec will be 4 years! He still rums but then slept at the bottom of my bed this past winter...then stopped & began running again. I do have a spayed female but the Empress is another long story & she will tap me for attention.
Guys who care for cats ❤️🥰❤️🥰❤️
This video is coming in clutch for me. I just adopted a bonded pair and we're making progress but it's slow. I just want my new babies to feel safe in their new home.
I love the Turkish Gentleman who sent Jackson the video asking for help also. I think you could tell he is a genuine cat lover. You feel that sense of respect and admiration he has for the species. Jackson thank you for talking time with the fans and offering your expert knowledge on these awesome creatures.
Our cat started the same way. He was born in the shelter and lived there for 1 1/2 years before we adopted him so he'd never known a home. He hid under the bed for days. Slowly he started coming out and exploring, but we couldn't get close to him. Shortly after he started exploring we saw he had conjunctivitis in 1 eye. The vet gave us drops, but a few days later it was both eyes and he could barely see. We kept him close to us to feel safer and brought him to bed with us at night. Fortunately another vet visit to an eye specialist showed it was a feline herpes flareup and a medication adjustment cleared up his eyes. After that he really bonded with us and still sleeps in bed with us every night over 9 years later. I think us keeping him feeling safe and secure near us when he was ill and so vulnerable really helped him bond with us so strongly. The downside is I should put the house in his name at this point.
I found this today because I am going through a similar situation I adopted a 10 year old cat and we are the 3rd owners the first had health issues the second had a cat that would attack him . I set climbing and scratching areas for him high window boxes for him to look out of but Charlie just wants to hide my husband and I are being gentle while talking and he did play a little today but still hiding he makes me cry. knowing he must feel lost . He is barely eating or drinking I am leaving water and food in many places for him I hope in time he will realize that this is his forever home and I will love and care for him for as long as he needs me.
Aw, the poor love, you’re his 3 owners, that is tough. I hope he starts to eat and have water, please keep us posted.
@@msheart2 Yes Charlie is eating and drinking he is sleeping with us and is loving his space it took a little while but he really ins very interactive he is such a joy we love him and hope he will live a long life with us. Thank you for your concern for Charlie .
Jackson, a tear fell my eye too!! I love when I see a cat owner that truly cares about their cat rather than their own selfish needs. This guy is doing everything right and as long as he keeps doing that his cat will warm up to him. I have a tiger striped kitty and he is very sensitive too!! But over the years he learned he is safe with me but he still startles easily 10 years later. All they need is love and as long as you can provide that love they will love you back!
The cat I’m fostering, the foster coordinator really wanted to get her out of the shelter because she was so terrified, she had pressed herself as far away from the cage door and into the corner & refused to move & was barely eating. Idk I saw her photo & even though I’m a first time foster and there were other less scared cats, I just knew I had to pick her up. I just resonated with her, I’m neurodivergent & have been diagnosed with ADHD & in the diagnosis process for Autism & that feeling of absolute fear & overwhelm of the senses I know too well. Thank you so much for this video, I have my cat setup much like Bora but didn’t block off under the bed & that is where she stays all the time. She’s eating super well & I can hear her exploring at night having fun with the toys I got her (which makes me very happy) but I was scared to block under the bed since she loves it. She already has a cosy corner I made for her so I think I will block under the bed. It’s been a month & she still seems to not want to leave under the bed if I’m there. She even dragged her bed under there. She seems like she understands that I’m not trying to hurt her so that makes me happy. I also just found out she was surrendered by her previous owner which breaks my heart. 😢 I was worried that I was doing something wrong to stress her out but I’m happy knowing that we are making progress & she’s getting more comfy
Are you going to keep her or just fostering until they find the right home for her? Sometimes fostering turns into a permanent situation. It can't always because then every foster guardian would end up with 30 cats and as much as that sound wonderful it would be very expensive. How are things now, it's been two weeks, is she better?
@@Kyarrix Hi! I'm still planning to just foster but I'm planning to keep her as long as it takes to get her a forever home unless something major happens. The video by the Kitten Lady "goodbye is the goal when fostering kittens" is what inspired me to be a foster mama so I want to try to find her a home so I can help even more kitties. We've made some progress! Only was able to block off half the space under the bed because when I tried to gently push her out she would not move and looked terrified so I didn't want to hurt her/traumatize her. I did though move her bed into a corner with blanket hanging over it and blocked off the under the bed portion right next to it. So she has a safe space but isn't huddling underneath the bed so much. She still doesn't come out where I can see her but she can see me when I feed her and I'm in the room and she's started gently meowing at me and we kind of "talk" back and forth where before she was always so dead silent. It makes me so happy that she's being vocal now! I think she's got severe anxiety so I think we're going to take it as slow as she needs to. She's gained weight too which I'm super happy about as she was underweight when I picked her up.
@@warmlavender5525 You are also helping though when you adopt a cat that is difficult or has been harmed or abused. You never know if the home they will go to will be as good as yours. I can see an argument for either side. You help more in terms of numbers by fostering but you permanently help the kitten you have by adopting.
I don't want to discourage you from your current path, you're doing a lot of good. If you can permanently adopt though, that is also doing something wonderful for the cat and for yourself.
@@Kyarrix For sure! There are benefits to both. I'm planning to eventually adopt at some point down the road so if it turns out that this cat becomes a foster fail, just like you said, it will be good for me and her. We can never know completely how other adopters will be but I do get to meet and screen people and have them meet her to see if they're compatible so that makes me feel good. We'll see what the future holds for us.
I let several ferrel cats in from outside when I lived in my apartment and was going to school for my biology degree. I worried if they were happy inside my apartment because they'd always run from me but they seemed to want to stay.
I didn't have time to do anything extra special beyond what I had already done for the cats I had had before, only one of whom was still alive then, but I had built a cat tree and had a bunch of different cat toys. The cat I still had before these other cats decided to come into my apartment was still pretty young and he would actually play fetch with me because he'd get bored and bring me his toy so that I'd throw it because I was in the middle of studying so he had a bunch of toys like that. I would always take a little time before bed to pay attention to him but I was kind of glad when other cats wanted to come in and play with him.
I only had to catch one of the stray cats because she started getting in heat, which is probably why she wanted to come in and play with my boy (who was fixed but still). I felt really bad having to catch her to get fixed but I did. She was scared of me for a very long time.
What really made her less afraid of me was that I would do yoga every morning so that I wouldn't be standing on just my legs, but I'd be on all fours like her for a number of different poses. That made her and other ferrel cats I had calm down a lot. I didn't even really realize it at first because yoga has a tendency to take your focus off of scaredy cats while also making you less imposing since you aren't on your feet.
I lost my apartment when I graduated from college and I had to move in with my mom again, who has a dog. All my cats at the time where terrified and they literally hid inside their litter box for a couple of days. It literally took my most frightened cat several years to hang out where the dog could get her but she does now.
What stray cats fear is that you, as a much larger animal, will eventually eat them so you have to show them for a while that you're literally not interesting in eating them at all.
The cat I was talking about actually cuddled me during the time last year when I literally nearly died of COVID-19 so that connection will happen. Sometimes you have to give love to another being for a long time before they stop being afraid and that goes for us humans as much as any other living being.
My cat was afraid of me for all of one day, but I was going through a full on mental breakdown even in those few hours. It can be incredibly mentally taxing when your furry baby doesn't return your feelings yet. Strength to everyone to get through this period if it lasts long!
I have the same situation with a cat I rescued 6 MONTHS ago. After watching this video, I blocked off the futon he always hides under & created a separate hideout. I feel terrible taking away his safe space but I’m trusting Jackson’s advice!
"probably think I'm crazy."
Please do not dismiss or downplay the positive emotions we desperately need to feel and share. Do no let toxic masculinity win. We ( men, women, dogs, society ) NEED to start understanding that emotions are universal and when we finally start regulating them, we can start properly societing.
It's sometimes the very shy, fearful cats who fall the absolute hardest in love with you once they come around. You will be that safe place and person for the cat, just have to chip away each day at his walls.
Truth. My cat was from a hoarding situation and hid for months. Now a year later, she cuddles on my lap all the time and follows me around the house.
A few years ago, my partner and I of nearly a decade split up. We'd had a dog together. When I got my own place, I was taken aback at just how lonely I felt without either of them in my life. I was living alone for the first time ever, working overnights. I quickly grew depressed and had been considering the "final" option. Just as I was hitting my lowest point, Cirilla showed up on my doorstep; clearly malnourished. She'd literally been scratching at my front door. I took her to my nearest shelter to try and ensure nobody had lost her. When nobody claimed her, I told the shelter I was very interested in adoption. Since I'd brought her in, they gave me the first choice.
When I brought her home, she was sort of like this; very shy. I knew she'd been having a rough go of it, just like me.
Here we both are, years later. Happier and healthier than we were on that fateful day of meeting. I think we saved each other's lives, and I'll be eternally grateful to her for that. She has no idea just how much she means to me, and I like to think that I'm as important to her too.
Hang in there, Bora. You seem like you have all the best intentions, and I know that Diego will see that and warm up to you.
(For any wondering, Ciri was adopted at about 9 months old. She is a Sealpoint Siamese. I just wanted to share our story.)
I felt so emotional too, so many people treat pets as if they're a toy meant to entertain you and don't actually care about their happiness. It's so good to see
Yes, I agree so much
Such A Nice Gentle Man to ask for Kitty Advice..Because this Man really cares..
I love this..👌👍🤗🐾😽
So true- I foster cats to find them their forever home, they always hide when they first come in but I just make sure they have somewhere safe to hide, I spend lots of time talking to them and I make sure they know where their food, water and kitty litter is (and it’s not too far away) so they can start establishing their own space
Thank you Jackson for your kind guidance on integrating my rescue cat Lacey into my home.
Lacey had been adopted by another rescuer and they brought her back because she was not showing affection, apparently. I visited her room at our local shelter and let her come to me rather than go to her. She scooted right up to my ankle and started purring.
Two days after, she was more reticent when I took her home. I brought Lacey home expecting that she would have some anxiety after her recent episode in a new home and then the return to the shelter.
I resolved to welcome Lacey as she was: dislocated, unmoored and all. I blocked a couple corners but granted her chosen space underneath the couch, in addition to setting up a private condo under the staircase with litter and food stations in the corners.
I kept to a firm schedule. I chanted some gooey pet version of her name over and over, but usually from the next room. A wet/dry food combo got her eating on day two. I planted Temptations around to get her exploring.
The cat showed little sense of belonging or comfort after a few patient days. Lacey was frightened and reluctant to emerge from her spots under the couch and under the stairs.
I changed nothing to the approach or the schedule. On the third night, she emerged from her nook to eat with her back turned to me, and then I just knew things would be okay for her.
Fifth morning she had disappeared. I found her upstairs behind clothes in my closet that I left open.
This is where your insight guided me, Jackson. Although I did not touch her, I insisted that she leave her new hiding place, and now I keep the door to it closed.
Your condition that new places that a cat exlores in their new home should be associated with socialization rather than solitude was an important point that did not occur to me watching your videos.
Anyway, Lacey's ejection from the space behind my coats in the bedroom closet set our welcome week back a day or two.
I then left Temptations on all four tiers of her new cat tree upstairs, and she scarfed them. The problem was not an aversion to exploring, clearly, but a solid foundation of trust and understanding with her new caretaker. Lacey was brave enough to emerge, but always by slinking around the margins to avoid my detection.
So last night, I laid on my floor for two hours about five feet away from Lacey while she checked me out from under the couch. We listened to the chill new Andre 3000 album.
As I spaced out and tried to be as chill as an American can be, she scooted past my head and onto the stairs. Lacey had the high ground now, and intuiting a moment of receptivity, I made my move. As she grilled me from the 7th stair, I looked right back at her and said, "Lacey, I love you and I will always take care of you.". Then I smiled at her and looked away at the ceiling. Then I went to bed.
This morning, Lacey came right up to me and meowed sweetly as I moved slowly away from her to the wall. She came right up to my leg again, like when we first met, and started eagerly rubbing her coat against my leg, leading with an eager headbutt and pressing against me as she snuggled past all the way to the tip of her tail.
Now, after some determined exploring, Lacey is snuggling with me on the couch that she had hid under since Monday, and I know that we have turned another corner.
I'm thankful for this new friend, thankful for UA-cam offering so very much to people, and to you Jackson for your generous instruction.
Turks really LOVE their cats! Kedi live wonderful lives on the streets of Istanbul and Turkey in general. I am not surprised by Bora’s tenderness with his Kedi.
Oh Bora l believe you are doing SO much nice for Diego. He is a lucky boy to have you as such a loving caring and patient Dad. Keep going he will come to love you VERY much 💖
Omg I desperately needed this video, I just adopted my baby and was feeling so sad and discouraged for her and myself but this gave me hope that we will get through it.
Nope Jackson, you are NOT crazy. Bora is a real pet parent and all-round beautiful soul.
Bora is a caring cat dad. And Turkish people in general adore cats.
I was literally teary eyed already, then Jackson got teary eyed, and it made me cry. It's just so heartwarming when people are being genuine and when cats are getting actual help.
This dude is a rockstar 🤩🤩🤩. What a kind, sweet, gentleman who has such a huge heart. It's true, you don't see this often with men. Kiddos to you and your new kitty 🥰💕🥰💕. Be patient, we went through the same thing with our oldest cat and it totally paid off. Totally worth it!!! 😻😻😻 keep up the great effort👌
You just don't SEE us being that way. Only my cat knows how I baby talk to her. We love our cats.
Bora and Diego's story, and the fact Jackson is so happy at how well he did preparing for a cat, is making me emotional. I spent a lot of time preparing too. Nearly exactly how Bora did. I just adopted Holly a couple of days ago, and she's so sweet, only darting under the bed if one of my neighbors makes a noise she doesn't know. I want so bad for her to be happy. On day 2, she was bringing me her favorite shoelace, asking to play. Yeah, I'm in tears now.
It took a full four months for my bonded pair to warm up to me. I ga ve them the time knowing their history…travel from the UK to Canada, then four years later one of their humans passes on, a couple weeks in foster care on a farm then move to another city to live with me. Now, we are inseparable! They are both crazy kitties but they’re mine and I love them both.
One week ago we adopted an extremely timid traumatized female cat.
She's gone from hiding under our bed (we carefully blocked all access under our bed.... so we thought) to having her engage with us with love head butts/rubs and loud purring. Today she sat in my lap and we've played several times with a toy on a string. With what you've shared here we know how to best care for and love Mia. Thank you so very much.I had no idea a cat could give love like this.
Our cat is still frightened of everything after being with us 6 months so this is what we need
That was an amazing video! It made me cry. Thank you Cat Daddy. YOU ARE AMAZING. I hope to hear more about Borah and Diego. What a beautiful relationship they have, such love!
I love your videos, you teach me so much about cat. Your videos help me deals with the grieve of losing two cats in less than 3 months. I now it's not the subject of the video but I just have to say thank you
you know we’ve been through a lot in our home over the past few months. one cat passed, as did my dad and now another of ours is in the hospice stage and she could pass any time. making these videos for you all helps me as much as it helps you ❤️
Our pets seem to love us more than they love themselves as well. It's a two-way stream. Sometimes we feel like we've rescued them but as time passes and the pet-gardian rapport grows deeper, it suddenly hits us that that pet actually rescued us and not the other way round. Animals have very strong soul-connections with humans. They're simply a Godsend.
Bora was just an amazing caring young man. I would love an update. I had tears over how wonderful Bora is. And your response was so touching. Thank you so much. I just brought a 2 yr old female into my home, and was looking for some ideas, because she is so shy, I layed on the floor and took a few pieces of her food and she ate it. She hasn't moved from under the book case, but think I am now on the right path.
Your emotional intelligence is why you are a cat whisperer. You are a real man.
I’m from Turkey too and this hit hard because I have a cat and it’s so cute to see how much Bora cares about his cat🥲🥲
The local pound took my cat once ( She was around the corner of the house) I almost went beside myself. I went to get her the next day, I could tell she was so scared. Needless to say I took her home and since then we got even closer. It's like she knows I will always come back to her, no matter what.
This video gives me hope. Our cat has been with us for about a year now and he still will not come out of hiding if we're standing up, and he will not let us touch him whatsoever. I hope one day we'll be able to bond!
We just now adopted a 6'ish month old semi feral kitty. She's in our front room with a small light shining on her wet food and water. We also put a litter box there but I highly doubt she will use it, which is totaly fine because she was an outdoor kitty that kept getting beat up by other cats..... So ya, I HAD to get her and now she's gonna be an indoor kitty with the whole house all to herself! LOVE your channel!!
This reminds me so much of my feral kitty when I first got her 🥺. She was so small, and so scared, and wouldn’t let anyone approach her. She would play, but if she caught me looking at her she would run and hide. Now she’s the brave little queen of my apartment and follows me around all day long. But I will never forget those first few days trying to get used to eachother. It does get better! ❤
You aren't crazy, Jackson. I'm a middle aged man who has been to war and policed our streets here at home and I was tearing up big time! I was never a cat person, in fact I thought they were a pain. However, as a means of helping me combat the ptsd I picked up along the way I decided on a cat as a therapy animal. Two weeks ago I rescued two 4 mo. old orange tabbies from the local shelter (paperwork says they were strays), and let me tell you they are my world now. Both brother and sister so I did not have to worry about introductions.
I feel for the submitter of the video. I lucked out big time. Both Sir George and Lady Meredith get along extremely well, and were cuddling eachother when I first laid eyes on them. It took me almost three weeks to get them home due to having to wait for them to get fixed, and even though I tried really hard not to get attached, especially since adoptions there are first come first serve, I still checked the website each night to see if they had been put up for adoption and went to visit them in the shelter. This paid off, I believe, since as soon as I brough them home and feed them and let them explore around I could see the cat mojo returning. Within ten minutes I laid down to rest and George walked right up on my chest and began purring and head butting me. My heart absolutely melted. Another ten minutes and he had moved on, but his sister took his place! We have been a tight knit family ever since. Leash training started today and they are doing awesome already.
BTW, I've set up my home a lot like this guy, even hanging steps and a cat lounge along the wall in the master bedroom where I usually spend my time. Guys can be parents to fur babies as well!
Because of this guy I got my cats to stop hiding underneath my couch and sleeping next to me ❤
I grew up watching you on animal planet. My first cat i adopted last year, and you were the catalyst for all of the changes i made to my house to accommodate her. She's so happy and confident now, it's incredible to see her getting along with my dogs.
No you are not crazy to find Bora's concern for Diego so special! It is indeed beautiful, and it's absolutely worthy of getting a little verklempt about when you see it. I think that with time and Jackson's excellent advice, Bora and Diego are going to be absolute besties :D
I adopted a 8 years old cat at the end of december and it took a week of me and my SO
Going in the room hanging out with him. He would imadiately go under the bed. It would take 10 to 15 minutes for him, to come to us. And i'm proud to say that today. Tiger is hyer confident and is not shy to demand some affection🥰
Great video. I'd love to see updates on Bora and Diego. I wanna see that happy ending/new beginning that I feel will happen 😊
Young people today give me so much faith in the future. They know that emotions aren’t shameful. Speaking truth to power. Strength through vulnerability.
I knew my husband, 20 years younger than me was a keeper as he had 3 cats when I met him, who all adored him and he treated them with such affection and respect. He and his fur tribe brought so much joy into my life.
We now have a rescue tabby. Our sweet girl. His little princess, my funny bunny 😻