(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Domestication Becomes Him, the Diaries of the duke (Part Zwei) [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2024-06-12 This week is at least the 2nd, maybe third week of Duke wearing his collar. This is a new one, one that was bought recently, as earlier attempts to collar him ended with the collar at the door jamb in under 3 minutes after his behind dissapeared out the door. (Twice, it was no fluke, it was clear “I will wear it when I am ready Human”) So it was with a bit of Trepidation that I tried again, figuring it would be lost in the garden, and one day I will find it balanced on the leafs of the SunFlowers. :) He is almost eating actual bits of meat (mostly by accident). Natural caught salmon and tuna, air fried with a side of temptation moist packet, chicken or salmon. I am trying to find things he likes. I have found Meow Mix (the ants won’t touch it), Temptations Feed with Temptation treats in it. Temptation Treats such as chicken and HairBall (specially hairball he consistently and constantly licks himself clean, and Temptation moist treat lickables. Along with dry I have Sheba, chunks with Gravy (where he gets most of his meat). Those were all found to have worked overtime. And last but not least, he sleeps close by to me all night, Sometime on the bed by the shoulders. Sometimes by the hips, sometimes on the floor out of the way, but with a clear shot down the hallway, Nothing getting past him So ever on, down the road we learn from each other, he does teach me ‘phrases’ to let me know if something is urgent or not. He came in the other day Screaming MEEErrOOOW. I went “Shhhh, not so loud, don’t wake mommy”. He whispers back “MEEErrOOOW” Ok, I took that as “URGENT”. He was right, the door to the side of the garage was open, I forgot to close it. He inspected the garage to make sure unauthorized Felonious Felines were not present. I know someone come in, Duke was sniffing around the bottom of some chairs and mats and normally he ignores that area. So beyond all the rest of the ‘Fecal matter’ in my life(long Story), this little ones fecal matter is just fine. But to my amazement, he didn’t argue, he didn’t fuss, and he is still wearing it. I attribute that to the fact he listens to me, as I told him that collar meant he owned some humans. (right, whats a cubit? A cat listens to his human :) In the picture above he is choosing the sleeping potentials for the night... for me. He already know what is his…. Need I say it? But he is domesticating himself, so the occasional 5:30 AM Wake up to go out… Ok let me be clear, I get the 5:30 wake call every day. Today he actually got let out at 5:30 AM. I had to use the human water box, he wanted to use the sand box. That is a “MMMMMrrrrOOOOWWW”. It means “I want to go (to the sandbox) and I want you to guard me. So he guarded me while I was on my ‘sandbox’, and then I guarded him on his sandbox Which has a curtain for privacy. And for those who do think about these thing, Yes, it is an easy break away collar with a double pin lock so either side, or both can easily pop loose with two pounds of pressure. Yes, the gap under his collar and throat is two fingers plus a fingernail. By now I suspect Those who fell in here and are trying to find the exit, are wondering what was the ‘Rubicon’ remark’ all about. He’s wearing a collar, all cats have collars AMIRIGHT. Ok maybe not. It was not the collar per se, it was that he accepted it from me with the trust that I was not causing him harm and wouldn’t cause harm later. That is a huge step in the faith for him, as he was betrayed by a human before, and now he’s trusting me with his life. That was a big crossing point that means something to both of us, because he was still wary of me up to that point. Now we have crossed that Rubicon. Sometime later I am going to try him in the new Sherpa back for me, for him. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/6/12/2246353/-Domestication-Becomes-Him-the-Diaries-of-the-duke-Part-Zwei?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=latest_community&pm_medium=web Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/