high-fives and puzzle boxes

yesterday we started work on the high-five trick. i held the cork target in my hand and held it up in front of her. the first attempt involved a few claws meeting skin, but not in aggression, i think. c/r for the attempt. a couple of times she lifted a paw part way and i rewarded that. tried without the cork and she was starting to get the idea. success once or twice with no cork (and no claws!) but a bit more consistent with the cork visible. some of this was in the bathtub at her request. she seems to like the food pinging about.

the dot on the bed game is certainly gaining popularity and intensity with the c/r when a paw catches the dot. i have to concentrate more on where the dot is, but she is much more likely to zoom around back and forth and in figure-eights. when she needs a breather i point the dot within paws reach, so we can develop just the paw to dot action. i am trying to get her interested in following the dot off the bed, so far i can get her to paw it (reluctantly) if it is just off the edge. we played the game twice in one night.

after reading some of the files on the cat-clicker group (information overload!) i made a simple puzzle box by cutting a few holes in a pasta box i rescued from the recycle box, then dumped a few bits of food inside. introduced it to her last night when she was obviously looking for something to do (feet and ankles were being eyed maliciously), and it kept her occupied for several minutes. i watched her figuring out strategies, and every so often she looked up at me as if to say, why don't you help me with this? when she finished she saw i was still watching her from the loveseat, and next thing i knew she was coming straight at me with wild eyes. started to take out apparent frustration on my arms, but while i felt claws, no damage was done. i yelled and she backed off. obviously not used to having to work or think so hard about food!

still full of energy after play and puzzling, to the point that she batted at my feet a few times when i was walking around. claws might have been out, but again no scratches. i quietly herded her into the bedroom with a floor cushion, and she knew there was no point in arguing. i closed the door part way, and she seemed to respect that, settled down on the bed. she reappeared a bit later zooming around the apartment, in a much needed release of energy. good! (i stayed out of the way.)

bedtime was a non-event. phew!

i am very lucky that she does not attempt to get me out of bed in the morning with aggression. instead she just keeps reminding me of her presence by hopping around the bedroom and lying down on whatever part of my torso is available (front, back or side!). every so often she will try and dig at the covers but i dont move, only mutter at her to stop. sometimes when i finally stick my feet out, she will rub on my toes... lovely tickly whiskers!

breakfast this morning, i still had to prompt her to jump up on the ledge (a little less reluctant) and she stayed up (i blocked her a couple of times, then she was more willing to stay.) i set up the puzzle box while she was eating brekkies, and left her alone after that. i think she got the food out of the box faster than last night, although i haven't timed her. either way, she left me alone and went back to bed, her usual routine.