Jack and Shadow

We are trying to get our black cat, Shadow, more friendly.

Shadow was a very wild and feral cat that chose us after surviving a very cold winter outside.  We opened the front door one day and she ran inside, and has not wanted to go back out again since that cold winter day!

We, of course, caught her and got her all her shots and tests, as needed, before she ever got too close to our Jackie.

At first, after she moved in, Shadow kept her distance from us, although she loved and worshipped Jack from way before she ever came inside.  She fell in love with Jack through the storm door.  She really loves all other animals, I've never known a cat who loves other animals like her.  She's not too picky, she loves squirrels, raccoons, Jerry the outside cat, even guineas.  And especially cats.  She cuddles with Jack and cleans him, and forces him to clean her, too.  He doesn't mind too much, he's pretty easy-going.

At first we could never touch her, she never entered the same room as us nor would stay after we entered.  She thought we might kill her and skin her at any moment.  And she was terrified of the television when she first moved inside, too.  But as the years have passed, she has become quite friendly.  She is truly the most loving cat, and she so wants to please us.  She still isn't too happy when we pick her up and trim her nails, which we try to do every couple weeks.

Shadow is very smart.  She watches Jack all the time.  She learned how to shake hands from Jack, too.  I taught Jackie to shake hands years ago - it only took a couple days and a few cat treats.  Shad learned the trick from watching Jack and Randy shake hands and it only took a couple days before she was shaking.  I'll have to get a video of them both shaking hands with Randy. 

In order to make Shadow more friendly, Randy has been encouraging Shadow to jump in his lap when he sits on the floor.  She has developed an addiction to lunch meat, which he started using as a treat.  She really loves any kind of people food, and has gotten sort of rotund.  She used to be so lean when she first moved in. 

It appears from these photos that Jack is the only one getting a treat, but I can assure you, Shadow wouldn't let that happen.  I guess I only took pictures when Jack was getting a treat. 

Have a good weekend!