further proof all cats are autistic . . .

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(but all autistics are not cats, which means I can't make this statement with scientific validity )

I have 5 feral cats that live outside my house - one, Alexander, has always been facinated by me and since my indoor very territoral cat died and left his brother, Gideon, all alone and we have been having nice weather I've just left the back door open so Gideon could walk in and out to talk with the outdoor cats (he's very old and isn't going anywhere other than the porch)
I noticed that Alexander would start nosing around the door and finally came in at one point but as soon as I moved in the least little bit he'd shoot out the door and then not let me get near him for days . . .

Now, I've been reading some of Donna William's textbook style books and one of the things she says works really well with autistics, especially people who have a lot of difficulty with interacting, is being indirectly confrontational because, basically, interaction becomes on their terms . . .
I know I feel more connected to most cats than most people, so I thought 'I'll try this with Alexander'

So about a week ago whenever he'd come in the house I'd go in the other room - and sure enough he would follow me into the room, which I would proptly leave, and he'd follow me into the next room . . .
After a couple of days of this and a desire to actually watch a TV show I decided to stay in the living room (which has the door that opens to the outside) and whenever he'd come in I'd look away and he got really curious about me . . .
After a few days of that he would walk up on the couch and poke me in the head and rub under my legs when I had my feet on the coffee table . . . which I also ignored . . .
Next he started rushing out from under the couch to try to eat my feet and finally, yesterday, he came up, poked me in the head a couple of times then deposited himself in my lap, purring . . .
He even let me tickle him and played with me like a domestic cat would . . .
He still panics whenever I move and stand up (I guess that makes me a human again) and WILL NOT let me shut that door to the outside - and I don't think he will ever be able to be an indoor cat, but I was just blown away at how well this works . . .

Very interesting! I don't have any pets. But I know that while I'm not so socially skilled, I know that I am good with cats. Like you, it's almost as if there is a mutual understanding.

People at large tend to talk more of dogs as an antidote for aloneness, but I know I would be far better with cats.

If cats are around, they will always be around me, or at least never be far away. They'll certainly always sleep with me and all that.

The only thing I do not like about cats or animals is trying to remember to make sure they are taken care of. I get to lost in what I am thinking about.

My ex-boyfriend always said that cats act like they have a perminent case of PMS.
A cat would jump up on the table and after breaking your best piece of china, it would look at you as if to say, "I meant to do that!"

Sometimes my cat just attacks my leg and bites it, I figured out that means she wants attention.

Yeah, ignoring cats if you want to get to know them works!
GalileoAce's cat is not very social (his family says the cat, Delta, is autistic). So I tried to get to know her and pat her and she wouldn't have any of it. So I thought, eh why bother and gave up. Since then, she follows me into the toilet, waits outside the bathroom door for me to come out and has even slept on my legs one night.
I am guessing she wants company but not the confrontational sort. She also likes to have access to all areas! She does not like to be shut out of GA's bedroom.
I've grown up with cats and think they're the best pets. :)

I'm a big cat nut.

aawww i love cats and actually this would make sense in the case of one of the cats that get fed at my house, he won't come in the house if you shut the door and gets abit antsy when 'people' get close to him.

baby