The Reset
Maybe you need a break. Maybe the cat needs a break.
When the cat is first rescued, the cat is extremely scared and confused. So it is important to give him some space before we start diving into active socialization.
The Reset is also useful for people who found Socialization Saves Lives after a failed attempt at socializing with the traditional approach. I often have to talk people who contact me off a ledge because they are frustrated or scared of the cat after trying the traditional approach for months. In these instances, the Reset is vital to give yourself a break and to give the cat a little time to hopefully forget the traumatic experience of the traditional approach.
The Reset
The Reset is really easy, and it gives you a sense of how easy the Socialization Saves Lives method is! Use it as time to catch up on reading good book, getting work done on your laptop, talking to a friend on the phone or watching a show on your phone (but make sure to use headphones because you don’t want the cat to hear the movie when it has loud noises, such as an action movie).
When you sit sideways outside of/next to the playpen, make sure to sit where the cat can see you even if he is hiding in the cat cave. This is why when we set up the cat cave, I always try to have the cat cave opening face a playpen “door” so the cat can see your whole body.