I found out that many times i pat a dog, and its owner comments that it usually doesnt let anyone pat it. feral cats seem to favor me over other people as well.
i just wonder what others experience is.
I found out that many times i pat a dog, and its owner comments that it usually doesnt let anyone pat it. feral cats seem to favor me over other people as well.
i just wonder what others experience is.
Absolutely yes!
I have moved beyond simple interactions into relationships with some of the nocturnal possums that live in trees around our home in South Australia - there are two female Common Brushtail Possums in particular, one that immediately introduced herself to me and was tactile whilst feeding on what I brought her from the word go. She has played with the light that I wear on my head, turned and rubbed my face with her tail, she is content for me to stroke her fur, including her pouch (complete with juvenile ‘joey’ inside) and has even left me minding a previous joey whilst she finishes eating in an adjacent tree - all behaviours that one would typically only see in a captive possum that one has raised by hand, and not a wild ‘brushie’ like my wee friend.
The second girl was timid and healthily wary at first, but is now very content in my company and when presented with food that I have brought to her, some on the tree branch next to her and some being offered to her between my fingers… she chooses to accept the food from me, in an exceptionally gentle and confident manner - ie. she prefers the interaction with me. If I stroke her tail near the tip she gently wraps it around my finger, which understandably feels like a very special thing to receive. Utterly wonderful.
The Ringtail Possums are almost painfully cautious and timid compared to the Brushtail Possums, but with consistent and persistent kindness in my gestures, actions and verbal communication, the two that live in our shed have accepted food and tactile interaction from me - exceptionally rare for wild ‘ringtails’. They will hold one of my fingers for stability whilst taking food from between my forefinger and thumb. It’s rather cute. In the daytime, whilst they are asleep they are content for me to bring them ‘snacks’ - a nut or two, which I offer after climbing up next to their elevated sleeping positions. With squinted, tired eyes they slowly open their mouths and let me put broken pieces of nut in. The height of luxurious room service.
Apparently I’m just not that much of a scary threat after all.
Dogs, well of course… dogs are the best people after all, but don’t get me started about dogs because I can talk for Australia. I will say that for a number of reasons I am firm that the best dogs for Autistic people are Staffordshire Bull Terriers. They are so intensely people focussed, and they reciprocate kindness, love and energy so beautifully. They are our guardian angels and they keep us tethered to this world because they would grieve us if we left it.
Oh, by the way - I’m ASD2 Autistic 
Ciao
Absolutely yes!
I have moved beyond simple interactions into relationships with some of the nocturnal possums that live in trees around our home in South Australia - there are two female Common Brushtail Possums in particular, one that immediately introduced herself to me and was tactile whilst feeding on what I brought her from the word go. She has played with the light that I wear on my head, turned and rubbed my face with her tail, she is content for me to stroke her fur, including her pouch (complete with juvenile ‘joey’ inside) and has even left me minding a previous joey whilst she finishes eating in an adjacent tree - all behaviours that one would typically only see in a captive possum that one has raised by hand, and not a wild ‘brushie’ like my wee friend.
The second girl was timid and healthily wary at first, but is now very content in my company and when presented with food that I have brought to her, some on the tree branch next to her and some being offered to her between my fingers… she chooses to accept the food from me, in an exceptionally gentle and confident manner - ie. she prefers the interaction with me. If I stroke her tail near the tip she gently wraps it around my finger, which understandably feels like a very special thing to receive. Utterly wonderful.
The Ringtail Possums are almost painfully cautious and timid compared to the Brushtail Possums, but with consistent and persistent kindness in my gestures, actions and verbal communication, the two that live in our shed have accepted food and tactile interaction from me - exceptionally rare for wild ‘ringtails’. They will hold one of my fingers for stability whilst taking food from between my forefinger and thumb. It’s rather cute. In the daytime, whilst they are asleep they are content for me to bring them ‘snacks’ - a nut or two, which I offer after climbing up next to their elevated sleeping positions. With squinted, tired eyes they slowly open their mouths and let me put broken pieces of nut in. The height of luxurious room service.
Apparently I’m just not that much of a scary threat after all.
Dogs, well of course… dogs are the best people after all, but don’t get me started about dogs because I can talk for Australia. I will say that for a number of reasons I am firm that the best dogs for Autistic people are Staffordshire Bull Terriers. They are so intensely people focussed, and they reciprocate kindness, love and energy so beautifully. They are our guardian angels and they keep us tethered to this world because they would grieve us if we left it.
Oh, by the way - I’m ASD2 Autistic
Ciao
