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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO
Created:Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5089
Total number of notes:60366

1491.0. "New Cat blues" by KERNEL::JWILLIAMS () Mon Jun 27 1988 12:07

    Well, we got our new kitten as previously mentioned.  My mother-in-law
    was giving them away at the time, so we had one of those rather
    than get one from a centre a few months older (as recommended here).
    
    Problem.  Fred, our resident cat, is normally VERY affectionate,
    and very much a lap cat.  He is also, embarassed though I am to
    admit it, effeminate.  He even got dived bombed by a blue tit.  Crikey!
    
    We chose for this reason, the shyest one of the bunch - a little
    tabby female who we named "Tabby" - original huh?  But as soon as
    we introduced them in the same room, all Fred did and still does
    is hiss and growl.  I pay alot of attention to him and try to ignore
    Tabby as much as possible, so that he doesn't get his nose out of
    joint, but it still goes on.
    
    We've had her now for 2 days, she wants to make friends with him
    but he doesn't.  I guess its only a matter of time before they come
    around but does anyone know of anything to speed the process up.
    I hate to see Fred upset as he is such a loving cat normally.
    
    Julia
    UK
    of the bunch
    
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
1491.1Time is the only cure.NSG022::POIRIERWhen it's hot it's hot!Mon Jun 27 1988 12:5519
    I know it breaks our heart to see our oldest cat be in such a tizzy. We
    just went through the same thing and I'm happy to say that yesterday
    the two of them were all snuggled up, sleeping together.  It took about
    a week and a half for them to work things out- things still aren't
    normal - but they are getting along just fine.  My vet had suggested
    not to make them compete for anything while they were not getting along
    - such as separate litter boxes and kitty dishes so they don't have to
    fight over it.  We still have two boxes lying around, but since they
    have started to get along they freely use each others potty. 
    
    Other than that it just takes time.  Boy is it worth it - my heart
    just melted when I saw them all curled up yesterday.  Of course
    we had to get the camera out and shoot a million pictures.  The
    poor things were probably having nightmares of a Thunder/Lightening
    storm with all the flashes that were going off.
    
    Best of luck - think positive and it will all work out.
    
    Suzanne 
1491.2They'll come roundHEART::JUBBMon Jun 27 1988 13:198
    When we got our second kitten, Tilly, the first one, Finbar (whom
    we had had for all of a week) stopped purring for two days.  He
    normally purrs all the time.
    
    They get on fine now, and when Tilly went missing a while ago, Finbar
    missed her a lot.
    
    Ali
1491.3patience is a virtue..SHAPES::TAYLORSSharon, Dillan & Sammie - UKMon Jun 27 1988 16:0719
    
    Julia
    
    Just keep them together as much as possible and pet both of them,
    telling your older cat that s/he mustn't be like that towards the
    new comer.  It will be OK I assure you.  A friend of mine was about
    to give up after 2 months of trying to make peace but then they
    became friends, sadly his new baby got run over last week so after
    he has got over the shock he is going to get another new baby and
    go through it all again...so it can't be that bad can it!!!!
    
    But it's a good thing they don't accept strange cats straight away
    or you would have a house full of them when you got home from
    work!!!!!!!!!
    
    Good luck and be patient with them both
    
    Sharon
    
1491.4AIMHI::OFFENMon Jun 27 1988 16:1214
    Suzanne,
    
    Watch how you use Thunder and Lightning's names......
    
    Actually Lightning was not thrilled when we brought Thunder home
    a few weeks ago.  Now she is playing and cuddling with her.  It
    is so cute to watch them.  Lightning is even trying to mother her.
    
    DejaVu of course took to Thunder right away.  
    
    Sandi (Lightning's, DejaVu's & Thunder's mom)
    
    
    
1491.5Thunder/Lightning stormsNSG022::POIRIERWhen it's hot it's hot!Mon Jun 27 1988 17:2110
    OOps - 
    
    Sandi,
    
    I didn't mean to imply that they were having nightmares of your
    kitties!!!!!!!!!  I'm sure they are just adorable just like my two! 
    But I'm sure its been a Thunder/Lightning storm since you brought
    the new little one home!!! :-)
    
    Suzanne
1491.6no friendship yet here...HPSTEK::NEWSTEDWed Jun 29 1988 14:0214
    Well, i must admit, I'm not to optomistic on this subject.  My
    cat and kitten are still not getting along and we got the kitten
    back in May.  The growling and hissing is ever-present.  Not even
    a trace of interest in the kitten's antics or playfullnes in the
    older cat.  She has stopped sleeping on her mom's tummy and there
    have been few purring/loving/brushing sessions. I'm sad over it.
    The big kitty even looks bigger to me! All the little one wants
    to do is play so she sneaks up behind the big cat.  Gets swatted
    often too! I think that's why we've had such a problem putting a
    curb on the kitten's biting...she's defensive and wound up all the
    time ( most ) well, i'm hopeful still that some time i'll return
    to find them cuddled up. Maybe this winter, when big yaddie is out
    of her mousing/weasel/chipmunk/rabbit/bird/mole/turtle frenzy!!!!
    and spends her time in doors....good luck to you.
1491.7They woke me upKERNEL::JWILLIAMSThu Jun 30 1988 12:3413
    Just to give an update on the situation..
    
    Tabitha and Fred are now tolerating each other.  Fred doesn't hiss
    or growl anymore and they "play" together tentatively (although
    I suspect that Fred's definition of playing is different to Tab's).
    One thing I noticed this morning though when they were playing,
    Fred was very vocal, chirruping and meowing to Tabs for well over
    an hour while they chased each other around the room.
    
    There doesn't seem to be anymore animosity but I would love to know
    what Fred was preaching to his disciple!
    
    Juli