Conference misery::feline_v1

    Hello to you from your former home NH.
    
    We had Mocha a stray come to us (who turned out to be a Ragdoll)
    and the vet said he was approx. 1 year +- and in 9 months time
    we introduced a retired queen (spayed, sealpoint Himmie) who was
    7 years old. The put up with each other.... eat side by side and
    never a problem, but let one get to near the other in passing and
    there are growls and snarls and sometimes the fur flies. Every
    once in a "blue moon" they kiss each other and smell here and there
    but for the most part they don't have the closeness we were looking
    for. HOWEVER, I would do it again in a minute. Ming has been one
    of the nicest things that has happened to us. She is everything
    you would ever want in a cat, and a real doll. (She would have to
    be to put up with the antics of Mocha.)
    
    All I can say is, GO FOR IT. Especially when you know Snowshoes.
    They were the center fold in the cats magazine a couple of months
    ago. Love those dark pointed, blue eyed kitties.
    
    Where is Janet Gates located?
    
    Barbara (who would take a retired breeder any day)

    Hi Jeannie - nice hearing from you.  HOpe all is well!
    
    Well, it certainly would be worth a try.  How about suggesting that
    you take one (or two, or three) on a trial basis.  Try to give it
    a long enough trial, even though it's tough going.  As long as
    they are not killing each other, not bleeding, try and wait 
    'it' whatever 'it' may be.  Hissing, growling, etc.  I think
    it depends on the individual animals involved in the adjustment.
    Sometimes it works without a hitch or a hiss - other times, it's
    really quite painful, and then there is the range in between.
    Try it - maybe segregating the new youngster for a time (I don't
    do that - I let them get right down to it and get it over with
    faster).  They usually go at it for a bit, so I like to get it
    over with.  What ever way works for you and your family.  It might
    help to take a pair - bringing one in gives the home kids 'some one'
    to pick on - bringing in two, confuses them and they just sometimes
    ignore the whole thing !!  That worked for me when I brought Charlie
    and Lil in - I got Lil on Saturday and Charlie came back from the
    vet (after being neutered and FELv tested either Monday or Tuesday
    night.  My crew was so confused, they did NOTHING !!  Of course, Lil
    had a few choice words to say, but she settled down real quick !!
    So did Charlie.
    Sorry to ramble - with each of the 18, there is a story just like
    everyone else has - it's fun to tell and relive them !!
    Good Luck - let us know what you decide and if you go ahead, we will
    be waiting to hear the introduction stories !!
    
    E.T.

    I agree with E.T., go for it.  Last year I added a pregnant queen,
    Kaitlin, to my household full of cats.  Kaitlin had had a very
    difficult past.  It took lots of love and attention, and lots of
    turning the other cheek when the fur started flying, but she was
    eventually accepted by all.  She is a very sweet girl, and I am
    so glad to have her.  We have had her just over a year now, and
    I hope to never have to give her up.  I co-own her with a fellow
    breeder who was transfered to Hawaii, hence my having her living
    with me now.  When Sheri returns to the mainland in two years, I
    hope to be able to present her with a nice female kitten out of
    Kaitlin, and keep Kaitlin myself.
    
    My method of introduction is alot like Elaine's.  Just let them
    sort it out themselves, and don't interfere unless someone is bleeding
    to death. :^)
    
    Jo

    Please forgive my ignorance, but what's a Snowshoe cat?
    
    mary
    

    A Snowshoe is a shorthaired cat with points like a siamese with
    the addition of white feet and an inverted V of white on the muzzle.
    Very cute. 
    
    Jo (who is partial to cats with siamese points and white feet)
    

    Thanks for the advice.  I'll have to really think about this though. 
    Fur flying sounds real nerve racking! Ya know what I mean!  And of
    course, for those of you who know of my husband (remember what it took
    for me to get Sweetie!) I'll have a heck of a time convincing him that
    this would all be worth while. At any rate, we'll both be giving it
    serious thought.
    
    Re .4
    
    It's not ignorance that you don't know about Snowshoes.  They are a
    relatively new breed (20 years in the making) and not yet accepted in
    all the various cat associations.  Now, I'm not a real expert, but here
    are the basics
    
    1.  First developed by breeding American shorthairs to Siamese.  This
    makes for very interesting markings.  They have siamese markings, blue
    and seal point, gorgeous blue eyes and little white feet along with a
    white blaze on their faces. The are quite stiking and beautiful.
    
    2.  They are supposed to be short haired, but occasionally a medium
    hair is found.  Not what breeders are looking for but none the less,
    quite beautiful
    
    3.  They can no longer be bred back to an American Shorthair but can be
    bred back to a Siamese although this is not happening very much any
    more as the structure of the two breeds is quite different.  The
    Snowshoe is a large cat (more like the "old" style Siamese)
    
    4.  As far as personality goes, the Snowshoe is a highly sociable and
    intelligent cat.  My Snowshoe, Sam, runs circles around my other two
    domestic cats.  My husband compares him to a small dog in behavior.  He
    exhibits a wide range of emotions.  They can be loveable, curious,
    playful, always on the go, and sometimes downrite spiteful.  If ours
    doesn't get his way, watch out!  He might throw all the pillows off
    the beds or run around the house like a madman or get into the closet
    and knock over all our extra light bulbs. We should have named him
    Diablo, instead of Sam.
      
    Then on the other hand, they are the most loveable creatures going.  We
    really enjoy the company of our Snowshoe because he seems to really
    enjoy our company.  It's a give and take relationship with Snowshoes.
    
    
    
    If you would like more info, I can copy an article from a magazine that
    I have and send it off to you.
    
    Thanks,
    
    Jeanne
    

    Jeanne,
    
    Didn't I meet your husband at my house last Christmas....It really
    can work out - everyone has their own way of introducing new kids.
    You just have to figure out the best way for you.

    Re: .5
    
    Thanks Jo.  I had this picture of a cat with HUGE tennis racket shaped
    feet!!  :-}  I think if I had one, judging by your description, I'd be
    partial to them too.
    
    Merry Christmas.
    Mary
    

    I don't have any snowshoes, but I have some pointed cats with white
    feet....Birmans.
    
    Jo