Kitty Update

[AndyRosse]

Thanks for the pics!!! Smokey is absolutely stunning, and of course, Sasha was a real beauty.

About trying to get them to play with the string and how BB ends up hissing at Smokey, have you and your husband tried to each play with one cat at the same time with them being near each other? I wonder if you can keep Smokey''s attention on his toy, and BB''s on hers, that maybe you can slowly move them closer together while still playing with the two different toys. Actually, now that I say this, I''m not quite sure what it would achieve except hopefully BB learning to play near Smokey and not be intimidated and hopefully Smokey will keep his attention on his toy instead of bugging BB....Argh, it must be late, lol, because now I''m starting to confuse myself with this ramble! Okies, I''ll stop with that!

 

[MiniMouse]

Achi, don''t worry about the hissy fits that seem to go on, ignore them. If Smokey chases BB, leave them unless he becomes overly aggressive about it and then just spray him with water. It will stop him. Both cats are having to find where they stand with each other and the sooner BB whacks Smokey, the sooner he will realise he can''t get away with acting the big guy around her. In time you will find that BB is the boss. I have the tiniest of Himalayan cats called Pixie, she is only just 7lbs in weight yet she''s 8 years old, however, she is the boss of the household. She constantly chases my 14lb boy, and he''s frightened of her when she''s in a strop! Girl cats tend to get the better of their male counterparts, eventually.

To put your situation in perspective, you have introduced a strange cat into your household and you''re willing for Smokey to accept her. Putting cats aside, it''s like bringing a total stranger into your home and hoping that you will be best buddies with that person, even though you don''t know them at all. It takes time to adjust and get to know someone, let alone be all pally and personal with them, even sitting on the same sofa together isn''t always done when you''re strangers. It''s the same with cats, they need to aclimatise and get used to each other and their own personal scents. Your situation with Smokey and BB may take weeks to resolve, even months (every situation is different), but they will see eye to eye, but first BB needs to bash Smokey up a bit, so he knows she''s not a gullible little weak female who''ll give in to his bullying. Don''t worry, Smokey will be okay, it''s his ego that will get a battering, that''s all. You really do need to leave him in a situation where BB is pushed to the edge and she fights back. Males tend to get frightened when females show their claws/nails

Once they establish where they stand with each other, you''ll find they start to understand and cope with each other much better.

Going back to the spraying incident. Are you sure BB sprayed or do you think she could have had bladder failure after receiving the fright of her life? I know if I was fast asleep and I got a terrific shock, I could well find my bladder empty out quickly! You might find it was shock that caused her bladder to let go. Hopefully it''s the first and last time.

YOU''RE DOING GREAT Achi, keep persevering. It''s hard work but the result will be worthwhile.

 

[Lorelei]

Another great post MM!! I don''t have much to add here, but keep in mind with feral cats it is nearly always a dominant queen that rules, ones with kittens are accorded higher status still. Therefore BB probably will end up being in charge. Our newish girl whom we have had for a few months has made a few bids for supremacy over our alpha male cuddly boy, he is having none of it however and his power is more felt than seen. Their disputes are normally settled with a few glares and swats and our little girl slinking off to sulk. They do respect each other''s territory, there is an unspoken understanding that she never ever comes into the office as this is Mr Lorelei and alpha boy''s special place and she knows not to try it! I think now is the time to step back a little as MM says and let them have at it - I am sure no one will get hurt and they will resolve this quicker. That is so wonderful to hear of your games with BB and that you are developing a bond with her, she is a real cutie!

 

[AChiOAlumna]

Positive steps today!!!

Two of BB''s softpaws popped off this morning, but I was able to glue 2 new ones on by myself...it''s easier when DH helps, but it wasn''t too bad...

This afternoon, I walked by my dining room table and heard growling...I couldn''t see any kitties around so I pulled up the tablecloth. BB was on one chair and Smokey was on another...she was growling low, but that was it...I walked away from them to duke it out...instead they both fell asleep on their perspective chairs!! No growling...hissing...clawing...sleeping just less than a foot from each other!! It wasn''t until I checked on them 2 hours later did they decide to get up...

AHHHH....PROGRESS!!!!

 

[snuga]

Wow, That does sound like progress. Getting BB acclimated to her new home will take some time, but it sounds like positive steps are being taken, so CONGRATS!!

 

[AndyRosse]

Date: 10/19/2005 7:09:35 PM
Author: AChiOAlumna
Positive steps today!!!

Two of BB''s softpaws popped off this morning, but I was able to glue 2 new ones on by myself...it''s easier when DH helps, but it wasn''t too bad...

This afternoon, I walked by my dining room table and heard growling...I couldn''t see any kitties around so I pulled up the tablecloth. BB was on one chair and Smokey was on another...she was growling low, but that was it...I walked away from them to duke it out...instead they both fell asleep on their perspective chairs!! No growling...hissing...clawing...sleeping just less than a foot from each other!! It wasn''t until I checked on them 2 hours later did they decide to get up...

AHHHH....PROGRESS!!!!

YAY!!!!!!!!!

 

[MiniMouse]

Achi, your post really indicates how much progress you''ve made. Neither cat would fall asleep in each other''s company (even on two separate chairs) if they were uncomfortable with each other. They just wouldn''t settle. The fact they both fell asleep shows that they are really beginning to accept each other. Okay, so you''re still going to have a few hissy fits, but I really think you''re getting there and soon they will be okay. Well done, you''re doing fabulous, but don''t get too disillusioned if they still have a few spats, it''s part of getting to know each other.

 

[Lorelei]

FANTASTIC!!!!! This proves they are slowly losing interest in in each other as adversaries and soon will go together like peas and carrots - to coin a phrase! Familiarity IS breeding contempt and I think BB is a grumbler, take no notice!

 

[AChiOAlumna]

Today''s update...

As of today, I''ve watched Bunny approach Smokey several times, get within inches of him, and the hiss in his face...now who''s doing the instigating??? LOL

 

[AndyRosse]

LOL, she definitely is feeling much more secure!!

 

[AChiOAlumna]

Yeah...I think so too...she''s also now using the scratching post we bought... (sure she uses it AFTER we put on the SoftPaws!!! She wouldn''t use it beforehand!!!

)...

Here are some new pix of her!!! This first one is of her sleeping right next to me (that''s my leg on the right-hand side...)

 

[AChiOAlumna]

#2 of her cleaning herself...she''s sitting upright on her rump, and folded over as she cleans her stomach...

 

[AChiOAlumna]

#3 of her laying across her favorite chairs...(which is also mine...guess who''s winning this contest??)

 

[AChiOAlumna]

#4...one of Smokey for posterity!!

 

[widget]

They''re both just beautiful!

But I want to see a picture of Bunny''s Butt!!!

widget

 

[AChiOAlumna]

widget...I''m trying, but that end isn''t really photogenic when I have the camera out!!!

 

[FireGoddess]

OMG that sleeping pose is so cute I want to rub my face in kitty belly fur! Glad to hear it''s going well...!

 

[AChiOAlumna]

FG....her belly is so cute!!! Her fur is thick and her stomach is fat (stocky...whatever)....she''s such a cutie!!

 

[FireGoddess]

She also has the most humungous front paws I''ve ever seen (except for my parent''s cat which has extra toes, hehehe) and I love them! Especially that picture of her in the bathroom where she''s stretching her paws out on the carpet.

 

[AChiOAlumna]

Actually FG....her front paws are very characteristic of the Manx breed...who knew?? I''ve been doing a lot of research on Manx since getting her...I also found out that her "trills" are normal meow patterns too...

Now her little claws are covered with SoftPaws!!

 

[AndyRosse]

Oh, they are both soooooo adorable!!

AChiOAlumna, you are doing so well!!!

Honestly, I was looking back through this thread, and I can''t believe the progress these two have made over the past three or so weeks. I can''t wait to hear about more progress!!

 

[AChiOAlumna]

Rascal...you say that now...as they are in the midst of another tiff...but I''m letting them sort it out....Smokey chased her under the couch..there was hissing and swatting...but now that Bunny has the SoftPaws, so I know she can''t hurt Smokey if she lashes out...But they were so close to laying together until she got a bee up her rear and decided she didn''t want Smokey that close. Smokey didn''t care what she wanted and proceeded with his plan...resulting in hissing and chasing around the house...LOL

It''s quiet now, so I''m guessing Bunny is under the couch!

 

[Blue824]

Aww I like her new pictures - she is a very pretty kitty!
Hehe and glad to hear that she''s starting to stand up to Smokey a bit!

 

[radiantlover]

OMG she is SOOOO cute!!! I can just rub my face in her belly!!!

Congratulations on your new cat...and great job!

 

[AChiOAlumna]

Date: 10/20/2005 11:46:30 PM
Author: radiantlover
OMG she is SOOOO cute!!! I can just rub my face in her belly!!!
Congratulations on your new cat...and great job!

RL...thanks for the kinds words...BTW...if you try to rub your face on her belly, she''ll try to swat you...I learned that the hard way!!!

 

[Lorelei]

Oh she is GORGEOUS

Once Moremoremore eyeballs those paws it will be all over!!!

She is one of the prettiest cats I have ever seen

If this makes you feel any better I too have lost all my favourite chairs, with 5 in our home I don''t have a chance, especially the best one in front of the fire

 

[MiniMouse]

GORGEOUS pussycat. I''m a sucker for cats that make me go aaah, maybe that''s why I''ve ended up with 5. BB is a cutie and Smokey is a handsome pussy too. I think you''re on the road to peace and have averted WW3.

 

[AndyRosse]

Date: 10/20/2005 11:54:56 PM
Author: AChiOAlumna

Date: 10/20/2005 11:46:30 PM
Author: radiantlover
OMG she is SOOOO cute!!! I can just rub my face in her belly!!!
Congratulations on your new cat...and great job!

RL...thanks for the kinds words...BTW...if you try to rub your face on her belly, she''ll try to swat you...I learned that the hard way!!!

LOL, hope she was wearing those soft paws!!!

 

[FireGoddess]

Date: 10/21/2005 12:10:42 PM
Author: Rascal49

Date: 10/20/2005 11:54:56 PM
Author: AChiOAlumna

Date: 10/20/2005 11:46:30 PM
Author: radiantlover
OMG she is SOOOO cute!!! I can just rub my face in her belly!!!
Congratulations on your new cat...and great job!

RL...thanks for the kinds words...BTW...if you try to rub your face on her belly, she''ll try to swat you...I learned that the hard way!!!

LOL, hope she was wearing those soft paws!!!

ROFL - I only do this when Chloe''s sleeping next to me on the bed...if I made any sudden moves when she was awake, she''d bust out of there! But when she''s asleep - I get furry pillow as long as I want it!!! purrrrrrrrr

 

[moremoremore]

OK. Baby talk is in order:

Who has a gushy mushy bewwy? Baby's got a mushy mushy bewwy...yum yum yum....grab that big fat juicy bewy (belly) LOL....

And I didn't know smokey was black! I happen to love black cats! He is so shiney and regal!

They are both so beautiful and precious! Head bonks!