Dead Rat
I found a dead palm rat out on the driveway last night. I asked my kitty if it was his, but I think he said no. I think it was gotten by the kitty who used to live here, who still thinks he lives here. The previous human tenants were evicted (I helped change the locks) but I think the previous kitty is the kind who likes his territory more than he likes his humans. I don't blame him, judging from what I saw of his humans.
However, my kitty is a one-man kitty, who hung out with me when we lost our (serially) homes, sleeping in my truck with me. He seems intimidated by the previous kitty. I'm loyal to my kitty, but don't wish to be mean to the previous kitty. Maybe I could trap the previous kitty and deliver him to his bad humans? Nah.
Maybe I could reconcile my grumpy old sick kitty to that kitty? Nah, I don't think so.
Any suggestions, anyone?
However, my kitty is a one-man kitty, who hung out with me when we lost our (serially) homes, sleeping in my truck with me. He seems intimidated by the previous kitty. I'm loyal to my kitty, but don't wish to be mean to the previous kitty. Maybe I could trap the previous kitty and deliver him to his bad humans? Nah.
Maybe I could reconcile my grumpy old sick kitty to that kitty? Nah, I don't think so.
Any suggestions, anyone?
posted by Justthisguy at 12/07/2009 06:57:00 PM
10 Comments:
OK well...I will try this (Cora is playing with a toy mouse in the background, which means she isn't licking her stitches and I can tell where she is by the sound) while it depends on the individual cat(s), I would say that PreviousKitty and CurrentKitty will probably be fine as long as (a) they're both neutered, and (b) they have time to get to know each other. If they're both outdoor or indoor/outdoor that's a pretty big territory to share, and if both of them are sticking around so far they can't hate each other THAT much.
If they were both strictly indoor I would suggest keeping them in separate rooms for a while and then doing slow introductions (i.e., switch their bedding so they get used to each others' scents, have them sniff each other while one is in a carrier, etc.), but if they both go outside it's a fairly safe bet that they will both end up sort of establishing their territories on their own.
That can take a while to work out, and if they REALLY hate each other than there's a risk of one of them deciding to pack up and leave (i.e., because the other keeps chasing them out). But really if you think you can afford to care for 2 cats I would highly recommend trying to let PreviousKitty stay. It wasn't his fault his humans abandoned them, and cats are very attached to places. And again if the cats are going outdoors at all that is probably going to mean they eventually work out their turf issues. They aren't liable to kill one another or anything.
Don't envy you that little conundrum. Don't know if you're two story but we have an upstairs cat and a downstairs cat [same territory thing] and the dog......not welcome on either floor by the felines!
Also I would recommend a book Anne and I are currently reading. It's called "Cat vs. Cat", and deals with the huge number of problems that can crop up in multi-cat households. Some of it (whenever it gets into behaviorist lingo) is weird or iffy, but the author clearly knows cats and has a bunch of them herself.
Looks like the kittehs have solved that problem among themselves while I was moping and brooding, for better or worse.
I haven't seen the previous kitteh around here for a few days. I hope and trust that his humans, or somebody, scooped him up and took him off to a nice new home. My kitteh seems willing to go outside now, though staying close to the house. He really is right adaptable for a cat of his age, but I can tell he'd rather not have to adapt. I concur with him; I'd rather have staided in one home all my life, meself.
Umm, I shoulda wrote: "I'd rather have stayed..."
Am pleased to hear the cats have sorted it out themselves.
Nope, no suggestions, sorry. We've got the same problem here with a young'un who keeps coming over and fighting with our old male cat though he seems scared of our very old female cat. Go figure.
If you take an other kitty into your home they will plot against you!
My kitty takes every chance she gets to sleep in my room. Starts at the foot of my bed, then next to me, on my neck like a boa (trying to suffocate me!!!) then over my head like a halo... And finally she lays her belly on my face till i forget to breathe and wake up all cat scratched :< Kitties are SERIOUS BUSINESS Take not enough to be out numbered!
-Miss Lt-
The other kitty is a girl kitty. She proudly showed me her, um, girl parts.
I have made friends with her, sort of, by flopping down on the ground sideways next to her, and she has done me the same favor. I have rubbed her head.
My kitty has adapted to living here, and is willing to let that other kitty approach as close as oh, ten feet or so.
I feel like such a doofus, trying to arrange social relations among the cats, who really don't care what the humans think.
Owhell, it seems to have turned out OK.
Didn't know where to reply so I will leave this here :P
So I'm weird? Cause I say stuff people are thinking but don't say? lol And I believe I am ageless as well.
-Lt-
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