"dgk" wrote in message
news
On Fri, 28 May 2010 10:10:01 -0500, "MaryL"
-OUT-THE-LITTER wrote:


"dgk" wrote in message
. ..
Marlo hasn't gotten along well with our new boy, Scooter. Scooter is
quite aggressive though, and tough. Espy also hates him and even Nipsy
isn't really friendly with Scooter - and Nipsy is very friendly with
other cats. I would have thought that Marlo would be more sympathetic
to Scooter since I also pulled her in off the street.

I noticed that Marlo's mouth was looking odd and there was blood on
her collar tag, and she won't let me open her mouth to take a good
look. It's gotten better over the last day or so and I think that it's
just a result of a fight with Scooter, but I really can't tell so I
made a Vet appointment for Saturday.

I'm hoping that it's nothing serious of course but since I can't tell
what's going on I'll have to endure the outraged screams of betrayal
and anguish as I load her into the carrier for the torturous five
minute drive to the vet. And the actual torturous bill of course.



I haven't been following these posts, but how long have you had Scooter?
Did you go through the slow, gradual introduction process that is
recommended, or did you just put them together with the expectation that
"everything would work itself out"? If the latter, I suggest that you
start
all over again. Put Scooter in a separate room on a temporary basis, and
only very *gradually* introduce the cats to each other. I would be glad
to
email some information if you are interested. Your statement that "I
would
have thought that Marlo would be more sympathetic to Scooter since I also
pulled her in off the street" is hoomin-type thinking, not cat thinking.

MaryL


Oh no, Scooter was in the Cat Introduction Room for several days. I
did the scent transfer thing, had Feliway sprayed around, and did it
gradually. But Scooter is a muscular streetwise cat and is very
aggressive with food to the point where everyone is afraid to eat
anywhere near him.

The oddest thing is watching Marlo watch Scooter. She has these HUGE
eyes in a pretty small head on a large body. Looks sort of like an
engorged tick. She also looks like that cat in the cat clock:

http://www.amazon.com/Kit-Cat-Clock-.../dp/B0019IBD3U


She'll stare at Scooter from across the room like he's some kind of
alien in a cat costume. I didn't really mean that Marlo would cut him
some slack because they're both from outside. I don't even think Marlo
remembers being outside. She certainly never wanted to go out the
front door once she was inside. In fact, it took a month before she
was willing to go in the backyard with Espy and Nipsy. That girl knows
what the OUT is like and prefers the IN.

In contrast, Scooter still goes out to visit his girlfrriend (Jet) and
baby (Baby), and the other members of the colony: Smokey, Shea, and a
few others. His girlfriend knows something is missing though. She's
obviously been dating other guys since she just had a litter. I plan,
by the end of the summer, to have the whole group TNRd.

It is calming down a bit after a few months. The cats don't actually
run past each other anymore, it's down to a quick walk. And the paws
aren't flying at each other as much. I suspect in a few years they may
actually lie side by side without growling.



Okay, thanks. I know exactly what you mean by the big eyes. Holly has eyes
like that. They are gorgeous, but they are probably the largest eyes I have
seen in proportion to her face.

MaryL