"bookie" wrote in message
oups.com...
dear all
i am seriously considering adopting an old cat who is blind, or rather
has had to have her eyes removed because of eye infections which woudl
not clear up. What i am wondering is how she will cope in a new house
and what i can do to make life easier for her to get about. I already
have one old-timer puss who is about 15 or 16yrs old, fairly laid back,
came from a house with other cats previously before I took her in so is
used to sharing her space although she has been an only cat for the
last 18 months with me, and I am wondering how best to approach
integrating them? any tips on this? I am worried that my old cat jessie
will not take to the new cat (mabel) and maybe bully her and mabel will
not be able to stand up for herself as she is blind and fairly
arthritic (mabel is also 16 yrs old but not nearly as spritely as
jessie puss), or do you think that jessie will be ok and not feel that
mabel is a threat because she is blind and so decrepit and will
therefore leave her alone?

I don't want to make life miserable for either of them by taking this
new one on. i wonder whether it would be better to leave mabel in the
shelter until such time that someone who doesnt' already have cats
comes along to take her home, but she has been there a long time
already and is not likely to be homed by anyone else in a hurry, what
do people think?

sensible answers only please, no stupid crap from sad ****s who don't
actually have cats but only post to this site to wind people up because
they have nothing else in their tragic little lives, you know who you
are.
cheers Bookie


Bookie,

I have a wonderful blind cat, Duffy. He is truly remarkable and has brought
an incredible amount of joy to our household. Duffy was approximately 5
years when I adopted him, and he has blind since birth. Like yours, he
spent several months in the shelter before I adopted him. I had some of the
same concerns you outlined, especially because I already had a cat (Holly)
who had previously been very aggressive toward any other cat in my vicinity.
She was so aggressive that we called her "the black tornado." I took a very
slow, cautious, measured approach to the introduction. In fact, I precisely
followed the advice of a friend who has had a great deal of experience in
introducing cats with different (and potentially conflicting) personalities.
It was a full 6 weeks before I left the two of them alone together at all
times. They now are a happy twosome. Depending on the personalities of
your cats, you may not need to take that much time, but it is always better
to go very slowly than to try to rush these introductions -- especially
given the circumstances you outlined.

I have previously written a fairly lengthy document on the introduction I
used. I have posted it in "bits and pieces" on this site over a period of
time, but I will be happy to email it to you if you want to read it. I am
posting links under my sig to a "pictorial history" of the introduction. In
particular, you might want to look at the temporary door we used on "Duffy's
room." That way, they could be close to each other without taking any
chances of an attack. In addition, look at the platter that I placed under
the door at meal time. Each cat was able to eat in very close proximity to
the other without actually being in the same room. Again, that was some
time into the introduction period. Incidentally, I spent a great deal of
time with Duffy during that period; I did not simply leave him alone in his
separate room. Also, I lavished loving and attention on Holly every time I
left Duffy's room because I did not want her to feel displaced and to
possibly become resentful of Duffy.

One thing I would like to emphasize is that Duffy adjusted *beautifully.*
He can do almost anything a sighted can do except run rapidly through the
house. Instead, he has his "vertical space." I have two sturdy cat trees
and some other climbing surfaces -- he loves to climb and is like a little
gymnast. I used carpeted surfaces in most instances, with only one sisal
pole on each cat tree, because he needs to be able to climb. Holly can
simply leap from one bed to another on the cat tree, but Duffy needs to be
able to use the poles for navigation.

Please fee free to contact me. And *thank you VERY much* for adopting this
kitty. (My email address attached to this message is valid except that you
first need to "take-out-the-litter.")

MaryL

Photos of Duffy and Holly: 'o'
http://tinyurl.com/8y54 (Introducing Duffy to Holly)
http://tinyurl.com/8y56 (Duffy and Holly "settle in")