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#1
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Friend for chatty cat?
I have one cat, a brown tabby named Spenser, who's a year and four
months old. I adoped him at the Humane Society last summer. He's a very sweet, rather timid cat, and also the noisiest cat I have ever met. He just seems to like the sound of his own voice! I'm concerned that he seems to need more attention than I (or any one person) am capable of giving him -- I play with him when I get home from work, but he's still raring to go at bedtime. I have to shut him out of my bedroom just to get some sleep. I've been thinking about getting a buddy for him, so that he would have someone to play with when I can't be around. I'm hoping it would reduce the intensity and frequency of the cries for attention. My worry, though, is that I'd end up with two cats crying at me in the middle of the night! I know that it's impossible to guarantee that two cats will get along, but are there any general rules about what kind of pairings work best? Male or female? Kitten or older cat? Any hints, tips or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks! Beth -- "I wanted so desperately to say That you could trust me But I was lying anyway" -Beth Orton |
#3
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in article , Kirilaw at
PAM wrote on 7/20/03 8:58 AM: I have one cat, a brown tabby named Spenser, who's a year and four months old. I adoped him at the Humane Society last summer. He's a very sweet, rather timid cat, and also the noisiest cat I have ever met. He just seems to like the sound of his own voice! I'm concerned that he seems to need more attention than I (or any one person) am capable of giving him -- I play with him when I get home from work, but he's still raring to go at bedtime. I have to shut him out of my bedroom just to get some sleep. I've been thinking about getting a buddy for him, so that he would have someone to play with when I can't be around. I'm hoping it would reduce the intensity and frequency of the cries for attention. My worry, though, is that I'd end up with two cats crying at me in the middle of the night! I know that it's impossible to guarantee that two cats will get along, but are there any general rules about what kind of pairings work best? Male or female? Kitten or older cat? Any hints, tips or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks! Beth I think a buddy is a great idea! Let us know when you get one! Karen |
#4
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Perhaps go back to the Human Society and have a chat to them about Spenser's
personality - hopefully they'll be able to help match an appropriate buddy for you - ie one which is not too dominating as you don't want it overpowering your timid boy. I've been told countless times that male and female is generally easier to work with, although I'm personally doing ok with my two females - depends a lot on the individual cat I guess. And lastly, can I *highly* recommend getting some Feliway for the introduction. You'll have to talk to fellow Americans about the diffusers because we don't have them in Aus, but I've been using the spray (just spraying it all over the place, especially where they sleep, scratching posts, corners of doors etc where they rub their heads). It's made an *amazing* difference with my recent introduction of a new cat. I ran out last week. It's been about 4-5 weeks so I thought it'd be fine, especially as they'd started grooming each other a tiny bit (just a few licks but it's a start!) Wrong. They started sleeping as far away from each other as possible - ie other side of the room or leaving the room when the other entered, the new comer started seeming a bit standoffish and 'bitchy' towards us (she was pretty timid when we got her). I was getting really worried things weren't going to work after all. Then I got another bottle of Feliway - bingo! They're sleeping within a foot or two of each other again, the new cat is much more relaxed and affectionate. It's getting expensive after all these weeks, but it's well worth it IMO. I'm happy to keep it up for as long as it takes. As for worrying about being kept awake by two cats crying - well the worst case scenario is that you lock them both out of your room. At least they'll have each other which is better than your current situation. Although do prepare yourself for the sounds of a couple of cats tearing around the house like mad *******s. Still I can assure you it's a far less invasive than the sound of a bored cat crying for attention. Purplecat "Kirilaw" wrote in message ... I have one cat, a brown tabby named Spenser, who's a year and four months old. I adoped him at the Humane Society last summer. He's a very sweet, rather timid cat, and also the noisiest cat I have ever met. He just seems to like the sound of his own voice! I'm concerned that he seems to need more attention than I (or any one person) am capable of giving him -- I play with him when I get home from work, but he's still raring to go at bedtime. I have to shut him out of my bedroom just to get some sleep. I've been thinking about getting a buddy for him, so that he would have someone to play with when I can't be around. I'm hoping it would reduce the intensity and frequency of the cries for attention. My worry, though, is that I'd end up with two cats crying at me in the middle of the night! I know that it's impossible to guarantee that two cats will get along, but are there any general rules about what kind of pairings work best? Male or female? Kitten or older cat? Any hints, tips or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks! Beth -- "I wanted so desperately to say That you could trust me But I was lying anyway" -Beth Orton |
#5
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Perhaps go back to the Human Society and have a chat to them about Spenser's
personality - hopefully they'll be able to help match an appropriate buddy for you - ie one which is not too dominating as you don't want it overpowering your timid boy. I've been told countless times that male and female is generally easier to work with, although I'm personally doing ok with my two females - depends a lot on the individual cat I guess. And lastly, can I *highly* recommend getting some Feliway for the introduction. You'll have to talk to fellow Americans about the diffusers because we don't have them in Aus, but I've been using the spray (just spraying it all over the place, especially where they sleep, scratching posts, corners of doors etc where they rub their heads). It's made an *amazing* difference with my recent introduction of a new cat. I ran out last week. It's been about 4-5 weeks so I thought it'd be fine, especially as they'd started grooming each other a tiny bit (just a few licks but it's a start!) Wrong. They started sleeping as far away from each other as possible - ie other side of the room or leaving the room when the other entered, the new comer started seeming a bit standoffish and 'bitchy' towards us (she was pretty timid when we got her). I was getting really worried things weren't going to work after all. Then I got another bottle of Feliway - bingo! They're sleeping within a foot or two of each other again, the new cat is much more relaxed and affectionate. It's getting expensive after all these weeks, but it's well worth it IMO. I'm happy to keep it up for as long as it takes. As for worrying about being kept awake by two cats crying - well the worst case scenario is that you lock them both out of your room. At least they'll have each other which is better than your current situation. Although do prepare yourself for the sounds of a couple of cats tearing around the house like mad *******s. Still I can assure you it's a far less invasive than the sound of a bored cat crying for attention. Purplecat "Kirilaw" wrote in message ... I have one cat, a brown tabby named Spenser, who's a year and four months old. I adoped him at the Humane Society last summer. He's a very sweet, rather timid cat, and also the noisiest cat I have ever met. He just seems to like the sound of his own voice! I'm concerned that he seems to need more attention than I (or any one person) am capable of giving him -- I play with him when I get home from work, but he's still raring to go at bedtime. I have to shut him out of my bedroom just to get some sleep. I've been thinking about getting a buddy for him, so that he would have someone to play with when I can't be around. I'm hoping it would reduce the intensity and frequency of the cries for attention. My worry, though, is that I'd end up with two cats crying at me in the middle of the night! I know that it's impossible to guarantee that two cats will get along, but are there any general rules about what kind of pairings work best? Male or female? Kitten or older cat? Any hints, tips or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks! Beth -- "I wanted so desperately to say That you could trust me But I was lying anyway" -Beth Orton |
#6
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While it is a great idea to get the cat a buddy I am not sure if it
will "shut him up". I have two cats one tom and one female who get along pretty well and still the tom tries to chat with as soon as he sees me. The tomcat (Nico) is a chatterbox he makes noises all the time (different sounds for different situations), maybe he is trying to talk to me or like you said he just likes the tone of his voice. He was pretty talkative when we picked him up from the shelter and we thought it was because he didn't like it there. It might be a good idea to get a more quiet cat so that you don't end up with two noise machines. |
#7
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While it is a great idea to get the cat a buddy I am not sure if it
will "shut him up". I have two cats one tom and one female who get along pretty well and still the tom tries to chat with as soon as he sees me. The tomcat (Nico) is a chatterbox he makes noises all the time (different sounds for different situations), maybe he is trying to talk to me or like you said he just likes the tone of his voice. He was pretty talkative when we picked him up from the shelter and we thought it was because he didn't like it there. It might be a good idea to get a more quiet cat so that you don't end up with two noise machines. |
#8
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On Sun, 20 Jul 2003 09:58:47 -0400, Kirilaw
wrote: I have one cat, a brown tabby named Spenser, who's a year and four months old. I adoped him at the Humane Society last summer. He's a very sweet, rather timid cat, and also the noisiest cat I have ever met. He just seems to like the sound of his own voice! I'm concerned that he seems to need more attention than I (or any one person) am capable of giving him -- I play with him when I get home from work, but he's still raring to go at bedtime. I have to shut him out of my bedroom just to get some sleep. I've been thinking about getting a buddy for him, so that he would have someone to play with when I can't be around. I'm hoping it would reduce the intensity and frequency of the cries for attention. My worry, though, is that I'd end up with two cats crying at me in the middle of the night! I know that it's impossible to guarantee that two cats will get along, but are there any general rules about what kind of pairings work best? Male or female? Kitten or older cat? Any hints, tips or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks! Beth You seem to have picked up pretty good advice already but I'll add mine. I have two ex-male cats and they get along fine. I always have two cats so they keep each other company and mostly it works out. Unless you have a cat that wants to be solo I think it is the only way to go. Your's doesn't sound like a solo cat. I don't think you'll be getting wake up calls at night (no guarantee!) but they do take turns at 5:30 am trying for breakfast. I don't mean one each day, I mean one each 3 minutes. Sort of like a snooze alarm. I suppose I can train them to leave me alone (sure) but I just feed them and then go back to bed. Well, for another 15 minutes or so since I get up by 6 to go to work anyway. |
#9
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On Sun, 20 Jul 2003 09:58:47 -0400, Kirilaw
wrote: I have one cat, a brown tabby named Spenser, who's a year and four months old. I adoped him at the Humane Society last summer. He's a very sweet, rather timid cat, and also the noisiest cat I have ever met. He just seems to like the sound of his own voice! I'm concerned that he seems to need more attention than I (or any one person) am capable of giving him -- I play with him when I get home from work, but he's still raring to go at bedtime. I have to shut him out of my bedroom just to get some sleep. I've been thinking about getting a buddy for him, so that he would have someone to play with when I can't be around. I'm hoping it would reduce the intensity and frequency of the cries for attention. My worry, though, is that I'd end up with two cats crying at me in the middle of the night! I know that it's impossible to guarantee that two cats will get along, but are there any general rules about what kind of pairings work best? Male or female? Kitten or older cat? Any hints, tips or suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks! Beth You seem to have picked up pretty good advice already but I'll add mine. I have two ex-male cats and they get along fine. I always have two cats so they keep each other company and mostly it works out. Unless you have a cat that wants to be solo I think it is the only way to go. Your's doesn't sound like a solo cat. I don't think you'll be getting wake up calls at night (no guarantee!) but they do take turns at 5:30 am trying for breakfast. I don't mean one each day, I mean one each 3 minutes. Sort of like a snooze alarm. I suppose I can train them to leave me alone (sure) but I just feed them and then go back to bed. Well, for another 15 minutes or so since I get up by 6 to go to work anyway. |
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