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in article , Brian Link at
wrote on 8/6/04 1:24AM: (Story to date: Henry the stray has been living with us for a month with other-cat-experienced Tiger aged 10, and Louis age 2, who has only known Tiger since Tiger lovingly adopted him at age 6 weeks) Very mixed results introducing Henry to our two resident cats. 1. When announcing "Treat!", which Henry seems to have learned after only one recitation, Henry and Tiger leap over each other, bump against each other, lick each others' face, and seem oblivious to the murderous intent each has exhibited in the past. I wonder if Henry just reads the excitement of the other cats and realizes something really great is coming out of the cupboard..? 2. Henry REALLY loves catnip. He was so stoned tonight that Louis the Bengal decided he'd try a few faux charges toward him. Henry totally ignored them. However, as he started to sober up, he fixed a glare on Louis that utterly deflated his bravado and made him slink away.. 3. After being reduced to hiding each time Henry made his appearance, Tiger has returned to playfully batting Henry when he gets too close. Henry seems to withstand 2 or 3 of these, before he arches his back, lowers his head and ears and prepares for a death strike... 4. Spoke to a "cat behavioralist" vet today who told me two interesting things.. Firstly, that hormone levels take a month to drop after neutering (our vet said 2 weeks) and that in her experience cats just need to duke it out to establish their rank. She also suggested using a Flower Essence called "Rescue Potion", just a drop rubbed under the ear, to calm the cats. 5. We've had a few screaming all-hell-broken-loose fights, some involving all three cats (very heartening that Tiger sticks up for his "little brother" Louis). Miraculously, there is never any blood or even dislodged claw sheathes. A helluva lot of fur, though. On top of it, Henry is quick to disengage and I haven't been mauled yet. I notice that often attacks go for the back of the neck, which in a cat is extremely thick tissue. This must be the analogue of two rams bashing their heads together. 6. Henry's regular vet laughed at our anguish over the labored introduction. "Give it three months before you get worried." was what he told us. Very entertaining - but I have to say as one of those people who love cats more than is rational that it's also quite stressful on me as well. "Can't we all just get along?" Finally, though the vet estimated 1-2 years old, Henry can't be much older than a year or so. He's gawky and gangly like an adolescent. He eats like a horse, and has gained 2 pounds since he came to live with us. Though he's bigger and younger than the other two cats, if I were a betting man I'd still put my money on Louis if it came to blows. The brief battles they have had convince me even more that, even as an F-10 or so, that Leopard Cat blood courses hot in his veins. The growl he's suddenly discovered is in a different league altogether than any domestic cat I've ever known. In quarantine, interacting with people, Henry is drop-dead adorable. He even does the 'rubbing face on face' thing that poor old Howard did, though he drools enough to make me grab a tissue when he hops on the bed. Despite all the anguish, moments like tonight when Henry and Tiger played with a string together give me hope. Brian Link, Minnesota Countertenor ---------------------------------- "I think animal testing is a terrible idea; they get all nervous and give the wrong answers." - regmech I'd say there is hope. It is stressful. I have found with Pearl that as SOON as anything starts, I give her a time out in the bedroom. Within even five munites when I let her out, she will then ignore the other cats. It's taken us almost two years. But we were never at the stage you ata as early as you are. I do adavise the "bedroom" vacation at least for a bit each night, so everyone gets a bit of totally stress free time. |
#3
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"PawsForThought" wrote in message ... From: itter (MacCandace) We'll see how that goes but so far the intro alone has cost me about $250, 6 weeks of stress, and no discernible change. Have you tried putting vanilla on each one of them, one or two drops at the base of the tail, and another couple drops on the top of their heads? I've used this method before in introducing cats and have had success with it. Lauren Ha! I tried it, too, during Herrie's intro. But absolutely no difference. :-( I also rubbed a towel on myself & them, interchanging the scents in different permutations - nope. Cathy |
#4
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"PawsForThought" wrote in message ... From: itter (MacCandace) We'll see how that goes but so far the intro alone has cost me about $250, 6 weeks of stress, and no discernible change. Have you tried putting vanilla on each one of them, one or two drops at the base of the tail, and another couple drops on the top of their heads? I've used this method before in introducing cats and have had success with it. Lauren Ha! I tried it, too, during Herrie's intro. But absolutely no difference. :-( I also rubbed a towel on myself & them, interchanging the scents in different permutations - nope. Cathy |
#5
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"PawsForThought" wrote in message ... From: "Cathy Friedmann" "PawsForThought" wrote in message ... From: itter (MacCandace) We'll see how that goes but so far the intro alone has cost me about $250, 6 weeks of stress, and no discernible change. Have you tried putting vanilla on each one of them, one or two drops at the base of the tail, and another couple drops on the top of their heads? I've used this method before in introducing cats and have had success with it. Lauren Ha! I tried it, too, during Herrie's intro. But absolutely no difference. :-( I also rubbed a towel on myself & them, interchanging the scents in different permutations - nope. Cathy Mmm....sounds like you have stubborn kitties. Maybe vanilla only works if the cats were getting ready to get along anyway, LOL Lauren "Stubborn" doesn't even begin to describe Demelza. ;-P Cathy ________ See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html Declawing Info: http://www.wholecatjournal.com/articles/claws.htm |
#6
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"PawsForThought" wrote in message ... From: "Cathy Friedmann" "PawsForThought" wrote in message ... From: itter (MacCandace) We'll see how that goes but so far the intro alone has cost me about $250, 6 weeks of stress, and no discernible change. Have you tried putting vanilla on each one of them, one or two drops at the base of the tail, and another couple drops on the top of their heads? I've used this method before in introducing cats and have had success with it. Lauren Ha! I tried it, too, during Herrie's intro. But absolutely no difference. :-( I also rubbed a towel on myself & them, interchanging the scents in different permutations - nope. Cathy Mmm....sounds like you have stubborn kitties. Maybe vanilla only works if the cats were getting ready to get along anyway, LOL Lauren "Stubborn" doesn't even begin to describe Demelza. ;-P Cathy ________ See my cats: http://community.webshots.com/album/56955940rWhxAe Raw Diet Info: http://www.holisticat.com/drjletter.html http://www.geocities.com/rawfeeders/ForCatsOnly.html Declawing Info: http://www.wholecatjournal.com/articles/claws.htm |
#7
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in article , MacCandace at
itter wrote on 8/10/04 10:48 PM: We're not going to return him, we're going to keep him but we also feel like our lives will never really be peaceful again and that separation may go on a long, long time and that is very disruptive. Just a ray of hope here. This time last year (after a year with Pearl) I felt that same way, but really, we have come a long way and it really *does* get better since you are willing to stick with it. |
#8
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in article , MacCandace at
itter wrote on 8/10/04 10:48 PM: We're not going to return him, we're going to keep him but we also feel like our lives will never really be peaceful again and that separation may go on a long, long time and that is very disruptive. Just a ray of hope here. This time last year (after a year with Pearl) I felt that same way, but really, we have come a long way and it really *does* get better since you are willing to stick with it. |
#9
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"Karen Chuplis" wrote in message ... in article , MacCandace at itter wrote on 8/10/04 10:48 PM: We're not going to return him, we're going to keep him but we also feel like our lives will never really be peaceful again and that separation may go on a long, long time and that is very disruptive. Just a ray of hope here. This time last year (after a year with Pearl) I felt that same way, but really, we have come a long way and it really *does* get better since you are willing to stick with it. Yes. Demelza was lying in the front hall today, totally relaxed, within a foot of Herrie. :-) Cathy |
#10
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"Karen Chuplis" wrote in message ... in article , MacCandace at itter wrote on 8/10/04 10:48 PM: We're not going to return him, we're going to keep him but we also feel like our lives will never really be peaceful again and that separation may go on a long, long time and that is very disruptive. Just a ray of hope here. This time last year (after a year with Pearl) I felt that same way, but really, we have come a long way and it really *does* get better since you are willing to stick with it. Yes. Demelza was lying in the front hall today, totally relaxed, within a foot of Herrie. :-) Cathy |
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