Getting to know you...

[mak3cats]

Believe it or not, these were taken the first weekend that Gabe (black & white) and Misty (Siamese) were introduced (almost a year ago now).

[CottonBear]

1. Gabe's "goatee" is so cute!

How do these two get along now and how old were they when you introduced them to each other?

I'm thinking of getting an older kitty cat friend for my 13 year old deaf girl kitty. My ex took the other two cats and my deaf girl is lonely.

[mak3cats]

2. I love my furry family (but then again I'm crazy that way)...

These two get along fine generally, but Gabe is pretty rambunctious at times. He’s probably around two now, and Misty’s over ten. That’s what happens with adopted/rescued cats: you’re never sure, and once they’re over a certain age, even a vet can’t tell definitively.

I have a third cat, and he’s part of the gang also:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=243x32276

By all means get another puss. The only thing better than a cat is two cats (or three, or four...)!

[Warpy]

3. You're a lot luckier than I was

I spent a month of confining one cat in the carrier while the other wandered around and thought it might be safe to introduce them in person when they stopped trying to attack each other through the bars of the cage. They were certainly used to each other's scent around the house by then.

Wrong. I had a blanket, broom, and jug of water and it took all 3 to stop the fight. However, once I'd chased them to neutral corners, sopping wet, they knew I was serious and wasn't going to take any serious shit. It took 6 months for the growling and swiping to stop whenever they'd get near each other. 6 months after that, they were taking turns chasing each other around the house and sleeping together in winter to keep warm.

The tomcat died last year at the ripe old age of 17. It took 6 months for the remaining kitty to stop meowing at closed closet doors, looking for him. She'll be 15 this summer and shows no signs of age. When she goes, that's it. I would hate to think of a beloved companion outliving me.

We'll see. I will probably crack and find some ancient kitty on death row and bring it home to share geezerhood with me.

[mak3cats]

7. Even though it's not really funny,

I can't help but laugh at the mental picture I get of the blanket, broom and jug of water!

I hope to have at least one cat until the end of my days. I have several siblings, all of whom are animal lovers, so I'm sure one of them (or one of their respective children) would adopt any survivors. Or I just might end up being one of those crazy cat ladies (and I'm in training for the title) who are found dead several weeks after the fact having kept their cats alive by providing "sustenance", if you know what I mean. Wouldn't bother me a bit!

[Warpy]

8. Add this to the picture

Both cats were long haired, sullen, and sopping wet.

Good thing I picked the kitchen for the introduction.

[BrklynLiberal]

4. Wonderful pics. They are adorable. My latest kitty - for a total of 5 - gets along better with my

German Shepherd than with any of the other cats.
Moochie(cat) and Boen(GSD) sleep on the bed with me... along with Cassie(cat) who barely tolerates Moochie, but also gets along wonderfully with Boen.

The other three cats tend to just ignore Moochie.

[Lorien]

5. Awwww...how cute! You're lucky

my new guy Pippin isn't fitting in so well around here. Oberon is finally tolerating him but he hasn't groomed him yet (he's groomed every other kitten that I've had here). Puck HATES Pip. I guess that's because Pip is fascinated by her and wants to be around her all the time, so she's taken to sleeping in high places. Right now Pip is over at the neighbor's house on a play date with their kittens to give Puck a break. I'm about at my wit's end-I've never had so much trouble introducing a new kitten. You really lucked out with Gabe and Misty!

[Kat45]

6. Awww...a kitty play date.

How cute. :-)

[Grateful for Hope]

9. So sorry to hear this, Lorien

I think your situation differs than the norm since you had introduced another little one -- only to lose him. I think that Oberon and Puck were probably affected by that sad experience -- particularly if they had welcomed the little one into the family.

Just my two cents here...but, knowing you, you will figure out a way to make the kitty bonding go smoothly eventually.

[Lorien]

11. They've had many kittens come and go in the past, as I was a foster

and three of those I lost (two of FIP, one of panleukapenia) while the rest were adopted-including Oberon's beloved Goblin and Khephra. Plus there was the loss of their best buddy Miro. Sadly they are not unaccustomed to losing their fur friends. I think that Pip is SO exuberant that he just drives them crazy. Puck was a lot like him at his age-typical behavior for the breed-but she forgets. It's such a shame because she's still pretty hyper and loves to play, and Oberon's more laid back. He'll play sometimes, but he doesn't go into a frenzy like she and Pip do. I thought that Pip would give her the playmate she needed, and he tries-but she gets so pissy with him! I'm giving her extra treats, extra walks, extra snuggles, but no deal. I just hope that once he's full grown and settled down a little that she'll finally take to him.




Pip on a Play date (during a rare quiet moment) with his friend Makawao:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

12. Pip is gorgeous!

His little tuxedo pal is a doll, too. Glad Pip has somebody to play with.

[Lorien]

13. Thanks! Yeah they're both a couple of imps. Mak is quite a cutie

with his funny facial markings and that tiny white tip on his tail. As you can see from this pic; they've been playing in the Christmas tree again!

[demnan]

16. This black and white fellow

must have some Siamese in him, judging by his build, guess that's why he's an active companion for Pip. But you are right, two Orientals don't always get along very well. Lily really hated Pad Thai when he was young, problably for the same reason, his hyperness. But things gradually calmed down between them. When Charley and later Scorpio were introduced to the family, it was a lot easier for them all to get along.

[Lorien]

17. Yeah, I think that he's either part Siamese or part oriental

He's got a very long, narrow face that isn't typical for a domestic short hair. And he's more curious than their other cat. There's no telling though; he was found in a dumpster, poor guy!

I found while fostering that nearly all female cats are territorial (far more so than most males). The neighbor's other cat Napili doesn't take very well to Pip either-she tolerates him, but doesn't play with him the way Mak does. Puck has been intolerant of nearly every other cat I've brought into the home too. She's downright dangerous around adult cats. There was a solid black Oriental that I desperately wanted to adopt last year, but Puck nearly bloodied herself trying to get to him (and he was a big guy-I don't think she would have faired well in that fight). Fortunately a good friend of mine adopted the kitty so I can still see him from time to time, and he's very happy in her home. But still, I wish that I could get Puck to mellow out a bit! Maybe in time she'll be more like Lily (she's only four now).

[demnan]

18. I think she probably will

Lily is going on 18 now. Not much phases her. When Scorpio came here none of the cats even tried to pick a fight with him, but I believe they sensed his disperate situation and malnourishment. But for years Lily wouldn't even get on the bed at the same time as Paddy. But right away she accepted both Charley and Scorpio. I thought perhaps she liked Charley because we had a large male orange and white tabby when I first got her that looked a bit like Charley, and she looked up to that cat as a father figure as a kitten. But she hated other cats including a black long haired cat that lived with us back then. That's why it really surprised me that she accepted Scorpio.

Maybe its in the personality of the animal. Just like people. Some we like and some we don't. But Lily as an elderly cat is happy so long as she can occupy my lap during waking hours and my pillow during sleeping hours.

[Grateful for Hope]

14. He is such a pretty boy, Lorien

His playmate is also very cute -- love the white markings on his face!

Will keep my fingers crossed that the situation becomes more mellow in your home with time.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

10. Aww, cute!

You never know what cats are going to do. In early November I (unexpectedly) brought home a 4-month-old kitten, and after less than a week of hissing, half-hearted swatting and tentative butt-sniffing, the little kitteh and the Big Guys (fifteen-pounders) were pals, playing together and sleeping in a big cat pile on me every night.

It's great when they get along, but sometimes it takes awhile.

[Grateful for Hope]

15. This is pretty amazing.

You have darling kitties!

[smokey nj]

19. That's so sweet, and they're both adorable kitties.

:hi: Gabe!!
:hi: Misty!!