Has anyone else lost their pet to the LO? I am the one who feeds my cat, cleans her litter box, takes her to the vet (which she hates) for her jab and checkups. I have always been her person until just a few days ago. In recent weeks, DH has started to talk to her when he goes in the afternoon to watch TV. Now she will hop up to his foot stool, sit in his chair when he goes back to bed. She has always been in my lap with lots of kitty hugs and sandpaper kisses..If she thinks I am going to be her maid she is mistaken..DH is going to have to start to clean her box and feed her... ; D.
In Nov we am getting another kitty. Our middle girl is moving to Iceland and cannot take her cat with her and her cat has bonded with me in VA when I am there. So they want her to come to us, Ebonie is going to have a "sister" kitty,Cookie, and I hope they will get along...
Any tips out there on how to introduce these two kitties so there will be harmony in the house?
When we've added cats, we've set up separate quarters to start, with lots of exchange of scents, ( shared kitty blankets, toys etc,) and supervised visits in neutral area--not the eating or sleeping areas. Then, when the initial hiss and arching has calmed down allow more and more time together with lots of praising good behavior--separate if discussions escalate. DON'T scold or favor either one at this time. Both get treats or neither. If Ebonie is being pettedby your DH, you pet Cookie. And vice-versa. Don't push away one if the other comes to you atthe same time, but don't try to make them cuddle topgether either. There is no timetable for any of this. could be a matter fof hours, or days. Eventually they'll settle into a tolerance or friendship--their choice.
Thanks..I have had multi cat house hold in the past but they were outdoor kitties. As time went along the others would grant the bye to the senior most kitty. But never have I introduced a new comer to the household where they are both indoor kitties. I have asked Michelle to send a blanket of Cookie's and I am sending somethings of Ebonie's as well as Ebonie's food since she cannot have fish ( imagine a cat allergic to fish)...and Cookie is going to get used to one sort of food..it will be good stuff too ^-^. I have a nice Kitty Kondo too that I had to use while Ebonie was ill and it is something I'll use too for them I think..puts a space between them. Both are shy so that might help. The girls will go to the vet in style too..on individual trips of course but in a pink stoller. IT is a hit at the vet since the techs don't have to lug kennels.
I have always been the cat lover. We have a cat that I clean the litter, feed, let in and out all the time yet she sleeps on his side of the bed, sits in his lap, gives him the loving. This all started after our dog died 3 years ago.
Over the years we have had other cats come and visit with family. Some have stayed for a month or more. I sit up a guest room for the new cat. One with a door so if I need I can close it off. I put in a litter box and food and water bowels just for the new cat or cats and our cats are not able to use it before the new ones come. That way the new cat has his or her own space. And after a short time all of ours have gotten along. Everyone had a safe place to go. And a few even became friends with each other. It does work if you let the cats take their time getting to know each other.
Good luck with the new cat.
My dog, and she is my dog. Has started laying on the bed in the evening with DH when he is watching TV. She does not lay on the bed with me that often. She is spending more time with him and I am glad. But still, I am the one who does everything for her!:)))))
No cats at our house so no advice re cat acclimation. HB has had current dog for about 7 years--small terrier. She was "his" and still sits on his lap while he whispers sweet nothings in her ear from time to time. He no longer fills water or food bowls regularly or properly (water with food in food bowl one day this week) or lets her in or out on a regular basis. He sometimes lets her out at night and goes to bed while she's barking for entrance and I'm reading in bed. At night she wants to cuddle up with me. Another focus gone.
I have been thinking about how to do this and I think, since our house is so open and there are only doors to the bedrooms and I prefer to keep the cats out of there, I may keep Ebonie in the master bedroom where she has her litter box and water already and just add her dry food container and have Cookie out in the other part of the house in a kitty condo during the day and laundry room at night with the other kitty box. Cookie is a bad girl when it comes to furniture..she likes to manicure her nails there...not good. Ebonie used to manicure her nails on the carpets so she finally lost them after all efforts to stop this failed. Maybe they will meed under the door space...Exchange of bedding and toys is planned already.
Found the cat this morning between our pillows...maybe she is getting the hint that while I am willing to share I am not willing to be her maid...; )
We have a lovely cat which DH just adors, I really don't know what he would be like if anything happened to her. I have spent a lot of money having cat netting put over our back patio in case she she gets over the fence and something happens to her, as he would be devestated at the loss of her.
sylvia welcome to another cat lover.I lost my two wonderful, huge red boys a month before my husband passed. It was blow after blow. On a whim I peeked into Petco and came home with my sweet little Gracie. She is ragdoll colored with incredible blue eyes. She quickly makes an adoring slave of anyone who enters my house. I even got a new Discover card with a picture of a Ragdoll who looks just like my Gracie. Now I wonder if I have to give the cash back credits to MsGracie.
Ragdolls are wonderful cats. So are Tonkinese and Russian Blues all of which I have been blessed with. Ebonie looks a lot like a Bombay...all back, black lips and nose and pads on her paws and gold eyes. The only pink is her sandpaper tongue. And she is sweet and now stays with me due to the back spasms I have had and the discomfort from physical therapy. In 3 weeks we will have a addition..Cookie..a tux cat..also a sweet girl. So Now DH will have 2 to talk to.