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August 6, 2008
The Great Cat Merger, Take II
Cat-sized fainting couch courtesy of my father. Obese cat courtesy of our household.
We are still keeping the cats separated in two camps. Lately, we've been leaving the door open between the two rooms when we are home so that Irving can roam freely. We've noticed that sometimes Olga or Frieda will come and sit at the entrance to the living room, kind of like vampires waiting to be invited in. On occasions, Olive sits across from them staring, daring them to set paws into her domain. They don't. This is a big step. After a year, I think we've begun to bolster the Littlest Feline's self confidence a bit.
So now it's time to shatter everything. Not only are we going to freak all four cats out by moving them, but we are moving to a house with three floors (well, two living floors and the basement).
We don't want to make the mistake that we made last time- mainly introducing them to one another too early. We're hoping to keep them separated for quite a while, warming each group up to their new surroundings, then to one another. Eventually, however, we will have to join them together.
Has anyone had experience re-introducing cats who hate one another in a house? Or maybe just introducing? It has been a dream of ours to have multiple levels, walls and doors for a while. Now that we're faced with it, we want to make the right decisions.
I also don't want to spend the next ten years mediating between cat personalities.
Posted by callalillie at August 6, 2008 11:28 AM | Feline Musings
Very happy to see callalillie is back. Congrats on new developments!
5mg of vet prescribed Amitriptyline for our super aggressive cat Gibson is the only thing that keeps Pepper's fur from flying. Consider getting them the appropriate shots and letting them out of doors? Indoor/outdoor cats have always had the best temperments and the least neurosis of cats I've known.
Posted by: Cynthia at August 6, 2008 9:40 PM
Outdoor cats also have a short lifespan.
Keeping them apart for a time will work wonders.
Posted by: petrie at August 7, 2008 6:42 PM
Outdoor cats also have a short lifespan.
Keeping them apart for a time will work wonders.
Posted by: petrie at August 7, 2008 6:43 PM
you have four cats. it's just too much. i can't deal.
Posted by: jason, jay, freeman at August 8, 2008 4:15 AM
I don't really think this will help, but my parents adopted a stray cat after having a mother and baby for probably 13 years. I am not even sure they knew she lived there, except that sometimes she ate their food. (They have both since been put to sleep.)
Good luck in your move and your merger.
Posted by: Lady S at August 12, 2008 8:24 PM
Well, Monet despises all. Elliot and Rascal got along and tolerated Monet. After Rascal died Christine found a tiny kitten and we now have Kumar in residence. Elliot missed Rascal so much he has become Kumar's guard cat. When Monet threatens him, Elliot stands his ground. I try to leave doors open (within the house :) so any one of them can retreat when necessary. Monet has actually loosened up a bit and is not continuously caticidal. Quien sabe? They all seem to find their own refuge and my place is, well, cozy. Keeping each camp on it's own floor initially will keep too much fur from flying.
Stock up on your favorite alcoholic beverages for your comfort level. God bless.
Posted by: Vickie at August 12, 2008 11:01 PM
My Jasper doesn't like other cats.
One cat I had (Phoebe), adopted two weeks after him, so he would have a playmate, he dominated much of the next three years of their time together. He and she would occasionally get cute, snuggling, and such, but she was very jumpy for the most part because of his treatment of her.
Another cat adopted into my home, post-divorce (Phoebe stayed with my ex-husband), tormented Jasper - Jasper is declawed and the new cat Graham was not - and Jasper turned into a submissive cat, a shell of who Jasper was previous, and that was just not okay so I found a new home for Graham where he is much happier and Jasper gets to be a one-cat kind of cat.
He doesn't mind dogs, though, go figure. Mainly because dogs let him be in charge, so it works well.
Posted by: Gina at August 31, 2008 4:17 PM
