Re: o/t ideas please for my ex-foster cat

[tamara stickler]

Ok, I'll throw my in story too:

 

I'm "fostering" another adult stray...that no one wants.  A grey and brown tabby male, healthy and lovable, neg. on felv and fip, but a powerful boy.  (Only cat I've ever known that likes to play tug-o-war...and I don't me little tugs, I mean full out pitbull-like tug-o-war).  He just isn't remarkable looking and everyone...youall say it with me now, "wants a kitten!". 

 

Anyhow, when I brought Coebeio into the house 7 years ago...Quintapus never hissed!  He fluffed a bit, but generally he was a real gentleman and not opposed to sharing his home with another animal, dog or cat.  Whereas...the long time adult stray, Coebeio hissed at EVERYONE...both dog and cat.  It took a good 6 months to incorporate her...to where I could trust her not to body slam poor Quintapus, or hiss and swipe at the dog (poo-rin terrior), Schatzi.  Quint and Coey eventually became fast friends, even curling up against each other and grooming each other (after about 1-a year and a half).

 

After Quintie died, I decided to foster a friend of my dog's - Tobias-Rat (a yorkshire terrorist), who was getting kicked to the curb by his elderly owner.  Schatzi once again had no problem with the new animal, but Coebeio was TICKED.  It took her a good 5 months to realize that he wasn't going to eat her (afterall she IS bigger!)...and it took Rat a good 8 months to figure out that Coebeio really was above him in the pecking order.  They are now good friends and enjoy playing "hunt-the-yorkie!" to Rat's extreme pleasure (any attention is good attention).

 

Now that Mica (the new foster) is in the house, Coey again absolutely HATES him...partly because the first time I let him out with us....well he ignored her for starters, but she kept HISSING at him so eventually he got tired of it and got in her her face.  Rat TRIED to play peacekeeper by staying in between them, but even he knew when to back out of it (thank God).  Coey fled under the bed and Mica hunted her ...even after she nailed him good a few times in the face, the idiot STILL tried to get under with her...I've seen him beat the tar out of a cat in his LAST foster home..which is why he lost it...so I have to be careful because, of course, my loyalties lay first with Coey.

 

So now we are back to baby-gates stacked up across the doorway to my once studio, which has now become Mica's bachleor pad, and I am exchanging bedding, spraying the feliway....all that fun stuff in the hopes that EVENTUALLY I can incorporate him.  As it currently stands, Coebeio absolutely HATES him, Schatzi is indifferent, and Rat thinks I got him for his own personal toy (they play with each other through the gate for hours on end).

 

Tell your former foster's caregivers that it is HARD to introduce another pet, esp. a cat into a household with other cats.  But you need to give it at least 6 months for everything to run smoothly.

 

By-the-by everyone...GREAT TIPS along this thread!  I'll be incorporating a few more into my current battle as well!

 

THANKS ALL!

T

 

Peggy Ankney <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

We’re having similar problems with Montana and Scooter.  Scooter is our new adopted FeLV+ kitty, and before Scooter came to us, Montana pretty much slept on our bed at night, hung out with me while I was working, and generally was the boss of the place.  Years ago, when I adopted Karma, they fought (hissing and some batting) but eventually became civil enough to both sleep on the same bed at night (much to my husband’s dismay at times!).  But now that Scooter is here, Montana is making himself scarce, and I do worry about him.  He’s a big baby, and I don’t want him to feel unwelcome in his own house, but at the same time, Scooter needs us.  Part of the problem is that Scooter is so young and playful and shows no fear of the others, but they just don’t like him yet.  He’s not exactly working hard to gain friendship either - if Montana is sleeping in a chair, Scooter will approach the chair, Montana will growl a warning, Scooter will continue approaching, and eventually there’s hissing and batting.  (I am slightly worried about the hissing, but it’s mostly by Montana, who is negative, as I’ve yet to see Scooter hiss at either cat.)  So at times it’s less than peaceful and although it’s hard for me to see Montana avoiding being inside, and I miss him at night, I know that eventually they will all learn to get along. 

 

Maybe if Molly knows that other people who take in cats have to go through the same sometimes painful period of adjustment, she’ll be willing to give Katya another chance.  I hope so! 

 

-Peggy and JR

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