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New cat or not?



 
 
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  #1  
Old July 2nd 09, 06:26 AM posted to rec.pets.cats.health+behav
jamina1
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Posts: 21
Default New cat or not?

Hello!
Recently in March my cat Sylvanas passed away. At that time, my other
cat, Pagan, had been in the house for about 7 months, and they were
finally starting to get along and play with each other instead of just
giving each other dirty looks. They were even sharing the bed with me
at night (both of them!)

Since Sylvanas left us, Pagan has transformed into a completely
different cat. She is loving, affectionate, and overall much more
needy of attention then she was before. In fact, its gotten to the
point that I am worried for her mental health when I am at work for
extended hours. She never used to demand so much attention, but now
when I get home she is at the door waiting to see me and rolling over
on the floor begging to be pet. I always give her the most attention
possible when at home and she loves keeping me company while I am on
my computer and she sleeps with me every night.

I'm contemplating bringing home a new companion for her - since she
was the companion to solve the problem of Sylvanas being alone all day
while I was at work. That worked out well until Sylvanas became ill
and passed.

Am I making up my worry for Pagan's mental well being, or should I aim
to give her someone to "talk to" and play with when I am not home?
  #2  
Old July 2nd 09, 07:11 AM posted to rec.pets.cats.health+behav
cybercat
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Posts: 4,212
Default New cat or not?


"jamina1" wrote in message
...
Hello!
Recently in March my cat Sylvanas passed away. At that time, my other
cat, Pagan, had been in the house for about 7 months, and they were
finally starting to get along and play with each other instead of just
giving each other dirty looks. They were even sharing the bed with me
at night (both of them!)

Since Sylvanas left us, Pagan has transformed into a completely
different cat. She is loving, affectionate, and overall much more
needy of attention then she was before. In fact, its gotten to the
point that I am worried for her mental health when I am at work for
extended hours. She never used to demand so much attention, but now
when I get home she is at the door waiting to see me and rolling over
on the floor begging to be pet. I always give her the most attention
possible when at home and she loves keeping me company while I am on
my computer and she sleeps with me every night.

I'm contemplating bringing home a new companion for her - since she
was the companion to solve the problem of Sylvanas being alone all day
while I was at work. That worked out well until Sylvanas became ill
and passed.

Am I making up my worry for Pagan's mental well being, or should I aim
to give her someone to "talk to" and play with when I am not home?


You need another cat. Pagan needs another cat. Maybe two, siblings. Or a
mother and kitten.

Even if you don't need them, they need you.

Do it.


  #3  
Old July 2nd 09, 02:11 PM posted to rec.pets.cats.health+behav
dgk
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,268
Default New cat or not?

On Wed, 1 Jul 2009 22:26:28 -0700 (PDT), jamina1
wrote:

Hello!
Recently in March my cat Sylvanas passed away. At that time, my other
cat, Pagan, had been in the house for about 7 months, and they were
finally starting to get along and play with each other instead of just
giving each other dirty looks. They were even sharing the bed with me
at night (both of them!)

Since Sylvanas left us, Pagan has transformed into a completely
different cat. She is loving, affectionate, and overall much more
needy of attention then she was before. In fact, its gotten to the
point that I am worried for her mental health when I am at work for
extended hours. She never used to demand so much attention, but now
when I get home she is at the door waiting to see me and rolling over
on the floor begging to be pet. I always give her the most attention
possible when at home and she loves keeping me company while I am on
my computer and she sleeps with me every night.

I'm contemplating bringing home a new companion for her - since she
was the companion to solve the problem of Sylvanas being alone all day
while I was at work. That worked out well until Sylvanas became ill
and passed.

Am I making up my worry for Pagan's mental well being, or should I aim
to give her someone to "talk to" and play with when I am not home?


I understand that there are some cats that have to be the only cat in
a house, but that is really the minority. I will always have two (ok,
maybe three) cats so they can take care of and entertain each other.
Besides, how can you have an indoor road race with only one cat?

The introduction can be tricky though. Tons of information on internet
on how to do it right.
  #4  
Old July 2nd 09, 04:21 PM posted to rec.pets.cats.health+behav
Richard Evans
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Posts: 103
Default New cat or not?

dgk wrote:


The introduction can be tricky though. Tons of information on internet
on how to do it right.


Not really tricky. I did rescue work for years and fostered well over
a hundred cats and kittens. Never had a problem integrating a new one
with the group. Some took a little longer than others, but they all
eventually joined in.

Set up a small room for the newcomer. A spare bathroom is ideal.
Provide places to hide, yet still allow you to get to them if you have
to. The vanity cabinet in the bathroom is ideal. Set up a litter box,
water, and food. Let the native cat sniff the newcomer under the door
and see what happens. If that goes well, after a couple of days, open
the door a crack and let them meet face to face. When you get to a
point where the older cat doesn't object to the newcomer, open the
door.
  #5  
Old July 2nd 09, 05:48 PM posted to rec.pets.cats.health+behav
jamina1
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 21
Default New cat or not?

On Jul 2, 11:21*am, Richard Evans wrote:
dgk wrote:

The introduction can be tricky though. Tons of information on internet
on how to do it right.


Not really tricky. I did rescue work for years and fostered well over
a hundred cats and kittens. Never had a problem integrating a new one
with the group. Some took a little longer than others, but they all
eventually joined in.

Set up a small room for the newcomer. A spare bathroom is ideal.
Provide places to hide, yet still allow you to get to them if you have
to. The vanity cabinet in the bathroom is ideal. Set up a litter box,
water, and food. Let the native cat sniff the newcomer under the door
and see what happens. If that goes well, after a couple of days, open
the door a crack and let them meet face to face. When you get to a
point where the older cat doesn't object to the newcomer, open the
door.


Exactly. This is how I introduced Pagan to Sylvanas when I brought her
home. I kept Pagan in my bedroom and Sylvanas had reign in the rest of
the apartment so she was in familiar surroundings. I kept the door
open about two inches after a week or so, so they could interact
without killing each other. There were some battles to begin with and
Pagan pestered Sylvanas to begin with, but they were finally warming
up to each other.
  #6  
Old July 2nd 09, 06:40 PM posted to rec.pets.cats.health+behav
dgk
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,268
Default New cat or not?

On Thu, 2 Jul 2009 09:48:11 -0700 (PDT), jamina1
wrote:

On Jul 2, 11:21*am, Richard Evans wrote:
dgk wrote:

The introduction can be tricky though. Tons of information on internet
on how to do it right.


Not really tricky. I did rescue work for years and fostered well over
a hundred cats and kittens. Never had a problem integrating a new one
with the group. Some took a little longer than others, but they all
eventually joined in.

Set up a small room for the newcomer. A spare bathroom is ideal.
Provide places to hide, yet still allow you to get to them if you have
to. The vanity cabinet in the bathroom is ideal. Set up a litter box,
water, and food. Let the native cat sniff the newcomer under the door
and see what happens. If that goes well, after a couple of days, open
the door a crack and let them meet face to face. When you get to a
point where the older cat doesn't object to the newcomer, open the
door.


Exactly. This is how I introduced Pagan to Sylvanas when I brought her
home. I kept Pagan in my bedroom and Sylvanas had reign in the rest of
the apartment so she was in familiar surroundings. I kept the door
open about two inches after a week or so, so they could interact
without killing each other. There were some battles to begin with and
Pagan pestered Sylvanas to begin with, but they were finally warming
up to each other.


Good, you know how to do it so then there's no reason not to pull
another cat out of the shelter (or off the street). I have a spare
bedroom that I use as the Cat Introduction Room. Most new cats dive
under the bed and take a few days to get used to me, but not Jackie. I
adopted her because she just looked so miserable at the pet shop - I
never saw a cat look that unhappy. She was old and sick - ended up
costing a few thousand dollars and lived less than a year with me but
her last months were comfortable.

Anyway, I put her in the CIR. A little while later I open the door and
no, she isn't under the bed, she's sitting on the edge right by the
door wanting to go out into the house. No, not yet old lady. But
within a day the scrawny (6 lbs) lady is striding down the hallway
and Espy gets in her face and hisses. She smacked him in the face and
kept walking. Espy was greatly offended but I couldn't stop laughing.
That was one tough old girl.
 




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