Conference misery::feline_v1

    
    
    Hi Judy,
    
    I'm afraid I can't help with the flea/vet side of your problem,
    but regarding two cats not gettin on I can at least share my own
    experience of the last two months.
    
    Dinky is almost five years old and has always been alone in our
    flat.  We then introduced Lulu, a five year old Siamese who was
    formerly mistreated by previous owners.
    
    I know that you have a kitten and not a full grown cat but I'm sure
    the reactions between two 'rival' cats as they seem to see themselves
    is nearly always the same - spitting, hissing and even attacking
    at times.
    
    For the first two weeks we had both of them together we lived in
    fear of leaving the flat for work in case Dinky hurt Lulu.  I would
    advise however, NOT to shut Sasha into the bathroom during the day.
    Sasha is obviously upset by it and if they are together all day
    they are more likely to get used to each other more quickly.  It
    is unlikely the older cat will try to hurt Sasha but in any case,
    there are lots of hiding places (you could even add some to the
    rooms like boxes with holes in etc., if you are worried) which a
    kitten an get into and NOT the bigger cat.  Her instinct will tell
    her to hide if she doesn't like what is going on I'm sure.
    
    Regarding Lulu and Dinky, they still have their disagreements, but
    after six weeks they are now eating from bowls next to each other
    (first few weeks wouldn't let the other one eat in the same room
    without hissing!!) and they go out 'to play' in the garden together
    and play chase around the flat in the evenings.  They do, as I say,
    occasionally disagree but they seem to have developed a mutual respect
    that stops either getting hurt before walking away or leaving the
    offended cat alone!
    
    Please don't give up.  I'm sure they'll be friends eventually, just
    give them time.  You will probably also find that if the kitten
    has been neutered/spayed, they will be less of a 'threat' to each
    other (are they both the same sex?)
    
    Good luck,
    
    SANDY.
    Wimgrove House, Basingstoke.

    re: .1  I agree totally with the idea of letting the two cats work
    things out themselves.  When we first got Sam, my sweet, shy, timid
    Cali turned into an absolute witch.  She hissed, spit, and growled
    at Sam and wanted nothing to do with us.  This went on for about
    four days (while my husband and I were trying to keep them apart)
    and finally we gave up.  We simply left the cats to work it out
    on their own and that's when things started to calm down.  Little
    Sam would walk over to Cali and she would commence with the hissing,
    spitting and growling routine then run away. finally during the
    evening, Sam found one of Cali's toys and started playing with it.
     Well this was too much for Cali to take so she bolted for him,
    slapped him on top of the head, hissed, spit and growled and that
    was the end of it.  From that point on Cali accepted Sam, didn't
    really like him for about a week after and within two weeks were
    sleeping together, eating together and playing together.  Seems
    they have their own way of communicating and I feel that separation
    only prolongs the adapting period.  Good luck and don't worry, they
    will get along in time!
    
    Jeanne, Cali, and Sam
    

    Hi Judy, my daughter in Lowell uses the Vet that is beside the
    Lowell Humane Society - or their other office in Pelham (? Dracut)
    Wignall Animal Clinic on Rte. 38 before Purity.  
    
    I agree, let them work it out - try not to worry, it sounds
    worse than anything!  Yes, bathe that baby!!  Lots of flea bites
    can cause anemia - then if the kitten does pick up a bug, it has
    not got the natural defenses to fight it off.  Hold it under the
    kitchen faucet to wet him down - soap him up and rinse him off
    the same way!  Maybe put a face cloth on the bottom of the sink
    so he won't slip while you are washing!  RINSE VERY WELL.
    If you have any more questions, give me a call DTN: 264-8298.
    
    Elaine

    
    
    	Thanks for the suggestions.  I guess we'll just have to
    	let them deal with it themselves.  Although I'll probably
    	be scared to death and worried while at work.
    
    	And Elaine, thanks for the info on the vet.  We'll check it
    	out.  We'll be having to bring her there soon for shots and
    	such.  And to have her spayed in a few months.
    
    	And it looks like Sasha (or li'l blue eyes as I've nicknamed
    	her) is going to get a bath tonite!!
    
    	Thanks again.  And I'll keep you all posted as to how it
    	works.
    
    	Judy
    

    I would suggest flea bombing the house, but it occurs to me that
    I don't know if that's safe with a kitten, as opposed to adult cats.
    If you go ahead, ask your vet about a safe product.
    

    
    
    	Well, we gave Sasha a bath last night.  Didn't like
    	it much.  But she's scratching a lot less.
    
    	And I've left her OUT of the bathroom today.  And here
    	is her very nervous mom.  I'm hoping Brandi will behave
    	herself.  Unfortunately I have about another 8 hours before
    	I'll find out!!
    
    	Thanks for the support and suggestions
    
    	Judy
    

    Judy, I just did the same thing last night by leaving my new
    kitten that I just got last night locked up in the bedroom
    (with many, many toys) for fear that my other one year old 
    would do something.  It's funny though, the hissing and all
    comes from the newborn and not the older one.  Since the one
    year old (Chrisue) is my very first time of owning a cat, having
    a newborn (Webster, named after the town we just moved to) I'm
    a nervous wreck.  But after reading all the replies, I'm more
    confident that things will work out.
    
    Please let me know how things worked out for you today when
    you get home because I'll be in the same boat tomorrow, NERVOUS!!!!
    
    Good Luck,
    
    Sue, Chrisue, Webster