[Search for users]
[Overall Top Noters]
[List of all Conferences]
[Download this site]
| Title: | Meower Power is Valuing Differences |
| Notice: | FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY |
| Moderator: | MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO |
|
| Created: | Sun Feb 09 1986 |
| Last Modified: | Tue Jan 11 1994 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 5089 |
| Total number of notes: | 60366 |
2335.0. "Seeking Friendlier Accomocations" by HYSTER::HOLT (Victoria Holt) Tue Mar 28 1989 15:29
We are true cat-lovers, owning four: two Maine Coons, Ditto and Biggun, who
are siblings; one bluepoint Himalayan, Sinbad; and one stray, Petro.
Petro came into our home approximately two years ago. We captured/rescued
him when he was about four months old, having grown up thus far in a
manufacturing facility in Lynn, MA. (My sister owns Petro's only surviving
sibling; there were six born to the litter: three died at birth, and one
drowned in a holding tank.) He was charcoal gray, and kept me up almost all
night with his yowling that first night. I had locked him in the bathroom
until I could get him to the vet's the next day, protecting my other three
from who-knows-what. I went downstairs several times to console him; each
time I left with my hands black from soot, and eventually had a headache from
what smelled like oil - hence the name of Petro.
Petro went to the vet the next morning where he was medically relieved from
two kinds of worms, an upper respiratory infection, an eye infection, and a
bad case of fleas. I was amazed to return home that evening with, believe it
or not, a *white* cat with gray splotches - including a gray tail with a
matchstick white tip.
Unfortunately, Petro's problems were not quite over. Having never made human
contact prior to his arrival at our home, he was terrified of everything: me,
Mike, every little sound and shadow. It used to take 20 minutes to coax him
out from under the bed for food! While he has made some big adjustments, he
is still especially afraid of our most territorial cat, Biggun.
For almost two years now, Petro has been living in our tiny basement - afraid
to come out due to the larger cat. We all too frequently hear screetches from
downstairs as Biggun continues to attack the little guy. We have tried
everything possible to help the two get along, but instinct prevails. The
situation is worsening; Biggun has recently taken to spraying the family room,
an area that was previously "time-shared" by the two.
Although it pains me to say so, enough is enough. Petro is living out a
miserable existence, and our home is being destroyed. Since Biggun and Ditto
are basically inseparable, I must find a new home for Petro.
Petro is still quite timid, especially around men, but is growing more and
more confident around humans. I believe the perfect owner would be female,
and the optimal environment a small condo or apartment with no other pets
(and no children - at least not yet). Petro is short-haired, neutered,
declawed (front paws), and is *strictly* an indoor cat. He has had all his
shots, including feline leukemia, and weighs in at a stocky 11.5 pounds. He
is in excellent health, and resides with us in south Nashua, NH.
The key with Petro will be patience, but I believe he has the capacity to
become a truly devoted and loving pet. He happily shares a sweet, gentle, and
affectionate disposition, but is starved for attention as neither of us can
spend enough time in the basement with him.
If you're interested, or know anyone who might fit the bill, please let us
know. I can be reached at HYSTER::HOLT or DTN 264-4315. I will try to
read the FELINE notes conference daily as well.
Please wish all of us luck - Thanks, Vicki Holt
| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 2335.1 | | CIRCUS::KOLLING | Karen, Sweetie, & Holly; in Calif. | Tue Mar 28 1989 17:52 | 10 |
| You have done so much for Petro. It's stories like this that
are really encouraging. I totally understand your decision, but I
am wondering if there might be a tiny possibility you've overlooked:
would it be worthwhile to talk to your vet about a temporary
tranquilizer or hormone pill for Biggun, to see if they could adjust
while Biggun is mellowed-out? My first cat was given some sort of
one-time hormone thing (after altering didn't help his feralness) and
it calmed
him down considerably. Good luck.
|
| 2335.2 | | MYVAX::LUBY | DTN 287-3204 | Wed Mar 29 1989 09:28 | 18 |
|
Re: .0
I couldn't help but notice your name.... who was named first? You
or the author?
Good luck with Petro. I'm afraid that finding a home for him through
this notes file may be difficult, primarily because 99.9% of the
readers already have cats. Word of mouth by the readers of this
file often helps in situations like this. It really sounds like
Biggun is having the problems with Petro, not the other way around.
There are probably many homes with cats that Petro would work out
fine in. I know that none of my three cats would give him the
slightest trouble, unfortunately, cat max for me is 2.
Good Luck,
Karen
|
| 2335.3 | *I WISH I COULD HELP* | AIMHI::OFFEN | | Wed Mar 29 1989 11:11 | 17 |
| Animal max per Park = 1.
Lightning, DejaVu, Thunder, and Keisha = 4.
Of course the 3 cats don't go out so I figure I haven't exceeded
the Park Max yet.
I would love to help out but unfortunately I am already at max
financially. If I added any more babies to my household, I wouldn't
be able to afford the properly take care of my babies.
Good luck in your search. I agree with trying to tranquilize Biggun
first.
Sandi (Lightning, DejaVu & Thunder's mom)(and Keisha's too)
|
| 2335.4 | How is Petro? | MAMIE::RUSSO | | Fri Apr 07 1989 10:59 | 22 |
| Vicki,
How is everything going with Petro? Have you tried any new
tactics? My heart really goes out to him because I have one just
like him. Abbey is a feral cat that I adopted at about 6 months
of age. She was never handled by people. It was very upsetting
because I wasn't sure she would ever come out of hiding in the
basement. It has worked out very well though. My 3 year old male
cat Malcolm seemed to accept her right away. She was used to being
around other cats. Now, she is almost always upstairs. I can pet
her in her 'sanctuary' in the basement bu no where else. She loves
to be pet but can't seem to get over her fear of people. She does
love to be around us and will play for hours with us (string or
paper wadds). She's even jumped up on the bed and fallen asleep
with us a few times. We have just been accepting things on her
terms. We get alot of enjoyment from having her because every
bit of progress she makes makes me happy.
Do your other cats besides Bigguns get along with him?
Please keep us posted...
Mary
|
| 2335.5 | | CRUISE::NDC | | Fri Apr 07 1989 16:41 | 14 |
| I've noticed that as cats get older they calm down and get
over their timidity somewhat. Isis still "starts" sometimes,
but at almost five years old she's incredibly affectionate and
talks to us and rubs us almost constantly. She craves affection
and loves to be petted. she also loves to ride on our backs or
shoulders and if I bend down to get a pan out in the kitchen
or to pick something up, I'm very likely to find a big black
cat up on my back. She'll settle right down facing backwards
and flip my head with her tail!
So what I'm really saying is you'll very likely find that as
the cats get older they'll mellow out some.
Nancy DC
|
| 2335.6 | Phase 2.... | HYSTER::HOLT | Victoria Holt | Fri Apr 07 1989 20:03 | 12 |
| Biggun is presently being treated for manic-depressive behavior
with some new wonder drug. While he and Petro still do not get
along, at least the spraying has stopped - giving me more time to
do the right thing. Given the fact that Petro is still being
terrorized on a fairly regular basis, I am still trying to find
a home. You're all right - it's not easy - but at least the pressure
is off.
Thanks for all your suggestions and support - Vicki
P.S. re: .2 (I think) - The author *definitely* came first, as
believe she's in her 60's - 70's!
|