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Conference misery::feline_v1

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

3832.0. "I need help!!!!!!" by JAIMES::FINUCANE (A future Golden Girl) Thu Jul 26 1990 14:13

    Hi!  Cathy again.  I just introduced myself in the previous note, and
    now I need your help.
    
    I planning on moving in with a friend.  She has one cat, a female about
    5 years old, I believe.  I have two cats, both about 3 yrs, one male
    and one female.  All cats have been spayed/neutered.
    
    My cats have been together since kittenhood, and they get along great. 
    Pam's cat, Alicia, has lived with other cats, (she's alone now) and she
    doesn't cope well.  She flips out, attacks the other cats, and
    generally becomes a nasty cat.  Most cats would get used to each other,
    given time and plenty of space.
    
    Here's the problem.  Pam doesn't think that her cat will ever 'get
    used' to mine, based on past behavior.  # 2 - My cats are indoor cats;
    I had them declawed, front paws only.  Alicia is indoor, but still has
    all her claws.  Are my cats going to get pummeled and really terribly
    hurt?
    
    I don't want to move without the cats, and I really need to move.  Any
    suggestions?  Can anyone help this nervous mother??
    
    Thanks in advance, 
    
    Cath
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
3832.1Try ItWILLEE::MERRITTThu Jul 26 1990 14:2122
    Welcome Cathy...I'm glad you finally introduced yourself and your
    kitties.  My experience is with two cats that grew up together and
    a stray that decided to move in.  I found that in the beginning
    there were a few spats between all of them, and if I tried to get
    involved it appeared to be worse.  Well all three have lived together
    for about 5 months and it now appears the stray (who is the biggest)
    really protects the other two. There are days the three of them
    sleep together, cuddle, and love each other, but we also have days
    they feel like terrorizing one another.  We still get some blood
    curdling screams.  There very hard to understand!!
    
    My suggestion is you need to try it and if your girlfriends cat
    really terrorizes yours....just say "no" pick him up and put him
    in a room and leave him there until he cools off.  I think they
    will learn to live with each other.
    
    I cannot respond to the declaw/claw issue because I have no 
    experience, but I'm sure someone in here will answer.
    
    Again welcome and good luck.  Keep us posted.
    
    Sandy (Tamba, Poco and Barkley)
3832.2CRUISE::NDCPutiput Scottish Folds - DTN: 297-2313Fri Jul 27 1990 08:4517
    If you are moving into a new place for all the cats I think things
    might go easier than if your roommate's cat has already established
    her territory.
    
    I had one declawed cat in a household of "clawed" kitties and it
    worked out ok - he just took up biting when he felt the need to
    defend himself.  
    
    My suggestion is that you confine the cats for a bit letting them
    out at different times. That way they get to explore the apartment,
    smell the unfamiliar kitty, but not have direct confrontations for
    a while.  Cats are VERY smell oriented.  Giving them a week or two 
    to get used to the smells of the unfamiliar cat(s) before you actully
    bring them together physically may smooth things a bit. 
    
    Good luck