Conference misery::feline_v1

Holly,

The keyword NEW_CAT is what I mark those kinds of notes with.  Maybe
it's not the most obvious one to use, but I couldn't think of what
else to do.  There's also a keyword NEW_OWNER for people who are
experiencing the joys of cat ownership for the first time and have
questions, but I know that's not your case.

BTW, I have 3 adults and 2 more have just come to visit and life is
fairly peaceful.  A few skirmishes, but nothing too terrible.  I
think alot depends on the personality of the cats.  Two of my
adults have always been pretty accepting when I've cat-sat in
the past.  My other cat, Orson, is more belligerent to all cats -
strangers or housemates.

Wishing you good luck,
Pam

    Holly,
      One thing that might be helpful in this case is to try and get some
    furnishings from their old home - cat beds, cat trees, blankets etc.
    Since cats are so smell oriented, familiar smells should help make the
    transition easier for them.  It should comfort them some - especially
    the older ones.
    
    I have added Esther's name to the list for Q2 so she'll be comemmorated
    when the next SLM award goes out around Jan 15th.
    
    I'm sure Esther is happy that her cats are going to such good homes.
    
      Nancy DC
    

    We continue to add to the number of kitties in my house...and I
    find it truly amazing that all seven cats get along real well.
    Yup we have a little cuffing or spitting going on...but that
    is usually when I'm just ready to feed them.
    
    I'm not sure why they all get along (count my blessing I guess),
    but what we normally do is put the new cat in our spare room
    for awhile...and it seems the other cats are real interested 
    in determining "who's behind the door"....so they sniff alot
    and paw alot at the door....which gets the new cat interested
    in finding out what all the comotion is.  So by the time we
    open the door to have them meet...they seem to be real interested
    in each other.
    
    Good luck with the new babies....they may have a hard time
    adjusting...but I'm sure they found a wonderful home.
                                                         
    Sandy 

    When you put the *newcomer* in a separate room, how long do you keep
    them separated.  I did that for a week and have had Patches one year.
    Lightning and Thunder still hiss and growl at her.  DejaVu is still
    very nervous around her.  Patches does nothing to antagonize them and
    is a very gentle and loving cat.  Lightning has just now *started* to
    come around.  She even gave Patches a *kiss* last night.....  Thunder,
    on the other hand, still doesn't tolerate her.  Thunder took her cue
    from Lightning in the beginning but has now elaborated on her own.  Deja
    and Patches are  so much alike, I figured they would get along well. No
    go.
    
    Holly, I hope yours goes better than mine has......
    
    Sandi and the Storm Troopers
    

    We kept Dewey in a room for approximately three weeks.  Like
    I said...I don't understand why all of mine get along.  I think
    it's truly amazing after reading some of these stories.
    
    My original two (Tamba and Poco) were always use to many cats around
    because my sister lives upstairs and her cats visited my house daily.
    They are the ones that brought Barkley home.  The funny part is that
    Barkley (14lbs) is pretty mean when he is outside....he chases and 
    fights with every stray that walks in the yard....but he tolerates
    all of mine.  (he's not thrilled.....but he does accept them)  
    
    Maybe it also has something to do with age.  Tamba and Poco are almost
    two, Barkley is old (I don't know how old), Agnes and Chloe are about
    8 months old, Dewey is about 9 months old, and the newest one is about
    9 months old.   Maybe they are more tolerant to accept younger
    kitties??
    
    I just thank my lucky stars that they all do get along.  The most
    I get is dirty looks saying "gee mom....now another one".
    
    Sandy
    

    Holly,
    
    Esther Epstein is where I got my 2nd Korat from,
    about 8 yrs ago.  I'm sorry to hear that she passed 
    away, as she used to call me every year to see how
    the Korat I got from her was doing.  (He was a "special"
    baby, as he was born premature and almost didn't make it)
    
    I'm sure she is happy to know her "kids" have such a
    loving home.  
    
    Lynne

    Oops!  That was closer to 12 yrs ago, Sorry!
    
    L-

    Lynn, what is her pedagree???  Is Honey her mother?  I have Honey,
    Marni, and Nina.  They are all three beautiful!  but quite a bit bigger
    than my babies!!
    
    They seem to be adjusting to the house quite well.  Marni is an
    absolute love.  I've put them in half of the house and the other four
    in the other half.  (ie, each set of cats has three rooms).  
    
    Tabitha, Silver, and Pita got their first glimps of Marni this morning. 
    As I was walking out of their room, Marni decided to follow me.  All
    three of them were sitting right at the door when Marni decided to walk
    in with me.  I grabbed Marni and put her back.  Tabitha, Silver, and
    PIta were just dumbfounded!!!  They looked at the door, then looked at
    me as if to say, "What the H*LL was that???"  
    
    I do have to put these guys on a bit of a diet.  Especially Nina. 
    She's EXTREMELY fat!!  Probably a good 12-13 lbs.  I'll be getting lots
    of SD light and IAMS light!!
    
    Thanks for the suggestions everyone.  And thanks for the pointers to
    the other notes.
    
    Holly
    

    Holly,
    
    I'm not sure who his mommy was, I would have to go dig
    out the papers, which I left at my moms.  His name was
    Precious, and he was my favorite.  Unfortunately, I don't
    have him anymore, as he died in 1987 from a blood clot in
    the spinal column.  Esther used to call to see how he was
    doing, as he was premature, along with another brother,
    and was actually raised by (adopted) an Abysinian mother.
    His mommy was ill because of the premature birth and couldn't
    feed her two kittens.  That's when I got my next two from
    "Fogmagic Korats"......which I have now, and both are about
    4 yrs old.   
    
    I bet your four think they are seeing ghosts!! :-) :-)
    
    Lynne
    
    

    Well, we've had our first introductions today.  I tried bringing one of
    my babies in with the three of them, but it just didn't work.  Silver
    just sat there and hissed at everything that moved!!  The other two
    were just the same.  They even hissed and scratched at me when I picked
    them up to bring them back into the other room.
    
    So, I decided on a different approach.  Acutally, Marni decided on it
    for me!  Yesterday afternoon when I came out of their area, Marni
    scooted out of the room between my legs.  
    
    All three of my  babies just looked in astonishment!!  As if to say,
    "What on earth is that?!"  They've never seen a cat so big.  Marni just
    walked around the house and payed no attention to their hissing.  They
    followed, but kept a safe distance.  none of them tried to attack her. 
    I guess I've got smart cats!  They don't attack things that are bigger
    than they are!! (-:
    
    So, we've made a first step towords progress.  We're going to let Honey
    out tonight and let her roam around the house.  Maybe eventually
    they'll get used to each other.
    
    Here's hoping!!
    
    Holly
    

    Just an update,
    
    Things are going quite well in the house considering the circumstances. 
    Silver still can't stand any of the new three, but she keeps her
    distance.  Anytime she fights with them she's usually the one that gets
    beat on, so she's learned.
    
    PITA absolutely loves them.  She stays in their room with them at
    night.  I can't have her in my room with me because she does "circles"
    around the bed at 2:00 in the morning.  It wouldn't bother me too much
    if part of her path wasn't across my head!! (-:
    
    Tabitha is tolerating them, but isn't quite sure what to make of them. 
    Tabitha is the queen of our house.  Honey, the 14 year old, has
    challenged her a few times, but Tabitha still holds her status. (-: 
    Sweetie doesn't even realize that they're there yet.  Whenever he's out
    with them, he's too busy looking for food to pay any attention to any
    newcomers. (-:
    
    So, most everything is quiet in the Taylor household.  Silver is the
    only one that I'm concerned about.  She's not taking to them at all and
    is getting QUITE jealous.  She's even hissing at Tabitha and Pita.
    
    Holly