Conference misery::feline_v1

    I think that the cats will work it out.  But, just wanted to relay a
    situation to you that I found myself in.  
    
    A few years back, a friend of mine asked me to take Winston in for a
    few weeks until she got settled in a new apartment.
    
    
    That was about 7 years ago...
    
    
    I still have him!!!
    
    
    She took an apartment that didn't allow pets!!!
    
    So, I would keep this story in mind when dealing with your friend's
    cat.  ;^)
    
    Jo

Kevin,

there will be hissing, spitting, growling, yowling, and other signs of dismay
at the change in the world.  Cats, once past the most curious stage of
kittenhood, are like fussy maiden aunts and uncles.  They don't see any reason
for change and they don't accept it gracefully.  This will pass.  If you make
a big deal out of it, it will take longer to pass....every cat has a sense of
drama, you know, and an audience is irresistable.  In very rare cases, such
as when one or more of the cats is brain-damaged or "mentally challenged",
the adjustment is impossible.  THIS IS RARE.  If it does happen, you will
notice the cat not adjusting is getting extremely thin, losing coat quality, 
and acting (in general) like a terrified animal at all times.  At that point, 
you have to decide whether to let the cat starve to death or to intervene...
Sometimes tranquilizer will dull the fear of the new environment enough that
the cat will adjust in time...however, in these cases, the adjustment does
not seem complete as far as I can tell.  In Nick's case, he never really
"came back" when we moved to the current home.

Normal cats can take months to really decide they like each other, but you
should see a real reduction in hositilities in a few weeks...unless someone
isn't spayed or neutered...then, everytime the old biological clock fires off,
the cats will go nuts.

If you allow your cats outside, DON'T...at least until all cats are peaceful
with one another.  If you do allow them out, they will not have to adjust to
one another and they won't. Period.

I believe in the "throw them in together and let them work it out" method of
introduction....as long as I know the other kitten/cat is healthy, FeLV
NEGATIVE, flea-free, clean, worm-free (do you see a trip to the vet for your
new resident in the offing?  Good!  Don't let the cat in unless she is deemed
healthy). 

I also want to warn you, if you let your new cat out at all, she might try to
get "home"...and she will end up joining the feral population.  It is hard to
tell when they have forgotten the other home they had.  People lose cats that
way all the time.  Make sure she is settled in her new home before letting her
outside if you decide to let her out.

    Well, at the "eleventh hour", my friend's parents decided to adopt
    Patches, so I guess my "clan" and I will stay a foursome for the time
    being.  

oh, and something else....when you add a new cat, you may very well have to
add a cat box.......or your cats may all decide to not use the existing
box(s).  It's not fun finding this out when a cat decides to make her/his
displeasure known by pooping in your waterbed...with you in it...I can speak
on this with some authority, being the occupant of the aforementioned waterbed.

    
    
    I just wanted to up-date this note a bit since some new developments
    have occured since I first entered it:
    
    Well, several months later, my friend has asked me to watch her "Patches" 
    for her again. I said "yes"...sigh...
    
    I got Patches to the house on Saturday evening, and "introduced" her to 
    the clan: Jasmine, Meg and Gwen. The hissing contest began. Most of the 
    time, Patches stayed under...anything, actually. Couches, beds, counters, 
    etc. But, in the last two days has become a little more "comfortable" in 
    her surroundings. As a matter of fact, she's been "pouncing" on Meg and 
    Jasmine, *kind of* playfully. Jasmine, or "Jazz" still isn't too fond of 
    Patches, but I think will adjust okay. Jasmine's had to adjust to other 
    animals coming and going before, and I think she'll get used to Patches. 
    
    Gwen, well...Gwen is an unusual kitty. Very shy and removed from the other 
    cats, anyways. Meg is totally the opposite; very outgoing and, shall we 
    say, "adventurous"? Jazz and Meg are more like sisters than Gwen and Meg, 
    who actually *are* sisters. Gwen just stares from the windowsills at
    Patches. Not menacingly or anything like that...Gwen's just a "starer".
      
    Meg thinks it's great...a new playmate! Meg just seems to get along with 
    anyone, it seems. Probably because she's so outgoing and playful. She
    definitely has...ummm..."personality", that Meg.
    
    Patches was also an outdoor cat. So, my main concern right now? She just 
    the other day saw where my roommate and I exit the house from. So, I'm 
    concerned that one day, as we walk into the house, she'll "BOLT" out the 
    door. That may actually happen and Patches herself may be okay; but I just
    hope the others don't follow her out as well. They've been indoor cats for
    90 % of their lives, and probably wouldn't last more than five minutes out
    where we live...NOR do I wish to chance it.
    
    So, for the time being, Patches is part of the family and she's doing
    okay. I want to thank everyone again for their suggestions as they will 
    definitely come in handy right now.