How about something less rantish before bed: the Cat Situation.
When I got back from the dentist, I could not be bothered to wall off the living room again. So I let New Kitty out to be a free range kitty. I expected there to be death and mayhem shortly afterward, but aside from Ronin still being a total butthead of a cat, it’s gone pretty well.
Myu was a little hissy at first, and she’s still not pleased about it all, but … she is willing to be in the vacinity of New Kitty. I even caught her doing the same thing with New Kitty she does with Ronin: pats him on the butt and then runs away. She seemed miffed that unlike Ronin, New Kitty did not chase after her. I think those two will eventually work out their issues, at least enough to live in the same house.
Ronin, on the other hand, continues to pout in the bedroom. When he does venture forth into the rest of the house, he is surly and not to be touched. I learned that the hard way and am now missing a small chunk of skin on my arm. He was laying there like he always does, belly up and rolling around when I walked by, so I reached down to rub the belly. He nearly took my whole arm off. I’m not so sure he is going to adapt to the new housemate. Maybe once Myu is totally OK with it he’ll come around. Or he’ll just continue to pout in the bedroom and miss out on all the other playtime and treats Myu and New Kitty have been getting. But it isn’t like his mood is anything new. That’s how he always is, but now it’s very much amplified. Well, at least he hasn’t been destroying anything.
So it seems like maybe things are going a little better with the cats tonight. I’m still going to put the kitten in the carrier by the bed while I am sleeping, because I took something for my throbbing head, and once I lay my head down on a pillow, I will be too unconscious to hear anything that needs attention … like a small kitten getting beat up by a monster-sized cat.
Maybe this will work out after all, which would be great, because Lin and I are both rather attached to New Kitty now. We’ve even started considering names.
It can take a few weeks for cats to get used to new kitties. My oldest female, well, it took her a month to get used to the baby of our family.
So don’t despair. :)
It’s really nice of you to take on another cat in times where people treat animals as disposable.
It’s been getting a little better since that night of hell when Ronin completely lost his mind and attacked his sister. It’s to the point now that I’m not hovering as much and just letting them work it out. If nothing else, at least the kitten will be socialized to humans and cats, has learned about litter boxes, and we’ll be getting her first shots soon, so way more adoptable than just a kitten off the street. Though I’m pretty sure she’ll be staying here.
I’ve got the local catch and release group scheduled to come make sure the old Toms are fixed and that everyone has shots. It looks like us and the lady across the street are both going to make sure they have food. Sucks they have to live outside, but these are old cats who have never known any other life.
I still can’t believe they just left all these cats, and bringing home a kitten two days before you move? Knowing you aren’t going to take it along? Assholes.