New Family Member
 The last four weeks have been sad, constant reminders; I keep seeing where she should be and isn't. I was determined to not get another cat so soon, but one on Petfinder caught my eye. I knew I couldn't replace Bibbers, but I thought something to distract me from being so sad would be welcome. After a tough conversation with the husband, who did not want another cat but did want me to stop being sad all the time, we went to meet that kitty. The cat on Petfinder was named Alderaan-- this is obscure to anyone not into Star Wars, but its the planet that Darth Vader destroys with the Death Star at the start of the first film (the real first, not the new, prequel first). Being big Star Wars fans, I thought maybe it was a sign! Plus, she was a pretty cat; also gray and white, but with medium length hair. And she was young, but not a kitten; 8 months old. So I thought big enough to not be accidentally hurt by the dogs, but not so old that she wouldn't acclimate to them as well. Well, Alderaan did not work out. We got there, and she was really gorgeous, but not at all interested in us. Didn't want to be pet or held. Bibbers was a cat that was always around, talking to me and making her presence known, and wanting a pet or a cuddle. So I was not looking for a cat that wasn't interested in these things. But while there, another cat began loving up to Adam... very smart calculated move on her part. Win over the guy that doesn't want a cat, win a new home. And thats exactly what she did! So we brought home Mirth, a 1 year and 8 month old solid gray female cat. She has already met Luna three times, all short visits. The third time she rubbed her head on Luna's legs! I may actually get to have a cat that will play with the dogs!  She hasn't met Tonks yet; she's the more spastic of the two girls, and has simply been too excited. But Mirth woke me and the dogs up at 7:30 this morning with her chatter, so I think it might be time to meet Tonks.  I'll post photos when I can get a good one; she doesn't really sit still very long, and oddly enough doesn't respond to Sit or Stay. Not that I didn't try...  |
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| It is hard to lose a pal after 18 years! Your routine would be off too without an old chattery cat telling you what to do. l Very cool that you were able to welcome another kitty into your life. I hope Tonks and Luna can play nice, that would be fun for everyone. And now seems you don't need alarm clock, you have Mirth! peg |
| Well Mirth met Tonks: instant dislike. Even though I got Tonks to sit quietly, I guess Mirth could tell how excited she was. She walked right up to Tonks' faca and smacked her several times, hard. (No claws though, which impressedme). After that, Tonks tried to show Mirth who was the boss, by wanting to eat her. At least, thats what it looked like. I had her by the collar and took her out of the room before anyone got hurt. So for a while, maybe I'll just work on Mirth and Luna. I'll ramp up Tonks' training, to keep her nicely worm out, and do introductions after that. Maybe.  |
| Glad it finally came!!!! You must be so happy!!! I'm going crazy just waiting for these pics!!!! I think it's easier to bring in a "kitten" than it is to bring in an adult, so glad things are going well so far!!!!!  |
Congratulations on your new kitty ....... and to more training????  She sounds delightful. |
It seems we always have an excuse for "more training". Tonks and Luna will always be my lovable problem children, and training really does keep everyone so much happier and more relaxed. I just enrolled Tonks in a "tricks" class, and I'm waiting to see if they do a second one for Luna. For the life of me, I CAN NOT get these girls to roll over!!!!!  |
Quote: She walked right up to Tonks' faca and smacked her several times, hard. (No claws though, which impressedme). After that, Tonks tried to show Mirth who was the boss, by wanting to eat her. sound like you have your work cut out for you!!!! But FUN TIMES!!!!!!  |
| I can't wait to see the pictures Our Tipup came to us as a young adult stray. He WAS someone's cat at one time, as he already was neutered. He had enough presence right off the bat, walked through the house and herd of dogs like he owned it! Either that, or the other theory is he thinks he is a dog  |
It does look like someone just rang the dinner bell and they are heading in. Although it seems like most dogs would be running not walking  |
Joahaeyo wrote: :lol: It does look like someone just rang the dinner bell and they are heading in. Although it seems like most dogs would be running not walking Funny you said that - there actually is a small cast iron bell on that tree right by the door. It's decorative, has a sheep on it - that's the white you can sort of see in the picture! |
| I like that it looks like Tipup is herding your sheepie! I have to wonder, once I get the all clear from the vet, should I just let Mirth out and see how she does? Everyone I know endorses a 4-6 week slow introduction period, but that really back fired on us with our other cats meeting the dogs. Made them very afraid.  |
Can't wait to see pictures!  I hope it's a smooth transition for you all! |
| Congratulations! I am glad you found a good match and hope you have many years together. I've never had a cat but my daughter has lived with us for 2 3-month stints with her cat, Vincent plus our (then) 3 sheep dogs. Cat and dogs were all adults at the time. There was no opportunity for a slow meet--the first move in was sort of an emergency/bad room mate situation and she needed a (free) place on an emergency basis. We set up the cat's place in my daughter's bed room, and put a baby gate up so that the cat could get away whenever he wanted/needed to and the dogs couldn't get in with out a lot of effort. This was during summer and into the fall and my daughter's schedule and husband's schedule was such that the animals were not left alone in the house for any period of time more than say an hour or so. ALL of the dogs were keenly interested in Vincent (cat) who was less interested in actually interacting with them than he was in watching them and making sure he got HIS share of whatever attention there was to be gotten. As time went on, he was more....tolerant/almost friendly with Archie, who was 10 the first time, 11 the second time, and much calmer than Sophie and Sherman. Vincent fully exploited his greater agility, ability to walk along high shelves on book cases and stealth-smack the dogs as they walked past, not to mention the fact that he could see better. During the last extended stay, he actually shared the bed (that is: our bed) with Archie. Not quite touching, but close by and content to be so. The dogs did not really understand why Vincent did not want to play with them. Vincent was jealous of their walks outside--especially if my daughter took them! and jealous of any attention my daughter gave them. Archie and Sherman really just would have settled for cuddles and grooming but Sophie showed occasional signs of wanting to: take Vincent in her mouth or at least parts of him. She is also not inclined to enjoy sharing her people with interlopers. And of all my dogs, she is the only one who has shown anything like a prey drive. We are pretty sure she was responsible for the dead bird (freshly killed, with teeth) we found one morning in our house. This was when there was no cat to blame it on. Now, Vincent is a pretty confident cat. He's not especially shy around people or it seems, dogs. Being the age that she is, my daughter has moved apartments several times in the last few years and Vincent has showed very little stress or upset over any of the moves. He prefers a mix of quiet, alone time and social time and is not shy about deciding he wants to spend time on top of you. Or of letting you know if he needs to be fed. |
| It sounds like the cat is fairly brave and so maybe letting them "work it out" with some sideline supervision might be best. We have two barn cats Chole and Bigfoot. Dexter and Taylor always ignored the cats. After Taylor passed and Bella came along I figured "Lets see how they meld. The dogs never went to the barn and the cats had a safe area. After a little over a year now Chloe will always run and hide from Bella no matter how far away she is. Bigfoot on the other hand has moved right in and sleeps with Dexter. He even lets Bella chase him for a bit but when he has had enough he just turns around and faces Bella. Even if Bella barks trying to get another game of chase going it is Bigfoot that decides yes or no to the game. Bigfoot follows Bella around and rubs up against her. I"ll try to get a little video of their "game of chase" |
| Allison, I'm so glad you got another kitty and Mirth is such a cute name. My experience is that it does depend on the dog how well a cat who is ok with dogs gets on with them. Rastus (dalmo) and Rowdy (siamese) sleep snuggled up together all the time. They both HATE the cold and Rastus was 5 when we got Rowdy as a kitten and he's always been quite a serious boy.  Tiggy on the other hand is highly movement reactive, has huge prey drive and came home at 8 weeks old when Rowdy was 6 months old. So Rowdy tolerates and steers clear of Tiggy while Tiggy spends her time trying to get up close and personal with Rowdy. I have a tall cat post and a baby gate for Rowdy to escape from Tiggy's attentions. I have seen Tiggy with bits of Rowdy in her mouth but she has never actually bitten him. Just made him really cross because he hates being wet and slimey with sheepie spit. Rowdy does tease Tiggy though.  He waits till she's settled down to sleep and then runs past full pelt and jumps the baby gate leaving a frustrated Tiggy in his wake. And some days they play chasey round the island bar. Every now and them Rowdy miscalculates and gets a sheepie spit mohawk. If Rowdy walks really, really slowly Tiggy just watches him until he gets too close. I've never managed to have the video camera to get footage of Rowdy walking past Tiggy in slow mo when he doesn't want to be chased but its pure comedy. He places every foot down slowly and precisely and pauses between each step. Then he gets too close and Tiggy leaps up and the chase is on. Have fun with your newest family member. |
Congrats! You will have to get a picture up. I love our little black Jack cat that someone dumped on our property. So does Lee. I think it's the one blind eye and the limp she walks with that makes her extra special to us.  |
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