Well, we did it. We adopted another kitten about a year old. I'm a little nervous about it because I want it to work. Javier, our resident kitten, is about 7 months old. He is Mr. Confident. He can play very aggressively, and we learned that getting another kitten may give him an outlet and a friend. I have been looking for another kitten for months, and yesterday an opportunity opened up for us.
I couldn't resist. This poor kitten has had such a hard life so far. First her owner died. Then she went to a shelter. Then the shelter sent her to a program at the penitentiary where "lifers" work with animals. She got really sick there and almost died from a respiratory infection. She was sent to foster care to recuperate. Then someone adopted her. This person now wants to rehome her after 2 months because her 6 year old cat hates her. Also because she is so skittish and cannot stand to be around any feet. She must have been abused or kicked sometime in her previous life because she is terrified when people walk around her. She is okay if she is on something high, like a bed or a couch. But otherwise she slinks away and hides. She will fall to her side, and sort of slide up a bit and then flip to the other side. She keeps doing that. And sort of semi showing her belly. It seems like she wants to be petted, but I can't really tell. Do you know what this means? Is it just submissive? Since yesterday we have had her in the bathroom with lots of stuffed animals, soft blanket, her litterbox, and food. She will lie on her side, and curl up next to us and purr. But she seems to curl in on herself all the time doing that flipping thing. It's heartbreaking. And her tail is down between her legs.
I knew I wanted her when I saw how the previous owner's 5 year old daughter was treating her. Not out of malice, but just her age. She was holding her in this really awkward position on her back, and flipping her tail back and forth really fast. And scratching her really hard on the head. And the kitty just took it. And her mom didn't say anything. I couldn't stand it anymore. I said, we'll take her. She is so gentle and passive. The previous mom said that this kitty loves other cats. She wanted to play with their older cat, followed her around, but she just hissed at her. So I'm hoping she and Javier will like each other.
I let her out of the bathroom into my bedroom tonight wondering what she would do. She explored a bit as long as myself and my two daughters were sitting on the floor. But as soon as any of us got up, she freaked out and slunk back into the bathroom. I was feeling guilty because she got on my bed and did her rolling around thing on it and now I'm worried Javier will smell her on my bed. I feel like a traitor. Should I keep her out of the rest of the house except the bathroom until they meet? How does this work? He knows there is a cat in there because he will stand at the bathroom door and meow. And her previous owner left me his carry kennel thing, and Javier explored it and fell asleep in it. So her scent doesn't seem to bother him.
I'm sorry if this post is too long and confusing. I guess I'm just looking for some advice and support. I couldn't sleep all last night wondering if I had done the right thing. She seems so emotionally damaged from her past. I hope she can get better. Actually today, she was playing with a toy and for a few minutes she walked around and her tail was straight up. So there is hope. (As long as nobody stands up around her!) I guess we just need to have patience and she and Javier just have to get along. Thank you for reading all of this!
I couldn't resist. This poor kitten has had such a hard life so far. First her owner died. Then she went to a shelter. Then the shelter sent her to a program at the penitentiary where "lifers" work with animals. She got really sick there and almost died from a respiratory infection. She was sent to foster care to recuperate. Then someone adopted her. This person now wants to rehome her after 2 months because her 6 year old cat hates her. Also because she is so skittish and cannot stand to be around any feet. She must have been abused or kicked sometime in her previous life because she is terrified when people walk around her. She is okay if she is on something high, like a bed or a couch. But otherwise she slinks away and hides. She will fall to her side, and sort of slide up a bit and then flip to the other side. She keeps doing that. And sort of semi showing her belly. It seems like she wants to be petted, but I can't really tell. Do you know what this means? Is it just submissive? Since yesterday we have had her in the bathroom with lots of stuffed animals, soft blanket, her litterbox, and food. She will lie on her side, and curl up next to us and purr. But she seems to curl in on herself all the time doing that flipping thing. It's heartbreaking. And her tail is down between her legs.
I knew I wanted her when I saw how the previous owner's 5 year old daughter was treating her. Not out of malice, but just her age. She was holding her in this really awkward position on her back, and flipping her tail back and forth really fast. And scratching her really hard on the head. And the kitty just took it. And her mom didn't say anything. I couldn't stand it anymore. I said, we'll take her. She is so gentle and passive. The previous mom said that this kitty loves other cats. She wanted to play with their older cat, followed her around, but she just hissed at her. So I'm hoping she and Javier will like each other.
I let her out of the bathroom into my bedroom tonight wondering what she would do. She explored a bit as long as myself and my two daughters were sitting on the floor. But as soon as any of us got up, she freaked out and slunk back into the bathroom. I was feeling guilty because she got on my bed and did her rolling around thing on it and now I'm worried Javier will smell her on my bed. I feel like a traitor. Should I keep her out of the rest of the house except the bathroom until they meet? How does this work? He knows there is a cat in there because he will stand at the bathroom door and meow. And her previous owner left me his carry kennel thing, and Javier explored it and fell asleep in it. So her scent doesn't seem to bother him.
I'm sorry if this post is too long and confusing. I guess I'm just looking for some advice and support. I couldn't sleep all last night wondering if I had done the right thing. She seems so emotionally damaged from her past. I hope she can get better. Actually today, she was playing with a toy and for a few minutes she walked around and her tail was straight up. So there is hope. (As long as nobody stands up around her!) I guess we just need to have patience and she and Javier just have to get along. Thank you for reading all of this!
