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Tuxedo is such an incredible kitty! (I know - don't we all feel that way about all our cats? LOL!)
He is completely fearless.
For his intro into our small home, we took him straight into the bedroom. We kicked the other kitties out, and they got the living room/kitchen area. That lasted for maybe four hours? Gary stayed with Tuxedo - who just purred up a storm, soaked up love, played - and explored the ENTIRE place. I stayed out with the other kitties - who didn't really realize there was another cat here yet. It was their general nap time anyway.
We let Shelly meet Tuxedo first. He walked up for a sniff - and then Tuxedo hissed (of course). I was amazed though - he didn't swat or arch his back or put his ears back. Just a hiss. And Shelly backed off. We explained to Laz, Shelly and Spooky that we were bringing their brother home - and that he'd had a really hard life compared to them, and they'd better be nice and understandign about it! (And they are all from the same litter. If anyone predicted that Gary and I would adopt four of five of the original litter that started this all, we would have BOTH thought that was nuts. !!!)
Then we switched rooms - and Laz, Shelly and Spooky and I headed into the bedroom, and Gary and Tuxedo came into the living room. Again, Tuxedo sniffed out the ENTIRE space. At first he hissed at the cat trees (we added one 40" right next to the big one) - but he checked it all out.
We let him spend the night with us in the bedroom without the other kitties. Then Saturday morning, we opened the door. Everybody kept their distance. He hisses when they get too close - but he'll walk right by them, let them walk by... it just couldn't be going better. And this afternoon he passed out on the bed (inside the top of the top to a covered litterbox. We buy the covered litterboxes because the sides are so tall, but we don't use the cover). Lazlo crept up... stuck his head in the hole - and started licking Tuxedo. Tuxedo woke with a start - and then batted Lazlo on the head a few times. But no hiss, no growl, no ears back... and Lazlo pulled his head out but didn't retreat. Tuxedo relaxed and stretched... and Lazlo tried again. And Tuxedo let him give him a big long bath. And passed out during it.
He and Shelly now touch noses when they pass - although Tuxedo will growl or hiss if Shelly doesn't then move along.
And Tuxedo is eating like a ravenous little kitty! He'll put back on that weight fast, I'm sure. We're not doing anything other than just letting him eat when he wants to - and that seems to be just fine.
Spooky is scared of him, and she'll hiss at him before he even gets a chance. He looked so surprised the first time! She just steers clear of him, and that's fine.
For the most part (when not napping), Lazlo and Shelly sit in various places on the cat trees and stare at him. And he seems like he could care less. He is in cat heaven as far as he is concerned.
He lived outside until March, then moved into a 3' by 3' by 7' "condo" - which he was allowed out of maybe 1 - 2 hours a day. So our 35 1/2' long 8' wide home with LOTS of levels in many places must seem like heaven. He romps, he plays - he has so much character!
He is so much like Shelly (the other black and white. We think they must have the same Dad as well as the same mom) - yet more loving, because he loves to be picked up. All Gary has to do is get down near Tuxedo - and he runs over and head-butts him in the forehead! Gary is in heaven, and so is Tuxedo.
Thank you all so, so much for your wonderful thoughts and prayers. !!! I'm sure they've helped!!!! This is truly incredible, and while we can't spend time regretting we didn't do this sooner.... at least he's finally home, where he belongs.
(BTW - our living room now has 6 beds or places for kitties to curl up - and that doesn't include the couch or Gary's sheepskin covered chair. Then there are the now two cat trees, with a combined four platforms and two cubby-holes. In the bedroom there are three tubes creating two levels, with a pillow across the top creating a fourth, one little round condo-thingy (just one level), beds on Gary's and my bedside tables, and we put in a bookshelf stand on Gary's side of the bed that has created on shelf for Gary, and two more cat beds on the two other levels. There's enough room under the bottom shelf for kitties to crawl through, and one short tunnel at the end of the bed. And they still have the cabinets over the bed. So it is CAT CITY in here!!!!)
He is completely fearless.
For his intro into our small home, we took him straight into the bedroom. We kicked the other kitties out, and they got the living room/kitchen area. That lasted for maybe four hours? Gary stayed with Tuxedo - who just purred up a storm, soaked up love, played - and explored the ENTIRE place. I stayed out with the other kitties - who didn't really realize there was another cat here yet. It was their general nap time anyway.
We let Shelly meet Tuxedo first. He walked up for a sniff - and then Tuxedo hissed (of course). I was amazed though - he didn't swat or arch his back or put his ears back. Just a hiss. And Shelly backed off. We explained to Laz, Shelly and Spooky that we were bringing their brother home - and that he'd had a really hard life compared to them, and they'd better be nice and understandign about it! (And they are all from the same litter. If anyone predicted that Gary and I would adopt four of five of the original litter that started this all, we would have BOTH thought that was nuts. !!!)
Then we switched rooms - and Laz, Shelly and Spooky and I headed into the bedroom, and Gary and Tuxedo came into the living room. Again, Tuxedo sniffed out the ENTIRE space. At first he hissed at the cat trees (we added one 40" right next to the big one) - but he checked it all out.
We let him spend the night with us in the bedroom without the other kitties. Then Saturday morning, we opened the door. Everybody kept their distance. He hisses when they get too close - but he'll walk right by them, let them walk by... it just couldn't be going better. And this afternoon he passed out on the bed (inside the top of the top to a covered litterbox. We buy the covered litterboxes because the sides are so tall, but we don't use the cover). Lazlo crept up... stuck his head in the hole - and started licking Tuxedo. Tuxedo woke with a start - and then batted Lazlo on the head a few times. But no hiss, no growl, no ears back... and Lazlo pulled his head out but didn't retreat. Tuxedo relaxed and stretched... and Lazlo tried again. And Tuxedo let him give him a big long bath. And passed out during it.
He and Shelly now touch noses when they pass - although Tuxedo will growl or hiss if Shelly doesn't then move along.
And Tuxedo is eating like a ravenous little kitty! He'll put back on that weight fast, I'm sure. We're not doing anything other than just letting him eat when he wants to - and that seems to be just fine.
Spooky is scared of him, and she'll hiss at him before he even gets a chance. He looked so surprised the first time! She just steers clear of him, and that's fine.
For the most part (when not napping), Lazlo and Shelly sit in various places on the cat trees and stare at him. And he seems like he could care less. He is in cat heaven as far as he is concerned.
He lived outside until March, then moved into a 3' by 3' by 7' "condo" - which he was allowed out of maybe 1 - 2 hours a day. So our 35 1/2' long 8' wide home with LOTS of levels in many places must seem like heaven. He romps, he plays - he has so much character!
He is so much like Shelly (the other black and white. We think they must have the same Dad as well as the same mom) - yet more loving, because he loves to be picked up. All Gary has to do is get down near Tuxedo - and he runs over and head-butts him in the forehead! Gary is in heaven, and so is Tuxedo.
Thank you all so, so much for your wonderful thoughts and prayers. !!! I'm sure they've helped!!!! This is truly incredible, and while we can't spend time regretting we didn't do this sooner.... at least he's finally home, where he belongs.
(BTW - our living room now has 6 beds or places for kitties to curl up - and that doesn't include the couch or Gary's sheepskin covered chair. Then there are the now two cat trees, with a combined four platforms and two cubby-holes. In the bedroom there are three tubes creating two levels, with a pillow across the top creating a fourth, one little round condo-thingy (just one level), beds on Gary's and my bedside tables, and we put in a bookshelf stand on Gary's side of the bed that has created on shelf for Gary, and two more cat beds on the two other levels. There's enough room under the bottom shelf for kitties to crawl through, and one short tunnel at the end of the bed. And they still have the cabinets over the bed. So it is CAT CITY in here!!!!)
