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Tomorrow's the big day! Joni's coming home!

post #1 of 49
Thread Starter 
In about 24 hours, I'll be bringing this pretty girl home to live with me & the boys:





I am very excited about finally having her here!

Just a brief background in case you missed my earlier threads: At the behest of her small children, a girlfriend of mine got this kitten from her friend's cat's litter and named her Angel. Almost from the start I had a hunch it wasn't going to work out. She kept referring to the kitten as "wild" and "aggressive" and complaining she couldn't sleep and Angel wasn't getting along with the dog OR the kids (lol!). She emailed me a few times asking for advice and I gave nighttime advice as well as information about adopting a second kitten to be a playmate. Every time I asked after the kitten, though, nothing seemed to be getting better and my girlfriend just shook her head and would say, "She is so WILD!"

About 2 weeks back she told me she had finally decided to get rid of the kitten. She put up a picture on facebook but she's only got 85 friends on there, lol, and no one even commented on the picture. I asked her what she was going to do and she said she'd probably end up taking her to the shelter. We do have several good shelters in my area, but some bad ones too, and being that it's kitten season and she was describing the kitten as "aggressive," I was too frightened about the kitten's fate to let that be enough. So, with the help & encouragement of our TCS family, I decided to bring her home! It's been a looooonnnnngggg two weeks waiting for her, and I'm overjoyed it's finally here!

Angel will be renamed Joni. She's about 11-12 weeks old now, 5-6 weeks younger than the boys. Joni will spend tomorrow night in my bedroom, away from the boys, and then will visit the vet on Friday morning to have a physical exam, vaccines started, and a FeLV test! After that I'm hoping to start introductions. I took Friday off to be able to spend a long weekend with my new brood. Wish us luck!

So excited about this! I hope Joni will be happy in her new home with age-appropriate playmates!!!! I hope Simon & Garfunkel learn to love her very quickly and that it causes no rift in their sweet, close relationship.

Thanks for all your help & support! The boys, Joni, and I are lucky to have a great place like TCS to come to for encouragement and friendship.
post #2 of 49
That is so exciting! Joni is an unbelievably adorable little ball of fuzz!!!
post #3 of 49
Aww, she's so cute! I hope it all works out well, and I'm sure it will, and have fun! And post lots of pics!
post #4 of 49
11 to 12 weeks? Of course she is wild! She's a baby! And has a ton of energy just like a toddler!

I'm so glad that you are taking this beautiful girl home with you!
post #5 of 49
She's a pretty colored kitten
post #6 of 49
I am so excited for you and Joni! I'm sure the boys will love her in no time.
post #7 of 49
Congrats! What an adorable little girl too. She will have a great and loving home with you
post #8 of 49
Today's the day! Can't wait to see updated pics!
post #9 of 49
Thread Starter 
Thanks all! Joni is official with my apartment complex - I'm on my lunch break and just signed the lease addendum and paid my deposit! After her mom gets out of work she has to go to court for her divorce but I should be getting Joni after she gets back!

The hardest part will be the wait between getting off work and my friend calling. But I put off shopping for her food bowl & water bowl so that I'll have something productive to do in the meantime. Think I'll also pick up some more litter just in case!
post #10 of 49
Quote:
Originally Posted by Natalie_ca View Post
11 to 12 weeks? Of course she is wild! She's a baby! And has a ton of energy just like a toddler!

I'm so glad that you are taking this beautiful girl home with you!

I was thinking the same thing.
She's a lot better off with you because you seem to understand cats better than your friend.
post #11 of 49
Oh what a beautiful kitten, she looks like a calico/tortie. I wish you the best of luck with Joni and I doubt she is wild, she's just acting like a kitten and you know that too
post #12 of 49
She's adorable! OMGoodness, what a cutie she is! Congratulations on saving Joni....she will have a wonderful home with you. Enjoy her "wildness"!
post #13 of 49
Thread Starter 
Thanks everyone!!!!!!!!!

I neglected to mention it here, but I did meet this kitten about a week and a half ago, and she is not aggressive at all! She plays just like the boys did when they were her age (SOOOOO long ago, you know, like a month! ), she just needs a little attention and direction from other cats to teach her boundaries for what is too rough during play.
post #14 of 49
Someone said that´s Adorable!.. YES INDEED!...
post #15 of 49
Quote:
Originally Posted by parsleysage View Post
Thanks everyone!!!!!!!!!

I neglected to mention it here, but I did meet this kitten about a week and a half ago, and she is not aggressive at all! She plays just like the boys did when they were her age (SOOOOO long ago, you know, like a month! ), she just needs a little attention and direction from other cats to teach her boundaries for what is too rough during play.
You said something about your friend's "kids". If you meant "human children" - it's likely they may have been playing too rough with her and she was just being rough back.
post #16 of 49
This is a very exciting event, indeed! I'm so happy for all of you!

AC
post #17 of 49
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by GloriaJH View Post
You said something about your friend's "kids". If you meant "human children" - it's likely they may have been playing too rough with her and she was just being rough back.
Possibly! I played with her quite a bit and she did the normal, innocent "lick, lick, bite" type - not aggressive at all, just kitten play. The only difference was the bite was pretty hard (though not painful or enough to make me hurt or anything like that), which is why I think it's a socialization issue. I think she'll meet her match in the boys during the first few wrasslin' tournaments they have and she'll know it hurts to bite that hard and won't do it anymore.

Thanks everyone! I went shopping & that didn't take too long, so now I'm just straightening up the house and enjoying my last few hours alone with my sweethearts. My next update should have a picture in it!
post #18 of 49
Guess you already know how to introduce them?

This article, here - in the Cat Behavior section has some ideas - as do many of the threads in this forum: http://www.thecatsite.com/Behavior/4...cing-Cats.html

Wish you the best!
g
post #19 of 49
Thread Starter 
She's home!!! Look at my beauty in the carrier on the way home:



Things are going... okay. The boys always meet me on the stairs and they were sort of sniffing at the carrier as I was bringing it in and locking my door, heading up the stairs, etc. They seemed okay until Joni started to growl and hiss Then they turned into Halloween cats.

I set up Joni in the bedroom with her food (Meow Mix!!!! ), water, litter, her toys from home, some new toys I got her, and her bed. I hung out in there for a little bit, she used the litterbox which was great! and then started exploring. I was sitting on the floor just sort of watching her and she kept growling as she was walking around, so I don't know what that means I left her alone in there and now I'm out in the living with my boys, worrying!!!

It is SO NERVE-WRACKING to leave a new cat in a room by herself!!!!! I'm trying to relax and hoping for the best! The boys seem fine, I'm not sure if they know she's in there or not.

Thanks everyone... please send us some warm thoughts!
post #20 of 49
I hope for a safe and successful introduction! She's a beauty!
post #21 of 49
Thread Starter 
The boys seem to be doing okay

Relaxing as always:




Quote:
Originally Posted by Draco View Post
I hope for a safe and successful introduction! She's a beauty!
Thank you!!!
post #22 of 49
I'd suggest trying to remember to always greet and feed the boys first - even though she's so little, they may feel a little displaced and worry that mom doesn't love them as much anymore. Give them even more cuddles and playtime, so they start thinking the 'new girl' just means more fun and treats for them.

Believe me, I know it's hard to be torn between two rooms. She is a little beauty!
post #23 of 49
Your boys are just the sweetest little boys!
That little girl just may rule the roost - it's probably in her genes.
post #24 of 49
Give her a little time, she's probably a little stressed.
post #25 of 49
Thread Starter 
She seems to be doing better away from the boys. We played for a little bit and she let me hold her again and starting purring when I was petting her, and now she is passed out on a pile of dirty clothes I hadn't gotten the chance to wash before she came home, lol! So hopefully she'll get used to my scent that way
post #26 of 49
Thread Starter 
Sorry to keep updating this thread and rambling into the abyss... I PROMISE that I am ordinarily a calm, laidback, cheerful person, lol!

Anyway, gave Joni some treats (her first Greenies!) on a pillowcase I rubbed on Simon & Garfunkel. No reaction, except to eat those Greenies! Can't wait until she's home from the vet tomorrow.

Off to watch a movie & relax. I promise no boring updates for awhile!
post #27 of 49
Joni is beautiful
post #28 of 49
Thread Starter 
Just a quick update - we had a great vet's visit, she was absolutely perfect - other than one low, mournful wail at the thermometer! She's 3lb 7oz and tested negative for FIV/FeLV!

She wasn't very happy about getting into the carrier this morning which surprised me (though it shouldn't have, looking back). I guess I'm used to the boys, who haven't spent a single minute apart since they were born and are fearless as a result! Anyway, she's resting in the safe room now, I checked on her about 20 minutes after we got home to make sure there was no allergic reaction to the vaccines. She's doing well!

She wasn't eating the Meow Mix so I mixed in some of the new Simply Nourish I'm transitioning the boys to, and she picked out all the pieces overnight and left all the Meow Mix!!!!! Should I keep mixing it in or just give her the new food? I forgot and left the bedroom door open when I took her to the vet this morning, and the boys got in and ate the rest of her food - all that corn and wheat gluten!!!! !!! Oh well - I hope to have her off of it soon so they won't get anymore opportunities.

This isn't so "quick" anymore, lol! So I'll stop here. Thanks again for reading and letting me vent and talk things out!


Quote:
Originally Posted by PatrickCampbell View Post
Really...she looks like a beautiful angel. You did right to take her home.
Thank you she is very sweet!
post #29 of 49
I'd just switch the food right away, especially since she's not eating the Meow Mix. Actually, I never "transition" foods and in my 25 years of owning pets, I've never had one get an upset tummy from it. After all, in the wild animals eat what they can catch--a mouse one day, bird the next. They are tougher than you think!
post #30 of 49
Quote:
Originally Posted by CatMom2Wires View Post
I'd just switch the food right away, especially since she's not eating the Meow Mix. Actually, I never "transition" foods and in my 25 years of owning pets, I've never had one get an upset tummy from it. After all, in the wild animals eat what they can cat--a mouse one day, bird the next. They are tougher than you think!

Sometimes I wonder where or what caused such instructions for foods to be slowly introduced. I thought my "no problems switching foods around" was just my "good luck" - but, the more I learn about cats, and their short digestive systems ability to process food, the more I think that some things just become "wives' tales". ?? I'm not ALL that sure, but so far, that's what my evidence is showing me.

I guess the transitioning depends on the reason - what they like, or how the change may affect their health?

By all means - give her the good food, and get her off the junk food as quickly as you can.

Meow Mix Ingredients: http://meowmix.com/products/dry-food/
Quote:
Ingredients: ground yellow corn,
corn gluten meal,
chicken by-product meal,
soybean meal,
beef tallow (preserved with mixed tocopherols),
animal digest,
calcium carbonate,
turkey by-product meal,
salmon meal,
ocean fish meal,
phosphoric acid,
choline chloride,
salt,
potassium chloride,
titanium dioxide (color),
vitamins
(vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, vitamin A supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate [source of vitamin B1], riboflavin supplement [source of vitamin B2], pyridoxine hydrochloride [source of vitamin B6], menadione sodium bisulfite complex [source of vitamin K activity], vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement), potassium chloride, minerals (ferrous sulfate [source of iron], zinc oxide, manganous oxide, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite), taurine, yellow 5, red 40, yellow 6, yellow 5, red 40, blue 2, dl-methionine, l-lysine, rosemary extract.
yuck.
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