Thanks everyone for the Reality Checks about adopting PB.
Buckley is still back, Mystique still behind the eaves. Buckley and PB are forging their own way, their own territory; they have their own safe santuaries. PB remains dominant. They were able to co-exist side by side; both like it when I roll the ball to them, and they roll it back to me. Both like feather in the tube toy.
PB was friendly to my twin sister (who he's never seen before), scent marking her a little, so he'll show really well when we place him up for adoption in about one or two weeks. PB would make a great cat for a family with children; there aren't too many dumped cats like that.
Buckley will eat fish flakes from my hand and is a really pretty cat; I still have hope he can go to a Forever Home. Mystique will probably be placed in a farm when the warmer weather returns.
Much as I want to adopt PB, I don't think it's a good idea. What I want is not what I need; I need to consider what is best for the cats. I need to consider Ritz first and foremost. I see in PB what I would like to see in Ritz; not fair to either cat.
I've been reading the book "Cat versus Cat" (which I got when I found a seven week old kitten by the dumpster on 11-11-2011 (since adopted out)) and find it helpful. Learned some stuff about playing with Ritz, too.
Yeah, good point about control: the initial of my first name is C--for control. In all areas of my life.
My cat colony is growing because of the high rate of foreclosures and evictions. I am surrounded by apartment complexes and single family dwellings, which at least give the cats access to dry shelter during the winter. 75% of the population are stray/dumped and come to greet me at 5 am and 6 pm when I feed them by the dumpster. They know the sound of my car. Several cats will let me pet them, a few roll on their back, exposing their belly (which I don't touch!); the other 25% still run when I give them food.
