A Different Look A FeLV & FIV or the story of Howie

Maybe this will give someone with an FeLV &/or FIV cat encouragement....

Howie showed up in my backyard in early September. He was crouching under a tree looking scared when I, “Here kitty, kitty’s” him and he came running. His fur was unkempt, he was painfully thin and covered with ticks. I gave him the name, “Hungry Howie” based on his ability to down two 5.5 ounce cans of cat food in under three minutes. After he ate, he allowed me to begin cleaning him up and I noticed he has six-toes on each front paw - looks like he’s wearing kitchen mitts! His paw pads were still fairly soft, a tip off that he was or recently had been someone’s pet. I placed a lost and found ad in our local paper and his photo and information on Craigslist and Tabby Tracker with no success. I went to each of my neighbors including those whose homes back up to my property. Several indicated they thought he might belong to one of two houses they pointed out. One was vacant - the other for sale. A message left for the realtor got me nowhere. My guess is he either got lost or was dumped when his owner moved.

I set Howie up with an enclosed heated cuddler on my large covered back porch with an endless supply of food and water. I started looking for a home for him. I have two large dogs who’ve accepted “their” two cat brothers as part of the pack but it was no easy task. I figured Howie’d had enough challenges that he might enjoy a quiet house where he’d be the king of the roost. That said, Howie had no qualms about wanting to come in the house - including walking right in. I began putting the dogs in a room with the door shut to allow for “Howie Time”. From the beginning it was easy to tell he’d lived in a home; he meowed at the fridge, wasn’t the least bit scared of the disposal running in the kitchen sink, and made himself at home snoozing on the back of the couch. He got into the cat toy bin and had a field day - he’s favorite toy being a catnip-filled banana, 

As winter was coming on fast, I ramped up my efforts to get him a home and lucked out when my veterinarian agreed to take him in, bring him up to speed on his vaccines, neuter him and sponsor him through the SPCA. With a week to go before his appointment I started working with him on getting into the cat carrier. The morning of his appointment he walked right in to get the dish of sardines tucked inside. He wasn’t happy when I shut the door, but quickly calmed down. He seemed to enjoy the ride in the car and despite being a bit scared when we were first in the exam room, he behaved better than my own cats.

The next day I mentioned to my husband how I wish we could just keep Howie. The hubs had been pretty set on two dogs and two cats being enough so I was really surprised when I got home from work find that he’d left a message for our vet telling her he’d be by to pick up Howie in the morning. At the same time he was calling her, she was leaving a message for me that Howie was FeLV & FIV positive - a surprise to her and unusual for a cat to be positive on both counts.

My vet is of a rare breed - the type that goes on vacation and ends up being a 'vet with out borders'. She felt there was no need to euthanize Howie since at this point he's in good health. His confirmation testing will be in late February and with any luck one or both will come back indicating a false positive. In the meantime, he has his own room with his own litter box, heated bed, toys, treats, grooming kit. If he does test positive, I plan to have other cats vaccinated for FIV - they've all been vaccinated for FeLV for years.

Howie loves to be picked up and held like a baby on your shoulder and will sit on his hind legs and beg to get you to do so. He really likes Whisker Lickin’s Crunchy Cat Treats and Whiskas Cat Milk as well as any canned cat food and cleans his plate by scooping up the food with his paws. He’ll let you pet him all over including his tummy.

 

Prior to his diagnosis and quarantine, he did not scratch the furniture, soil outside of the litter box, bite or scratch at my two cats. He would followed me from room to room and would sit in my lap while I read the paper. Howie loves to be loved. Given the hand he was dealt and the amount of love he's got to give, there's no way I'll put him down until his day to cross the bridge comes.

 

please don't vaccinate the other cats for FIV.  they will test false positive from then on and the vaccine doesn't really help prevent FIV

Aw, thanks for rescuing Howie!

Is he separated because of the FIV, not the FeLV?

FYI, the FeLV vaccine is only effective about 70% of the time.... just something to consider. I've a friend that rescues, and has never separated FeLV+kitties in her DECADES of rescuing, and has never had FeLV transmitted to her cats, that were never vaccinated for FeLV. Adults with healthy immune systems are pretty naturally resistant.

But he doesn't need to be separated because of the FIV. Well - not long term. Proper introductions need to be made. But FIV is transmitted via deep bite wounds and mating. It's like HIV in people - you can be roommates with someone with HIV, and not get it from sharing the same bathroom, eating off the same plate, etc. It's the same for cats.

The other issue with the FIV vaccine is that it's only effective against one strain of FIV - a strain found in the southern US. Up here in NY and NJ, it's quite useless. So no reason to give your other kitties the FIV vaccine - all that will do is make them test positive for it forever.

One of our 8 indoor-only pet kitties is FIV+.

Yes, He's separated from the other cats because of the FIV. All our cats are micro-chipped and within the HomeAgain website there's a place to list the pet's physical attributes as was as the ability to advise  something to the effect of, "I've been vaccinated for FIV - I will test positive - Please contact my vet @ xxx-xxxx to confirm. This is an added safety feature for all of our animals - only one, the very demanding Rio is allowed outside, but you never know when someone accidentally leaves a door open...

That's a great service. But as you're in upstate NY, the FIV vaccine will not provide added protection to your other kitties. :dk: Your vet can verify this on any vet forum.... our vet did rather extensive research when we rescued Chumley (our FIV+ kitty), and came to the conclusion that there was no point in vaccinating our other cats.

Of course you should do whatever makes you most comfortable.

Well, second round of  test results came back today and Howie is confirmed as positive for both. Now the vet is telling me to keep him separated from our other three(all tested for FeLV & FIV; all negative and all vaccinated annually for FeLV) even if we were to vaccinate for FIV. My husband and I are trying to decide what to do. No - putting him down before his time is not an option and it's not likely he'd find another home or that after the crap hand he got dealt, that I'd ship him off anyway. He's a true "momma's boy" and I think he endeared himself to my husband when he climbed up in his lap and 'hugger-muggered' him.

So now we need to figure out a way for Howie to have a life fuller than just his tricked out bedroom.

*Put the other cats in a room; take up their food dishes & toys and let Howie have the run of the place?

*Put in a door at the bottom of the stairs so he can have full run of the finished basement?

*Stop worrying and let him become part of the family - especially since he fully mixed with Rio & Orangie(negative cats) for months before we knew his diagnosis and by extension with Roscoe(negative) who mutually grooms with Rio?

Looking for feedback - trying to be fair to every cat!

Read LDGs response above. Keeping him separate is likely not necessary as FIV is contracted through deep puncture bites.  Does he seem to get along with your other cats?

I was told when I first took in Howie that the optimal outcome of the second set of tests(Western Blot) would be for Howie to have had a false positive for the FeLV. FIV apparently is less transmittable since as everyone's noted, it takes some serious cat fighting to spread. As an FIV only he could potentially mix with the other cats with no problems.

 I am aware of the issues surrounding the FIV vaccine. At the time Howie was first diagnosed, it was "out there" as a potential fix to allow him to mix with the rest of the cats while giving us peace of mind.

Now my vet is telling me that regardless of Rio, Roscoe & Orangie being vaccinated for FeLV, with or without being vaccinated for FIV, Howie should not be allowed to mix with the other cats. Prior to our knowing his status, prior to us taking him in, he interacted with Rio & Orangie with no problems.

I understand what your vet is telling you.  There are several members on here who allow their FIV+ cats to intermingle with no problems.  Please reach out to them directly via PM if you want more information.  Note LDG has 35,000+ posts and much experience with cats including those with FIV.  Most of us do not.

I would be fine with mingling an FIV positive cat with the rest. But FeLV is a lot more contagious, and the vaccine isn't terribly effective. But studies do show that adult cats have a natural resistance to FeLV, about 90%. That still means there would be a 10% chance they'd get it, although if they were already mingling for several months it's probable they're immune. . .it's a hard decision, and I'm not really sure what I would do.

My grandma did have a FeLV+ kitten who lived to be 2 years old, and neither of her adult cats (who were not vaccinated against FeLV) got FeLV (they were tested a couple months after he died, and are still healthy). For whatever that's worth.

If you choose not to co-mingle them, I think the basement would be the best option.

Willowy said:

If you choose not to co-mingle them, I think the basement would be the best option.

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I too think that.....
I have no problem whatsoever with FIV..... But I couldn't do it with FeLV.....

I am curious..... Hope you don't mind me asking.... But why did your vet vaccinate your inside only cats for FeLV? It is a dangerous vaccine, not really effective, and for inside cats... not really worth the risks (cancer)?

My Lucas us FIV positive and I have never kept him away from my other kitties and they are all negative.

Now, two kitties i rescued had FelV and they were separated , never near the others.

Willowy said:

I would be fine with mingling an FIV positive cat with the rest. But FeLV is a lot more contagious, and the vaccine isn't terribly effective. But studies do show that adult cats have a natural resistance to FeLV, about 90%. That still means there would be a 10% chance they'd get it, although if they were already mingling for several months it's probable they're immune. . .it's a hard decision, and I'm not really sure what I would do.

My grandma did have a FeLV+ kitten who lived to be 2 years old, and neither of her adult cats (who were not vaccinated against FeLV) got FeLV (they were tested a couple months after he died, and are still healthy). For whatever that's worth.

If you choose not to co-mingle them, I think the basement would be the best option.

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I'm so sorry the FeLV (and the FIV) were confirmed. So much simpler when it's "just" FIV. I agree with Willowy. Given we have several immune compromised cats, we wouldn't co-mingle an FeLV kitty. If ours were all healthy, I really don't know what we'd do.

But I agree - the basement is probably the best option if you choose to keep him separate.

and while you decide what to do!

Our story is very similar, except our rescue tomcat (Thomas) only has FIV.  I visited him at the clnic for two weeks while we were deciding what to do and ultimately decided to bring him home and love him.  Its not his fault he was left unneutered and had to spend the first three years of his life fighting! He is super sweet to us, BUT he is leary, at best, of our other five cats. He also has a tricked out room which has a 44 inch baby gate (with a door for us) and then another baby gate on top of it.  We are currently fostering five kittens and they slip in and out of his room through the baby gate bars (they are 2 inches apart) and he seems to like the company- he licks them and they lay with him... no problems.  The problem is our regular five cats- two of them are now peeing and spraying all over the house and two of them have attacked Thomas- these are cats who have been mild-mannered since the day we got them (ranging in age from 2 years to 12 years)- they are wimps really! My husband and I are ALL scratched up preventing what could have been a disaster- it was our cats scratching us... Thomas growled and then hovered under the bed, but he could pulvarize them in about 2 seconds if he wanted to. His head alone is about 10X the size of their bodies.  If he didn't have FIV, we could let them scuffle or whatever and it would be done... but as it is, we just can't risk it.    The two cats who are spraying/peeing since Thomas arrived are going to the clinic to be boarded starting tomorrow- that way, we can clean the house properly and destress everyone.  The kittens will be adopted in the next couple of weeks so he won't have them as friends any more.   Should we just be content to have him live in his room for the rest of his life? We do clear other rooms and take him in there- we clear the porch in the evening and give it to him... and we try to clear our bedroom every 4th night or so and let him sleep with us (or until the other cats start pounding on the door- they really do rule the roost!) Thomas is excellent at being held, but he does growl as we walk past the other cats.  OR do we just need to give this more time?  I don't want to put our regular cats' lives at risk but we do love them and it would be hell waiting to see how badly Thomas bite one of them... one of them has already jumped on Thomas and tried to bite him. Are our cats trying to tell us something?

As far as Thomas' health, no ear mites and the vet said he only had a little tartar on a couple of teeth.  he has tons of white scars, which I assume are from fighting- he is BIG and beautiful and orange, but his hair IS very thin. Is that from the FIV? Or could it be from something else? I've been feeding him since October 2012, finally captured him in March 2013, so he's only been living at our house since March 27th- not even a full month. Besides the thin hair (no bald patches, just thinner than what our cats have), I think he has a weird smell- not bad, just different.  Could that be a sign?

I've read two books, searched the web, realize that as long as cats are friendly, FIV is not a problem... but what about when they are not friendly?? Or can anyone recommend a good 'cat whisperer' in Central Florida?

I can only speak to my experience with Howie. When I started feeding him late last summer, he was in bad shape. By the time I brought him to the vet he'd put on weight, but his coat was still in poor condition and he had healing, crusty sores from multiple tick bites. Jump ahead - he's lived with us since November 23. He's fat with a glossy coat and ears that took several weeks of daily cleaning and meds to clear out. To look at him you'd never know he has any health issues. Howie has his own room, plus my husband built a folding screen which blocks off the foot of the stairs giving him full run of our downstairs which is a fully finished basement. Oddly enough, he likes sleeping on the couch and watching me work at my desk, but has come to associate cuddle and play time with his room. Like our other three, he spends his day snoozing so it makes little difference to him that he's in his room. He has a nice, high, wide window ledge to watch the world. From time to time I'll put the other three in a room, take up their dishes and toys and give Howie the run of the house. Of course he runs right to the door because he'd love to go out. Now that spring is here in NY, the vet has okay'd him going outside on a harness, supervise. Haven't tried it yet as I fear it'll just make him crazy to get out.

We don't let him mix with the other cats, but they all come and play pokey paw under his door. I think he'd really like to play with the guys - he doesn't seem to have a mean bone but I do recall that when I'd first gotten him in the house - the night before I got him to the vet, Howie was sitting on my lap when Rio walked by and Howie hissed at him.

My "Orangie" - the other stray we took in a month after Howie - is an orange tabby or more accurately, a british cream. It took forever to get him to trust me and he was not going to come in willingly - unlike Howie who just marched right in from the beginning.  Like Howie, Orangie's all cleaned up and plump but his fur is thin - no bald spots, but thinner and a different texture than my tabby, Rio and my tuxedos, Roscoe & Howie. He had an area on his lower back that seemed like the fur had split ends and someone on this site suggested I wash the area with Hibicens(liquid cleanser used for pre-surgical prep among other things - can buy as generic at Walgreens) - I did and it's much improved!

I had both Howie and Orangie neutered and for several weeks after they had a strong, musky smell - it will pass as the male sex hormones clear his body. Cat wipes or a bath will help. The scars are from fighting and some fur may come back. Orangie is my shy boy and even as an outside unneutered male, he was not a fighter. Actually, Rio is my only cat I allow to go outside and it's only because he'd have a fit if he can't patrol the yard. Long before I was able to get Howie and Orangie in, he interacted with both of them outside with no fights.

Once Orangie came home from the vet, he was scared of me, my husband and Rio and Roscoe would hiss and growl at him. Jump ahead - now they all groom each other, play wrestle, group snuggle. In fact, right now they've got all their toys out and are running around upstairs chasing jingle balls! Orangie seems to have no desire to go outside - we really thought he was going to be the one at the door ready to dart out.

Just give it time - another piece of advice I got from this site.  Trim everyone's nails - limits injuries from scrapping and saves your furniture. A spray bottle with some water, lemon juice and a few pennies can't hurt either. It's a training tool I use to discourage bad behavior. If the cats start any serious fighting, shake the bottle, spray 'em and say, "No!". After a couple of times all you'll have to do is shake the bottle. Good luck!

I don't know a cat whisperer in central Florida, but I know an excellent animal communicator. She worked with us when we rescued our FIV+ cat and were introducing him to our other cats. He was a feral rescue, as are our other cats. Chumley (the FIV+ boy) was VERY aggressive, and we were really concerned about integrating him. We live in an RV, and at the time had 7 other cats. !!!! We rented him a trailer (same as putting him in a separate room).

To make introductions, the first thing we did was start with scents. We swapped bedding. Then when we could brush Chumley, we'd swap brushes - and make a point of taking the "Chumley" brush around for everyone to smell. Then we swapped litter clumps. Get Chumley used to the scent of other cat pee in his box, and vice versa. We also used scents with treats, to get them associating Chumley's scent with "good" things they love. Smell Chumley's hair on brush, get a treat....

Then we started bringing Chumley over here for very short periods of time. The point, for us, was NOT introductions. In fact, we turned the engine over so the other cats would go hide in the bedroom. You could accomplish the same thing, maybe, by calling them for treats, or if they eat timed meals, bringing him out of his room while they're at a meal? But we let him out in the living room, on the cat trees, so he could sniff around - and they'd then smell him on there. The first time, he was here for maybe 10 or 15 minutes.

And we brought him over every day, for longer and longer periods of time. If another cat wandered into the room, we'd call them, and play with them - give OUR cats the attention. Make them think that having Chumley around is like the best thing ever: more play, more attention, more treats....

So he was rescued in early May. It was around mid-July that we started bringing him over here, and it was the 2nd or 3rd week of August that he never went "home." And he turned out to be the most docile kitty with other cats. All that aggression outside was because he was intact - and hungry. He was separated (more than) long enough for all the hormones to cycle out of his system, and to realize he was getting regular meals, and attention if he wanted it. :rub:

BUT.... after a few weeks, one of OUR cats was very aggressive to HIM. And Sheldon kept backing Chumley into a corner, and we were worried that at some point, he'd wig out and bite, to protect himself. So we contacted an animal communicator that a friend had used and recommended.

She talked to Sheldon and Chumley. The source of the problem was that Chumley was using his favorite spots (he was) and a few other minor things. Chumley communicated to her that he didn't want to cause ANY problems. Sheldon wanted an apology ( :lol3: ), and got it. THAT NIGHT, Chumley moved to a spot in the RV that no other cat had ever used; a place Chum had not explored. Problem solved.

It may or may not be that easy. What Ellen can do depends on what the cats are willing to communicate. But if you want to give it a go, all you need to do is send her one picture and the name of the cat(s) you want her to communicate with. Her rates are on her website: http://www.enlightenedanimals.com IF you're interested, you might want to contact her first - if you want her to chat with several of your kitties, she'll probably give you some kind of discount. Her sessions are done and then she follows-up via phone with you. I've recommended her to others, and only one person out of five didn't get much out of it. So that's a total of one out of 7 experiences that I know of; it's a small sample size, but that's a 14% chance she won't be able to help. (And in the end, it wasn't that she wasn't helpful with the one not great experience; the issue was the kitty was not communicative. She was in the hospital, and basically just very angry - which we already knew, but that's all she wanted to say. The interesting thing is that Ellen didn't know the cat was in the hospital from her mom - because she wasn't when the appointment was made. It just turned out that way as re: the time Ellen chose to communicate with the kitty. And the cat let her know. So at least it confirmed, again, that Ellen's gift is real).

As to Roods Ranch experience: when it comes to discouraging bad behavior, current advice is to forget the spray bottle. That info is still out there, but it can result in cats that are scared of you or ear infections or inner ear problems. Far better to just use pennies in an empty can - startle them with noise. Of course, just like with children, praise for what they're doing right goes far. (We started praising Shel for just ignoring Chumley. ).

You may also want to consider Feliway plug-ins, for stress-relief for your spraying kitties. Another thing to consider for them is Bach's Rescue Remedy (a flower essence) in some wet food (if you feed wet food - it's meant to go in their food) several times a day.

As far as the spray bottle goes, I wasn't suggesting spraying it in the cat's ear - just in their general direction.

Of course not, it can happen accidentally.

Thank you so much Laurie!! You were in a very similar situation as us all the way around!! Everything you wrote made sense and I think that I may be the problem, or part of the problem. I feel so sorry for Thomas in that room by himself that I've been sleeping with him from whenever I wake up in the middle of the night (usually about 2 or 3AM) until 6AM. I need to be more sensitive to our cats' feelings and what they must think of this big new guy. We are going to adopt your techniques starting tonight.  The one wimpy cat who actually wants to fight Thomas used to spend his days in THAT room, laying on the bed in the sun... we used to call it his daybed! And he has lost that- maybe that's why he wants to fight.  I have to say that having the two spraying cats at the clinic for a week or so is, if nothing else, a welcomed break! It was so wonderful not to have to wake up to the smell of cat urine.  Those two cats are wacky anyway, but I think I may have to wait until they are back home before I book an appointment with Ellen.  If she could offer any insight into what those two crazies are thinking or feeling, it would be worth every penny.   I was afraid their nervous energy would affect Thomas in a negative way, but its the wimpy cats (Mickey Mouse and Smarty Pants)- okay, not wimpy... just incredibly sweet and loving and very non-masculine for males.. that are acting like gang members.   I have probably spent $200 on Feliway plug ins and refills- they spray directly on the plug-ins.  I plan to take advantage of their money back guarantee.

Rood's Ranch, we too are a family of Orange cats and Tuxedos!! My avatar is Thomas, who is extremely manly looking, but my baby is Smarty Pants... also an orange tabby but a totally different look. He will be 9 years old in Juy and I love that boy... he travels with me, even across the country on an airplane! Your description of  Orangie's fur sounds like Thomas's fur.  When he was just the tomcat stopping by for breakfast on his way back to where ever, his fur seemed thicker but he was COVERED in ticks- big, gross ones! I bought Frontline at the animal clinic and marked 30 days on our calendar and made sure he got it.  He seemed bigger in general when he came around once in a while. I'm hoping that's because it was cooler out (its Florida- it only gets so cold) and he had a semi-winter coat. The fur on his chest and stomach is softer and more like FUR.  Just like you described, the fur on his back is a different texture and very thin... and yes, like it has split ends.  The fur under his neck is very patchy, but I think he had parasites.  When I think of everything he went through, it breaks my heart... but like Laurie said, I need to approach this entire adventure from a different perspective- from the perspective of our other cats and why its to their benefit to have Thomas here.

When he was at the vet getting his Extreme Kitty Make Over, I insisted that he get a bath... they didn't want to do it but I thought doing it after his neuter/teeth cleaning would be ideal because he woudl be groggy.  They said there were MOUNTAINS of fur in the sink but he had probably never been brushed.  I am washing/drying his sheets right now and the dryer vent is full of fur, but its been almost a month. 

Funny story- last night while I was at the store getting cat supplies, my husband was watching TV... with our five cats, plus the foster momma and her five 10 week old kittens, there's a lot of activity all around. My husband saw orange- assumed it was Smarty Pants- walking across the room and then a tuxedo (Mickey Mouse) folloing close behind him. He figured Mickey Mouse was following Smarty... then he took a good look and realized it was Thomas!!! He had escaped from his room- somehow jumped to the top of the 44 inch baby gate and squeezed through the space before the second baby gate starts!! Actually, he probably got his head in there and then just pushed until it was wide enough to fit... and he was out, walking around the house!! Husband yelled "Thomas!!" and he immediately sat down and my husband picked him up, cleared the back porch, and let him stay out there.  That must have been surreal- kind of like being at the zoo and then realizing the Lion is on THIS side of his fenced in area!!!  But, luckily, it was a positive experience.  What's really funny is that Thomas was coming from the opposite end of where his room is, which means that he had to escape, come down a long hallway, then cut up to the front off the house and back around from the front to be on that side of the family room. 

So anything about smell? He doesn't smell bad- its just different, or maybe its the shorter hair that throws me off.  He is extremely neat and clean with his liter box and very regular.  He generally only poops once per day and its always solid- its the size of a German Shepard's but solid. 

Thank you so much for responding- I will stay in touch and let you know how it goes... and thanks for the encouragement to give it more time... your time line really gives me hope- it was 2 1/2 months before you started bringing Chumley into the group at all.  Our cats have known Thomas since October, but they were on the screened in porch and he was in the yard.  He's only been in the house since the end of March, so not even a month.  We have plenty of time, and as soon as these kittens get adopted, I'll have even more time to devote to our cats feeling extra special.

Here is a picture of Thomas... that crown belongs on a stuffed animal lion but the kittens knocked it off, so I figured we'd see how it looks on Thomas. He LOVES those kittens, so we'll probably keep one (they are most likely his kids anyway... momma and babies all tested negative for FIV. 


If that's not a handsome boy, then I don't know what is... He was neutered on Monday, March 11th and I didn't bring him home until Wednesday, March 27th... the tech at the vet said his pee smelled but I didn't notice it.  How long until the hormones are out of his system?

And here is Smarty Pants, my soulmate cat:


And here is Mickey Mouse, my husband's soulmate cat:


He has Mickey Mouse's gloved hands (and 7 toes on the front).  This cat is only 2 years old and is as docile as they come... but something about Thomas sure does get him fired up!

Will share pictures of the other monsters later!! Good day!

OMG they're adorable!

smarty88, rather than continue to post about Thomas' journey here, in Roods Ranch thread, it's probably best if you start a thread - probably best if it's in the behavior forum, because even though Thomas is FIV+, the issue really is just the introductions.

Just a couple real quick comments in the meantime.... that's GREAT news about how things went with his escape. That's really encouraging!

When your other two come back from boarding, focus a lot more attention on them - ESPECIALLY in front of Thomas. When Chum was over here initially, and the first cat came out while he was there, I immediately picked up a wand toy and started playing with that cat (or cats). I'd toss it a few times to Chumley too (who had learned what play is next door - he was TERRIFIED of toys at first, poor guy!) - but only after anyone else had played for a little while.

It's our instinct to be protective of the "newbie," but it's so important for harmony, when there's an issue with jealousy, for lack of a better word, to have your cats see you lavishing attention on them and practically ignoring the new cat. It reassures them that he's not a threat. :heart2:

Oh - and Chum didn't smell either. But cats are basically walking hormone factories - they have scent glands everywhere. We can't smell it, but they can. They're VERY scent driven, thus all the scent swapping, associating "good things" with the other cats' scent, &etc.