Hi, everyone - new to the forum

[chaucer]

Hi, I'm Chaucer.. Well, not really but that's my male cat's name.  I'm so glad to have found this site because while I have had cats all my life, this is the first time I've taken in a stray/feral, the first time I've had a pregnant cat and the first time I've had two cats at the same time. My new cat's name is Henry-etta James. I'm into literature.  So far, they aren't exactly getting along but it's only been a very few days since I brought her home from the vet and I'm hopeful they can adjust to each other, but right now I'm more concerned about the pregnancy and the health of the kittens.

 

[margecat]

Welcome to TCS, Chaucer! (I love your cats' names!)

If you have any questions or concerns about your mommy cat, we also have a pregnancy area of the forum, so feel free to check that out, as well. We have so many knowledgeable members here!

Give your cats time to adjust to each other, and make sure you introduce them slowly, and always with supervision. (We also have a behavior area of the TCS.)

I hope to see you around here!

 

[chaucer]

Thank you, MargeCat. I have posted something in the pregnancy forum.  Hopefully, Chaucer and Henry-etta will get along eventually. They "knew" each other from seeing each other behind the glass door and me carrying him outside while she was there with no trouble.  The first morning I had her here after the vet visit, I let them eat together in person and they were okay, touching noses...until later on l I accidentally stepped on Henry-etta's foot  and she screeched and took off running with Chaucer behind her. He was over-stimulated by the sound and the running and attacked her for a few seconds. Fur actually flew. I stopped it by clapping my hands and taking him to the bedroom. Neither was visibly hurt, but I felt so bad since she is pregnant and worried it might have hurt her kittens. Long-story-short:  She now hisses and growls at him when he is in his carrier, which I'm now using all the time if they are in the same room.  Prior to this, they had touched noses and she'd rubbed around the carrier! Bad me! I knew I'd step on her because for the last month or two when she was still outside she rubbed around my ankles to the point I could barely move and that didn't change when I brought her in!

 

[betsygee]

Welcome!!  

 

[chaucer]

Thank you. I'm learning a lot!  Wonderful group of people here.

 

[andrya]

Hi Chaucer 

lt's wonderful to have you and your kitties here.

 

[3catsandabird]

Welcome to you and your gang!

How come every grey kitty looks like a clone?

I mean, that could be my G-Man in your avatar pic, haha.

 

[cass]

Hi there! I'm new too
your cat is super cute [emoji]9829[/emoji][emoji]9829[/emoji][emoji]9829[/emoji]

 

[chaucer]

Thank you, Andrya, 3CatsAndABird and Cass.

Gray cats do seem to look alike.  Mine has dark stripes around the end of his tail. He's only 8.6 pounds but has very long legs and is so long and lean. I wonder if he will grow into his height and put on some weight. When he walks, he looks like a panther because of his shoulders sticking up. He's full of personality and is extremely comfortable with people.

My pregnant feral/stray Henry-etta James, is a Torbie and weighs 9 pounds pregnant, but she's shorter and stockier. She's friendly with me but is scared of others and hisses at my male cat if she sees him through a crack in the door. I keep them separated in the house now, although they used to visit through the glass door when I was still feeding her outside.

 

[callista]

A single incident can create a phobia in a cat. I know this because once I accidentally spilled soda in my lap while Christy was sitting in it, and I had to spend the next two months undoing a phobia of soda cans! She used to bolt when I opened one up. The good news is that she's no longer afraid, and I can actually rest a soda can on her head and she'll just look at me like I'm being odd. I had to start out with a soda can across the room from her, and moved it closer when she stopped being nervous.

Getting a paw stepped on with a new cat nearby sounds a lot like that. Maybe it is just a matter of teaching them that the new cat represents good things and is not something to be afraid of.

 

[chaucer]

Thanks, Callista.   The resident cat, Chaucer, would accept Henryetta if she let him. He's very friendly and playful.  I think I scared them both when I stepped on her foot - her screeching and running and him excited by all of that noise and running. They have touched noses since then but it ends with her hissing. Since she is pregnant, I'm not allowing them any contact except for the unplanned when she or he runs in or out of the laundry room during feeding times.