snick and jasper's integration thread

[micknsnicks2mom]

 
You may have a ways to go, but you're still light years ahead of Sinbad and Tempest!  I can only read your progress and be pleased for your success, and sigh with envy.  

i've always said that it was our mickey (who crossed the rainbow bridge in april 2013, and was snick's brother/litter mate) that chose jasper for us. i could never have chosen a better match for snick or for me, jasper is purrfect for us both. so i believe we started out with a head start or big advantage for snick and jasper's integration.

sinbad and tempest are so lucky to have you! you've been so patient with them both while working on their integration.

 

[losna]

That's cool.  You'll have to post some piccies when they start playing/snuggling with each other. 

As to Sinbad and Tempest ... people at the shelter tell us that all the time! We appreciate the sentiment! Although I'll admit it puzzles me a bit because I wish I could come up with more to do to help them. We *think* Tempest has realized that she needs to find a way to deal with him because she wants out into the house with everyone. She's definitely gotten more vocal. Up until recently she never made much noise because it would always summon him.

 

[micknsnicks2mom]

oh, i'm thinking snick won't get to the point where she's comfortable snuggling with jasper. snick never snuggled with her brother from the time they were spayed/neutered on. i'll be happy when snick and jasper are able to peacefully coexist and be comfortable in the same room together.

i think we can try to help them through their integration, but in the end it's really between the cats...they need to find the way to work things out so they can both be comfortable sharing their home.

that's good incentive for tempest to find a way to deal with sinbad. she may end up simply having to give in to sinbad snuggling with her.

 

[angels mommy]

Aww, poor Jasper. It's good that you explained to him why Snick did that. She's also probably just letting him know who's boss." LOL!

 

[micknsnicks2mom]

 
Aww, poor Jasper. It's good that you explained to him why Snick did that. She's also probably just letting him know who's boss." LOL!

yeah, i felt for jasper. he just wants to be liked and be able to relax with me and snick. snick is definitely "the boss"! she was the boss with her brother mickey too.

 

[micknsnicks2mom]

thought i'd post another update on snick and jasper's integration.

i'm leaving jasper's safe room door open, so he can come downstairs and go back upstairs as he wants, 99% of the time now. jasper spends some time during the overnights downstairs with snick and me too. he'd love to lay on the bed next to me or in my arms under the blankets, but snick firmly believes that the bed is solely her territory. i can understand why snick feels this way, and she also loves warm as much as i do and has arthritis (making cold, damp weather uncomfortable for her). sometimes snick will nap in her favorite woolrich cat bed though, and then jasper is able to snuggle under the covers with me.

during the day time, jasper spends close to half his time up in his safe room.  i've been thinking about why he chooses to do this, and have come to the conclusion that maybe it's just a bit too warm for him down in the living room where snick and i usually are -- it's usually in the 78-82 degrees F range in our living room. i've noticed that jasper is always toasty warm, literally like he's a little heating pad. i get cold very easily, and snick seems to need as much warm as i do.

snick and jasper are still eating their meals separately, and i'm fine with that. they're both able to eat in peace that way.

we're not having any confrontations or swatting or such, just an occasional hiss from snick and lots of loud meowing at jasper 2 or 3 times each day. the loud meowing always happens when snick is on the floor or wanting to go into the kitchen -- maybe she feels more vulnerable when she's not "up". i'm thinking i'll start explaining to my snick that jasper is here to stay, so it would be best to simply accept that and try to peacefully coexist.

 

[micknsnicks2mom]

another update -- well, it's been close to 6 months now and i'm considering snick and jasper pretty much fully integrated. they've both come a long way.

at the beginning, snick was pretty uncomfortable when jasper was moving around in the same room/areas where she was and she hissed and insistently meowed at jasper quite a bit. and jasper had been chased and attacked by other cats at his foster home, so he was very unsure and cautious of snick, always retreating when snick would move around or hiss/meow at him. now, snick is fully comfortable with jasper moving around in the same room/area as well as quite near her -- recently, jasper walked up to just about one foot from snick and she just looked at him and continued relaxing laid out on her side stretched out all long. snick rarely hisses at jasper, the rare hiss seems like more of a warning hiss to let jasper know she doesn't want him too close or doing something too close to her. jasper now will not retreat, but will look for a better route to get where he wants to be without getting too close to snick. but it's also fine now for jasper to scoot by near snick, no upset to either cat. so snick knows that jasper won't be chasing, attacking, or bothering her; and jasper knows that snick won't chase or attack him. snick is clearly "the boss" in their relationship, and that seems to suit both cats just fine.

snick is fine with sharing "mommy time' with jasper. and jasper respects that snick claims night time/in bed at night snugglings with me.

some recent news is that there was some sort of "to do", personality conflict type thing at the shelter that i'm fostering jasper through. i talked with the (now former, she resigned) adoption coordinator, and since she no longer is at the shelter she cannot prevent jasper from being adopted by someone else. so, i will be officially adopting jasper in june when i bring him to their clinic for his annual physical and shots. jasper is very happy here with snick and me, and we both love him very much (well, snick is working on loving him but does like him now). i won't risk losing him now, and wouldn't want jasper to have to go through losing us and having to adjust to another home and new people/cats and/or dogs.

 

[angels mommy]

That's such great news! 

  I'm glad snick has gotten used to the idea that Jasper is there to stay.  You have done such good work with patiently integrating them the right way. It would be a shame for Jasper  to be taken out of that environment & put into a less ideal one, & possibly w/ someone who doesn't know how to do that, etc...  I am so thrilled you are going to go ahead & adopt him! I know you were planning on it anyway, but now, at least you won't have to worry. You and jasper can have a good exhale!  He is home to stay!  Congratulations to you for all the work you have done with them. 

 

[losna]

I am always happy to hear of successful introductions! 

Congrats!!

 

[stewball]

That's wonderful news. I'm so happy for the three of you. Good for snicks to be cool and not violent. Yay for jasper. And triple Yay for you for being loving and patient.
Can you not adopt him before June? Says worrypot across the seas!

 

[micknsnicks2mom]

 
That's such great news! 

  I'm glad snick has gotten used to the idea that Jasper is there to stay.  You have done such good work with patiently integrating them the right way. It would be a shame for Jasper  to be taken out of that environment & put into a less ideal one, & possibly w/ someone who doesn't know how to do that, etc...  I am so thrilled you are going to go ahead & adopt him! I know you were planning on it anyway, but now, at least you won't have to worry. You and jasper can have a good exhale!  He is home to stay!  Congratulations to you for all the work you have done with them. 

thank you!

 

[micknsnicks2mom]

 

I am always happy to hear of successful introductions! 

Congrats!!

thank you!

 

[micknsnicks2mom]

That's wonderful news. I'm so happy for the three of you. Good for snicks to be cool and not violent. Yay for jasper. And triple Yay for you for being loving and patient.
Can you not adopt him before June? Says worrypot across the seas!

thank you!

i would adopt jasper before june if i was able to. since i don't drive, it has to be june because i've arranged a ride (had to be arranged well in advance) to the shelter where i'll pay $25 total for jasper's annual physical/shots/dewormer/flea treatment application and will fill out and sign the documents to officially adopt him. the adoption fee has been waived.

 

[stewball]

Nobody can adopt him before you do can they? Still worrying across the sea?
you're a wonderful mum I must say.
Hugs,
Judy.

 

[micknsnicks2mom]

Nobody can adopt him before you do can they? Still worrying across the sea?
you're a wonderful mum I must say.
Hugs,
Judy.

yes, if someone wanted to and their application to adopt him was approved by the shelter, jasper could be adopted still. until i fill out and sign the papers, there is that risk. however, here in the US there are many, many adult cats in the shelters/their fosters and it's just starting 'kitten season' -- when many people looking to adopt are looking for kittens.

i'm concerned and certainly don't want to lose our jasper.  i tell myself that it was meant to be that jasper joined me and snick, but i still will worry until i'm able to get to the shelter to officially adopt him.

thank you, judy! i love both snick and jasper very dearly.

 

[cat nap]

....

i would adopt jasper before june if i was able to. since i don't drive, it has to be june because i've arranged a ride (had to be arranged well in advance) to the shelter where i'll pay $25 total for jasper's annual physical/shots/dewormer/flea treatment application and will fill out and sign the documents to officially adopt him. the adoption fee has been waived.

.....
.....

yes, if someone wanted to and their application to adopt him was approved by the shelter, jasper could be adopted still. until i fill out and sign the papers, there is that risk. however, here in the US there are many, many adult cats in the shelters/their fosters and it's just starting 'kitten season' -- when many people looking to adopt are looking for kittens.

i'm concerned and certainly don't want to lose our jasper.  i tell myself that it was meant to be that jasper joined me and snick, but i still will worry until i'm able to get to the shelter to officially adopt him.

.....

@mickNsnicks2mom   I got all excited on reading the first part of this news, that the adoption fee has been waived, and that you would 'officially' be adopting Jasper in June.  

I'm just a little confused on the second part.  Would not the first choice go to the 'foster parent' and not just someone else?  I do understand about the 'signing the papers and making it legal', but if a foster parent does not drive, as you said, and the papers cannot be faxed, or emailed, and sent by regular mail....then would not an 'animal rescue organization' still maintain that the 'foster family'...(in this case both you and Snick)...have the first choice, and only choice in keeping Jasper? 

Still, it's great news, though, since June is only about one month away...so will be thinking positive thoughts all the way.

  

 

 

[stewball]

What about that golf cart thing.you bought?

 

[micknsnicks2mom]

What about that golf cart thing.you bought?

long story, but didn't end up buying the golf cart.

 

[micknsnicks2mom]

 
@mickNsnicks2mom   I got all excited on reading the first part of this news, that the adoption fee has been waived, and that you would 'officially' be adopting Jasper in June.  

I'm just a little confused on the second part.  Would not the first choice go to the 'foster parent' and not just someone else?  I do understand about the 'signing the papers and making it legal', but if a foster parent does not drive, as you said, and the papers cannot be faxed, or emailed, and sent by regular mail....then would not an 'animal rescue organization' still maintain that the 'foster family'...(in this case both you and Snick)...have the first choice, and only choice in keeping Jasper? 

Still, it's great news, though, since June is only about one month away...so will be thinking positive thoughts all the way.

  

 

it's a complicated situation. the short version is that while i am fostering our jasper through the shelter, i'm almost certain that i'm not on their books as a foster home. things were set up/handled through the shelters former adoption coordinator, and quite likely weren't done exactly 'by the book'. i was 'encouraged' to go ahead and adopt jasper soon, because the former adoption coordinator told me she wouldn't be able to prevent jasper from being adopted by someone else since she's no longer with the shelter. while i would prefer not to bring this whole situation to the attention of the new adoption coordinator or other staff at the shelter, i won't hesitate to do so if needed. i won't let jasper suffer (by being potentially wrenched from his happy home with us) because of this whole situation.

i put a call in to the shelter this morning, asking if they could give jasper his annual physical and shots, etc early -- in may, and i'd go ahead and officially adopt him early next month then.

the timing of this big change with the shelter/now former adoption coordinator is rough for me. i've got two big payments to make each month starting in may and ending in august, which i've planned and organized well in advance for. i've even bought all the canned cat food for snick and jasper to last them through august -- cases and cases. if not for those two big payments during the next 4 months, i'd just go ahead and adopt jasper and bring him to my vet for his annual physical and shots. jasper is due for his annual and rabies and distemper shots in june. it's just not something i'm able to afford for the next 4 months, and that's why i must use the shelters clinic for jaspers annual and shots this year -- total of $25 for everything. i do have a vet emergency fund, but with my snick's medical issues (IBD, CKD, and she's a senior and on at-home/hospice care), i cannot and will not spend that money -- because i absolutely know for sure that something can and will come up which snick will need medication for (at the least) or an actual vet appointment (at the worst, which would be a life threatening situation) definitely within the next 4 months, very likely more than once.

 

[cat nap]

 
it's a complicated situation. the short version is that while i am fostering our jasper through the shelter, i'm almost certain that i'm not on their books as a foster home. things were set up/handled through the shelters former adoption coordinator, and quite likely weren't done exactly 'by the book'. i was 'encouraged' to go ahead and adopt jasper soon, because the former adoption coordinator told me she wouldn't be able to prevent jasper from being adopted by someone else since she's no longer with the shelter. while i would prefer not to bring this whole situation to the attention of the new adoption coordinator or other staff at the shelter, i won't hesitate to do so if needed. i won't let jasper suffer (by being potentially wrenched from his happy home with us) because of this whole situation.

i put a call in to the shelter this morning, asking if they could give jasper his annual physical and shots, etc early -- in may, and i'd go ahead and officially adopt him early next month then.

the timing of this big change with the shelter/now former adoption coordinator is rough for me. i've got two big payments to make each month starting in may and ending in august, which i've planned and organized well in advance for. i've even bought all the canned cat food for snick and jasper to last them through august -- cases and cases. if not for those two big payments during the next 4 months, i'd just go ahead and adopt jasper and bring him to my vet for his annual physical and shots. jasper is due for his annual and rabies and distemper shots in june. it's just not something i'm able to afford for the next 4 months, and that's why i must use the shelters clinic for jaspers annual and shots this year -- total of $25 for everything. i do have a vet emergency fund, but with my snick's medical issues (IBD, CKD, and she's a senior and on at-home/hospice care), i cannot and will not spend that money -- because i absolutely know for sure that something can and will come up which snick will need medication for (at the least) or an actual vet appointment (at the worst, which would be a life threatening situation) definitely within the next 4 months, very likely more than once.

Ah, yes, @mickNsnicks2mom...that change-over situation at the shelter does sound a little complicated, and I honestly forgot about the yearly vaccinations ideally being around the same time. I have gotten the annuals both early and late a few times, due to not paying attention to the reminder dates...not actually writing them down, on the calendar.

I'm hoping the new staff at the shelter, and new coordinator, are all caring people, and will probably be thrilled that Jasper has a loving permanent forever home.  Also having this shelter as a back up would be good.  Since even if you have your own vet, having other options, which are more cost effective is terms of vet services, or just vaccinations and contacts, even for second opinions and phone calls, is very helpful.

  (When my animals were young, and healthy, I had found a place that only did cat and dog vaccinations, which were required by law, yearly, here in ontario, and which saved me over $40 dollars per animal. 

I had 2 cats and 1 dog...so the lower cost was very helpful.  But when I needed actual vet care, then I brought them to another clinic, closer to home, which I liked.  The vaccinations-only-place (and flea meds), also changed ownership...and ended up not being such a savings, so I switched to the closer vet.)

 Saving money and having options, is what I always like...because as you say...something can always come up, for young and elder animals, too, ..so saving and putting money aside does help.  I also think it wise to phone around and just ask various vets about prices for things, even if I have a regular vet, since I never know how different prices are, and services offered, unless I ask.

I know that this will work out well, and I hope that Snick is doing as well as can be with her at-home/hospice care, and that Jasper will be official quite soon.