Troubles in new cat paradise.

So as some of you know my 1 year old torbie Katherine has been home since Sunday. During that time she's been our only cat. Today my dad found a 5 year old seal point Siamese names Anita. Also a sweet heart of a cat, so we took Anita he and I put her in the bathroom upstairs for slow introductions. Before I could close the door Katherine ran in and it's been fights ever since. All around the house, always provoked by Katherine. I put Katherine's collar on her. It's got a bell and I know she dislikes it. After ten minutes of pouting under the bed she's sleeping on my chest again and looking for live. Anita is sleeping n my parents room with her own litter box. Introductions blown, now what?

Just go back to the beginning. Give Anita her own room as planned, and act as though the accidental meetings/fights never happened. The process may take a bit longer now, but you haven't blown it. Definitely get Feliway diffusers plugged in around the house. If Katherine or Anita seem particularly riled up or stressed by the fights then Composure liquid or treats might be worth a go. Make sure each cat gets an equal amount of playtime and attention, so neither feels pushed out.

These articles may help :-
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/the-ultimate-yet-simplified-guide-to-introducing-cats
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/introducing-cats-to-cats
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/the-multi-cat-household

Thanks for the reply. It’s good to hear it’s not completely botched. I read something last night that said the first meeting may set the tone for all future relationships which had me scared. Both cats on their own are absolutely sweet hearts. Very affectionate and playful. It’s just my young Katherine turned into seek and destroy killer last night. Super aggressive and picking fights. And the 4 years older and twice her size Anita just wants to hide everywhere. I love my Katherine but I honestly sometimes wonder if it’d all be over if Anita just rolled the young cat and got it over with. The funny part is, I think Anita is avoiding it for a reason. I mean, for as much show and noise as Katherine makes, unless she’s right up in Anita’s face Anita doesn’t even seem to notice it. Not even a slight ear move. She just goes about her business sniffing around. It’s only when Katherine decides to stalk Anita, or otherwise attack or corner her that things become an issue. It also doesn’t help that Anita is less sure about the people in the house than Katherine was. She warms up fast but at first Anita would rather be under a table or a bed.

Luckily this morning Katherine had scheduled her free vet exam that came with her when we got her from Animal control. So for an hour or two there was literally no one else in the house and the door was open for Anita to come explore the rest of the house. Bad news is Katherine has ear mites. And we’re waiting for the results of routine blood tests. With myself and my father at work all day today, Anita won’t have to worry about anything until Katherine and mom come back from the vet. When I texted later to ask how things were going, I was told Anita was in a room behind a closed door. So my little blood thirsty death kitty can roam the house and chill a bit, and Anita isn’t being jumped, hissed, and growled at.

I'm sorry if I'm misunderstanding, but it sounds like you'd only had Katherine a few days before Anita came home. Is that right? If it is, that in itself could explain dome of Katherine's aggression. She'd barely had any time to settle in when she was suddenly confronted with another cat. Don't get me wrong, I think it's great you've got Anita too. I'm just trying to explain things from Katherine's viewpoint.

Basically, all you're dealing with is major terratorial insecurity. Poor girl to have ear mites to deal with too.

I think spend lots of time at the scent and site swapping phase (as described in the articles I posted). Definitely try Composure for Katherine for the time being - it sounds like she needs to chill a bit. I forgot to mention the importance of interactive play too. Try to give both cats at least one play session a day - two is better, and some cats need even more. Toys like Da Bird (or other fishing rod style toys) are ideal for this, but anything that keeps your hands a long way from their claws is fine. You just need to be sure they're killing the toy instead of your hand

The point of play is that it will drain energy in a positive way (so less energy to stress about/fight with the other cat) and it's the quickest, easiest way to build self confidence and confidence in the territory. This is especially true if you can mimic the hunt-kill-eat cycle - anywhere a cat catches and eats it's prey becomes its territory.

These articles explain the most effective way to play with a cat :-
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/playing-with-your-cat-ten-things-every-cat-owner-needs-to-know
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/cat-play-the-rules-of-the-game

They will settle eventually - it just takes patience. Other members here have had much bigger fights than you describe from impromptu meetings during introductions. It doesn't mean the cats will never get on (though they may never be best friends - happiness to co exist is the aim, and anything more is a bonus). I think the record I've seen for introductions is a full year to achieve integration. Don't panic...that length of time isn't normal It just proves that with enough patience things can work out.

I'd also look at the house from a cat's perspective. As far as possible, block off spaces under/behind things where a cat could get cornered, and try to remove any dead ends by making use of vertical space with cats trees, cat shelves etc. Vertical space give the cats more areas to own, and more space to get away from each other if needed.

Just hang in there, stay calm, and keep the faith that things can and will work out.

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Thank you again for the response. It’s good to know there’s still hope. And you’re right, we picked up Katherine on Saturday and picked up Anita on Wednesday. If Katherine was an impromptu purchase, Anita really was. We got Katherine on a 50/50 chance of picking up another cat. We got Anita while looking for supplies for Katherine. Since bringing Katherine home she seems to have picked a liking particularly to me, and my room. She’ll greet me when I am home, become my shadow, sleep on my chest, lay next to me. I was the first she’d lap with and socialize with. When she was scared of something she’d run to me and she wouldn’t get into rooms or window sills unless I invited her. Now we have Anita, and I have to admit, last night all Katherine did once Anita was shut in another room, was lay on my bed and stare out the door. I guess it’s good to know as far as Katherine is concerned I’m apparently her human, and that my room is apparently a safe place. Now I feel bad for breaking up a cat fight in my room. Katherine was probably protecting her holy safe place.  

Don't feel bad. It's never a great idea to let cats fight it out. You had no choice but to break them up.

I laid things out like that so that you could understand the motivation behind the fighting. In my experience, you can't work effectively on behavioural issues without understanding the motivation behind the behaviour.

Katherine and Anita are lucky to have found you. You're doing everything right - mistakes and accidents happen. Don't dwell on the past - I can guarantee you that the cats aren't. Move forward and give it time

Thanks Columbine. it's good to hear you say that. i'll go home tonight and assess the situation. it's just something that cant be rushed i guess. i'll give katherine some more love and attention tonight, make sure i play with her. i think part of the take away is if she does feel my room is safe, respecting that and if she defends it. i'll keep you updated if anything changes.

[VIDEO][/VIDEO]So we’ve kept Katherine and Anita separated. Best I could tell Anita pretty much lives under my parent’s bed. I’m told at night she’s very loving and social but I don’t ever see her. Things have progressed however to a point that Katherine is no longer immediately bolting for Anita every time the door is open and picking a fight. If she’s in the room she’ll definitely look and stare at her, but she won’t immediately chase down and cause a fight. There’s even a few times when she can be in the room and if she hasn’t seen Anita, she’ll just go about her business. Anita on the other hand lives under that bed. I have found however that with some coaxing you can convince Anita out. If you do, she’s reluctant to leave the room but she will be social. She purrs VERY loudly. She’s super sweet and affectionate. She’s the kind of cat that lights to cuddle, roll on her back, and become jelly. If you pick her up and walk to a couch other than being a little worried she wont put up a fight. In fact worst she does is the dead weight protest. On the couch she’ll immediately turn into purring jelly and cant get enough affection. That is until Katherine is seen. If possible Anita runs back under the bed. If not, she hisses at Katherine and of course Katherine responds. If Katherine sees Anita under the bed she might go on to investigate, and at some point Anita defends it. I’ve got a video of a fight that happened while Anita was being social with me finally. Katherine had just come up the stairs and they spotted each other. Anita hissed, Katherine responded. So be it. I hope the video uploads. On the plus side of things we can now leave doors open without cat fights or stalking. The down side is they still aren’t friendly and Anita still lives under that bed.

I would suggest that you block off under the bed so Anita can't hide and trap herself. If she's hiding then she's living in fear.

From the video, I'd say that the two cats aren't ready to socialise or accept each other. Anita's hissing is her saying she feels threatened when Katherine appears. She's basically telling Katherine to back off because she can't cope. Katherine is still the instigator - she's on the lookout for Anita the second she enters the room. It's all about territory, and Anita is the loser every time.

At this stage, I'd still be looking to keep them apart. Neither cat is ready to accept the other. Go back a step or two and proceed more slowly. If you haven't already tried it, Composure liquid or treats might help to chill them both out a little, so they can more readily accept each other.

Patience, patience and more patience is what it takes. It's always so tempting to rush things, but it never pays off. Good luck.

Welcome and you have received great help from Columbine and please do read over the links that she posted. This is not hopeless but the problem now lies in that the cats whom both being new to the home and stressed by the huge changes in their lives, have been fighting thus potentially damaging their relationships. They MUST be completely separated as if you have on ONE cat at this point. Give each cat their own place, their own safe place to be and do not allow them to even see each other for at least two weeks time. Being that both are newly adopted within a few days of each other, they need time to adjust and feel safe in the new home. The more you allow these negative meetings and confrontations to erupt, the more damage to their long term relationship. AND, do know that there are a very, very few (small percentage) of cats that can't accept or tolerate another type of cat personality. You don't know the history behind these cats? and if they have had extremely negative experiences with other cats in the past, then it will take even longer for them to become friends and will take a GIANT amount of patience on your part and work on your part to monitor their interactions.

I would start over. Keep them confined from each other for at least two weeks. Get the ear mites all cleared, stools checked, and give them time to just settle into the new home without the pressure and energy of another new cat trying to adjust as well. This is not the same as you bringing home a new cat to your already established resident cat. Two new adult cats, a few days apart, and a new territory is just all too much for them to manage.

You can swap out beds, blankets, and toss a rubbed sock with each other's scent in their territories. Use a grooming brush on one cat and allow the other cat to sniff it OR just put it on the floor and let the other investigate it on their own. If no hissing, you can even brush each other with the same brush to transfer scent that way but some don't agree with this as I do. Swap out territories too. Allowing Katherine in Anita's room and allowing Anita in the rest of the house for an hour or so. After scents are accepted this way then I would move on to the visual part of introductions. After two weeks time or more as long as no hissing at scents, I would look into installing a screen type door on your parent's bedroom so the cats can see each other but not make contact. All of these stages and steps are going to take a few weeks time for each, I would think. Since the initial introductions went negatively, then it is going to take even longer now to begin again. It can work, I think, but certainly Katherine is obsessed with going after Anita. And most likely, that is just transferred stress of her new life and is having trouble dealing. I think and hope things between them can work but I would keep them completely apart for a few weeks as you migrate through the stages of introductions. It can potentially take months for some. :nod: But, it is so worth it for life long happy cat relationships.

Again, look over the links Columbine listed above. OH Are the cats spayed????? If not, therein lies the issue!

It’s just an awful situation all around. I’m waiting for my parents patience to completely run out. I know one night Anita was locked in there she used the cat box and was I guessing it was particularly odery. And I’ve been told when she does use her box she likes to kick out gravel. I guess last night more than gravel was kicked out. I’m also told last night Katherine somehow got into the room while they were sleeping, jumped on the bed and across both people just so she could sit at the end of the bed and stare over the edge. The people were not amused to be a cat highway. I feel bad because Anita really is just a super sweet cat. As much as I love my kitten, in some ways Anita was a much better fit for this crowd. She doesn’t want to play she just wants to sit next to you or lay next to you (not on you) and be loved. Or just be, there. Instead I’ve got a cat hiding for dear life living every day in fear and there’s nothing I can do about it. All the while Katherine is getting the run of the place. She’s EVERYWHERE. I just wish there was some way to help Anita gain some confidence for herself, and maybe roll that little kitten. To want to come out and claim territory as hers instead of consistently retreating. On the flip side I will say Katherine has changed too. Katherine has now been at the house a week. The first 4 days she was a solo cat. During that time she was extremely affectionate. At night she’d run to my room and want nothing more than to be stroked. It was really easy to get her to come and sit on my lap and be stroked. Super loving cat. In the days since Anita’s arrival I’ve had to break up a few cat fights, yell at Katherine (before I didn’t have to yell…she’s getting ballsier and bolder) to get off tables and countertops, I’ve shot her in the butt a few times with a squirt pistol when she was picking a fight or on a table she shouldn’t be on. And it feels like our dynamic has changed. It used to be whenever I reached my hand out to her she’d be heading her head out to be stroked. Now unless it’s painfully obvious she wants something else when I reach out for her she pulls back. I can still pet her and once I start petting she’ll get into it, but it’s definitely not her first goal anymore. I don’t know if before I had super excited, overly stimulated kitten and this is now her in a more honest and relaxed state. Or if I’ve somehow changed the relationship. She’ll still follow me around the house and to bed. But now she wants to sleep at the end of the bed instead of on me being stroked. She’s warmed up to being on dad’s lap more. She doesn’t always listen to commands anymore. She’s now just a shadow that occasionally lets me pet her.

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Feralvr,

                Anita is a 5 year old seal point and she’s spayed. Katherine is a 1 year old torbie(?)  and she is not. In fact, next week she’ll go in to be spayed. It was part of her adoption process and fee. Do you think once she’s spayed things will change? I know she’ll come up with a blue fabric cone of shame from what I’ve seen. And sadly I don’t know the history of either cat. Katherine came from Animal control where they had moderately more information than Anita had at Petsmart. For example Katherine came with paperwork that said she was good with other cats, hid from kids, and was dropped off at Animal control just 3 or 4 days before we picked her up. She was also chipped at the time of adoption. Anita on the other hand had paperwork that simply said she was spayed, and to not be surprised part of her ear was missing as other clients have noticed. There’s a small but removed from her left ear, like it was lost in a fight. But her right hear has a clear flat line across it instead of a point because at least a quarter to half an inch of ear is missing. We have no idea how many homes she’s been in or what they were like. Katherine is only 1ish, and we know she’s been in 2 other homes during that time. Anita is 5, and I know it’s harder to adopt out older cats. From behavior I know Katherine like to take a mouth food of food out of her dish, take it away someplace, and then drop it so she can eat smaller amounts on the floor. If you give her a treat she’ll snatch and take it away to eat it. It’s almost like she’s hording, or scrounging. Like she’s had to fight for a share or something if that makes sense. She won’t just eat from a bowl. Anita on the other hand likes her bowl, but eats TONS when she eats. The girl has an appetite.

Right...

Yes, Katherine getting spayed will make a huge difference. Hormones cause all kinds of trouble. Katherine being 1 explains some of her behaviour too - she's a teenager, and looking to push the boundaries. She needs a ton of play to drain energy effectively, and very clear boundaries. Stop using a water gun with her - all it will do is make her scared of you. You're seeing some of that already. She'll come around again if you alter your discipline methods. These articles discuss appropriate ways to change behaviour http://www.thecatsite.com/a/get-off-how-to-discourage-your-cat-from-jumping-on-counters
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/the-dos-and-donts-of-cat-behavior-modification
Katherine's messy eating really isn't indicative of anything in particular. My bsh does exactly the same, and so did his late brother. Some cats just like throwing their food around Conversely, it's Anita's eating behaviour that speaks of having had to fight for food - she eats just like Asha does (more on Asha below).

Anita - the point off her right ear indicates that she was part of a tnr programme - meaning she was feral, semi feral or living on the streets for some time. Often in these colonies the timid ones can end up battered because they're picked on by the stronger members of the group. It's very possible that she was taken in and socialised and then put up for rehoming. Asha (my youngest) was bullied and beaten up by another semi feral before I got her. It made her very wary and nervy around my other cat. I'm lucky in that he's very secure and well mannered (13 year old who's been with us from kittenhood), and respected her need for space. Katherine, however, is being a typical hormonal teenager, and is most likely a more confident and outgoing character than Anita to start with.

I can understand your parents not being thrilled about Anita's and Katherine's nighttime antics. Is there any way that Anita could be given a different room? It doesn't have to be a bedroom - any room that has a door that shuts properly is fine.

Please try and stick it out with both cats. They deserve a forever home, and there's no reason why they shouldn't coexist happily in time. Do as much as you can to provide vertical space via shelving, multiple cat trees etc. The more vertical space you make available, the bigger your home actually is from your cats' perspective. I can't stress enough how crucial interactive play is for both cats...particularly Katherine. A tired cat is less likely to fight or get into trouble. Look into Jackson Galaxy's Spirit Essences range too. Knowing more about your situation, I think both cats might really benefit from them - at least for the duration of the introduction process.

I do understand how tough this can be - especially when living with parents who aren't necessarily on the same page as you about the cats (I'm at home due to chronic health issues, and I've clashed with mum and dad over various things more times than I can count). There is always a way through if you're all prepared to compromise, especially if you're able to explain clearly why you want to make certain changes.

Good luck

The straight across ear tip on Anita is from a TNR organization and likely that she was a stray, trapped and ear tipped, and returned back out OR many TNR orgs. do work with Petsmart. Anita could have been trapped, spayed/ear tipped, and then they found out she was a loving and friendly cat so off to Petsmart she went. The org. I work with uses Petsmart all the time to adopt out friendlies. :nod:

Please do read carefully the above posts. The only way for this to work is to completely separate the two cats completely. Katherine should NOT in any uncertain terms be allowed anywhere near Anita right now or it will go from bad to worse, I fear. We will just keep going around and around here if you do not. IF you do not have separate rooms to confine them too. And, Katherine should not have the run of the house, while Anita hides in fear under a bed all day. Actually, Katherine should be the one in the room and Anita the one out of the room OR in another room. I have also used large cat enclosures for introductions where one cat stays in a large/tall cage. OR get two of these http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_s...refix=midwest+cat,aps,166&tag=&tag=thecatsite and each cat has their own. What some people miss, is that these cats are so much better off in YOUR home than in the shelter environment even if they are in a cage for a few weeks. It is not cruel to cage them or confine them to a "safe" place. The use of the large cage (s) will solve the problem of the cats and the litter everywhere in your parent's room.

Since you adopted two adult cats days apart then this is how I would do it. Anita will never adjust and they will never become friends if she can't even feel safe and learn about her new home without Katherine's taunting, confrontations, chases and stalks. I am only trying to help you here and feel strongly that this is what needs to happen for the two cats to now become friends way down the road.

Both of these cats are stressed right now. Katherine is showing her stress by dominating and coming on strong while Anita is a more fearful, introverted cat and easily a target.

Siamese cats are very sensitive too. I had one. They can be high maintenance and highly unnerved. Anita needs her privacy, needs to feel safe in her new home and come out of hiding knowing she will be secure and not attacked or she potentially will become very unstable, mentally.

Katherine should have been kept confined until such time as she is spayed also. Her hormones could be driving her aggression towards Anita as well. Side note: I don't use cones unless the female cat is really licking the incision, btw. But, have it on hand for sure, just in case. I hope some of this helps with your situation. Best of luck!!!!

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Columbine,

                I get the impression part of you is going, “oi vey. What is that yank across the pond doing to those poor cats”. I’m not a horrible person I swear! And despite how Katherine sometimes meows at me until I pet her, I’m trying not to neglect them either. When I said rusty cat owner I meant it. The cats I had at a kid died when I was in college as very old cats (like 18). I was in kindergarten when the brothers showed up and they showed up as baby fresh kittens a day apart (mom was still birthing), and the Siamese showed up in third grade. Much of what I remember of those cats is from middle school and high school. This whole, young cat thing and introducing cat thing is so new and complicated to me. Just like aging parents is a new, scary, frustrating, sometimes funny, thing to me.  Point is don’t lose hope in my yet Columbine! And know I really appreciate all your help and suggestions. I’ve been getting cat trees, feliway, toys, avoiding laser lights (as I’m told they are frustrating to cats), and so on. I don’t want to scare you off. You’ve been very kind in giving me help and it’s very much appreciated.

arcticcat907 I'm so sorry that I gave you that impression. I'm not thinking that at all...I get how hard it is, and I really am sympathetic. I know I can come across a bit too direct at times - its just the way my mind works. I haven't lost hope. I (and others) will stick with you through the process. It's simply that, unless you fully separate the two of them at this point, you could be making much bigger problems further down the track. It's so much easier to get it right now than it is to fix problems once they've become more established. Believe me - I've made more mistakes than I can count over the years with my various animals. I'm just trying to help you not make as many with your gorgeous girls

This is ms. Anita actually being social. We locked Katherine in my room since she likes it there anyways, and let Anita out to enjoy the house for a few days.

Beautiful girl :heart3: Hopefully she'll be able to gain some confidence in her new territory now that Katherine can't go after her. Definitely the right move :nod:

ArcticCat907 said:

This is ms. Anita actually being social. We locked Katherine in my room since she likes it there anyways, and let Anita out to enjoy the house for a few days.

image.jpg

• arcticcat907
• Jun 8, 2015

Click to expand...

AWWW She is beautiful and looks completely relaxed an happy. I, also, am glad that you put Katherine in another room and allowing Anita some more room to move around the house.

Also - after seeing a close-up of her ears, that is NOT from a TNR vet ear tip. Her ears must have either been frost bit or injured or an old infection took the tips down a bit. I have seen this before on some cats who have had a bit of a hard life outdoors. SOOOOO Glad you have taken her in and Katherine too. Just take things MEGA MEGA MEGA slow, slower than you want, and let the cats be your guide and compass. They always know better than us, anyway. :bigwink:

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Feralvr,
Anita really is a sweet and beautiful cat when she wants to be social. I’ve always loved blue eyes on a cat and for the most part I find that talkative, mouthy nature kind of fun. One of the things I like about Anita is she’s basically a big fuzzy ball of putty. For example if she’s standing on a couch cushion and you softly push her onto her side, she’ll stay there and let you pet her. Katherine doesn’t like to be molded or man handled. If you pick up Anita and place her on your lap, in your arm, in between you and the couch, she’ll just lay there. Katherine cant’ wait to get away. The other day I took Anita into my room and laid on the bed. I grabbed her and put her between my arm and me. I figured first moment she got she’d bolt. Nope, I fell asleep for an hour and a half and woke up with that fuzzy puff ball still purring where I left her. Had it been Katherine the first moment she had to do something else she would have. I also LOVE how loudly Anita purrs. It sounds like a small, well tuned truck. As a personality quirk that’s neat she liked to have her belly and chest rubbed. Most cats hate it but if you get into petting Anita she slowly stretches out, then rolls on her back. At the height of kitty love her back feet will stretch way out and she’ll lift her chin up (away from her chest) as far as she can. I really wish she’d socialize more.

As far as a “forever” home that depends a lot on Anita. I know her comfort level and such is a lot like pregnancy, the tides, or the rising of the sun. It’s not something that can be willed or rushed. To try is a frustrating, futile endeavor that will just leave everyone involved hurt and angry. That said, there are limitations when someone has to decide when to choose another course of action. If the baby is taking too long to deliver they might consider C-Section. If the Tide is out too long, you might consider another form of transportation. If the sun rise is going to be too far away, you may find a flash light. In short, you abandon your previous endeavor for one more fruitful. Let me tell you how my night went to help explain all of this.

One of the things that really separates Anita from Katherine is her litter box habits. Katherine is a relatively neat cat. She barely tracks anything out,  and she buries her business so it’s never smelly or visible. Anita on the other hand is a very messy litter box user. Her biggest issue is she likes to kick a lot of gravel material, and sometimes her business, out of the box. And she doesn’t bury anything so it’s very visible and frankly smelly. When she was living in my parents room I’m told she would loudly use the box, and then jump on the bed and right up to sleep on the pillow which grosses my parents out as they debate how clean she is as she sits 6 inches from their face… Because she was so messy, and happened to kick out more than just gravel her last night there, the floor had to be vacuumed and cleaned. Both cats were put into separate cat carriers so the machines could be used. My dad suddenly had the bright idea to put them face to face because no one could get at or hurt the other one and there was nowhere to run so they’d finally sort it out. You can breathe. I promptly told him that everything I’ve been told on forums was to NEVER let them see each other. That putting them face to face was the exact opposite thing we needed to do. So instead they sat in their crates unable to look at each other and never saw each other all night during the process.

After the floor was cleaned the food, water, and cat box was moved to my room and Katherine was thrown in. She likes my room anyways and commonly hangs out in there. Not so much any other room as she does that room so it’s clearly a safe place for her. And unlike Anita, Katherine doesn’t spend her time hiding under the bed. She’s on the bed, off the bed, in the window, on my desk, getting into general trouble. It’s a pretty laid back experience for her. The advice on the forums was to put the more aggressive, confident, and comfortable cat away and to allow the scaredy puss time to acclimate to her new environment. Maybe rub up against some furniture so she could say it was hers. So that’s what we did. We also promptly shut Mom’s door so Anita couldn’t run back under the bed and hide.

Well yup, when we release Anita first thing she did was run for mom’s room which was closed, than my room which was closed, and then down stairs to under a table we have a wifi printer on. Okay, she’s in a new place, there’s been trauma, I get it. Over the course of a few hours she came out and was lovey lovey social. But the moment someone goes to get up, moves too quickly, makes a strange noise, something happens outside the house (like it was windy last night) she slinks back under that table. Once there it’s hard to coax her out. She slept all night outside the bedrooms. She had the entire house to herself people and other cat free. I got up a few minutes early to use the bathroom to find her waiting on a chair just outside my door. The chair gave her a good vantage point of both doors so I don’t think she was looking for other cat I think she was looking for people. The moment I stepped out it was “meow, meow, meow, meow”. I seriously thought she was going to get someone else up. I was going to go back into my room with Katherine but Anita was loud and wouldn’t leave me alone. I had to sit on the couch and wait until someone else got up that she could follow around before I could slip away.

Later when I went to take a shower I found kitty litter all over the bathroom floor. It’s a fairly large bathroom which is why we stuck the catbox in there. I spoke to my mother about how the forums say this can take weeks, to months, and how I didn’t know how long dad would hold out. His patience like his temper is usually the shortest of the group. I know last night he already made the comment that he wasn’t going to live forever with a cat that spent it’s whole time living under a bed or a table. If he couldn’t enjoy cat ownership and had to walk on eggshells forever he’d just as soon return the animal as a “defective cat”. My mother point out to me that such was true in her forums too. And that she also suspects Anita only has a few more weeks before she thinks the support and patience of some of the adult humans in the house is gone. She also brought up the messy catbox thing and worried that as Anita ages, it’s likely to get worse. An 16, or 18 year old Anita may miss the box and be a messy affair. I suspect my already 60+ year old mother is not looking forward to getting on her hands and knees at nearly 80 to pick up cat waste and try and clean the floors. Katherine is another story because she’s young, and I think to some extent if I moved out by stayed nearby for my parents, Katherine would be coming with me. So it really depends on Anita what her future is. We’ll give her run of the house Alone a few days (like a week or two) to figure stuff out, but I think the idea of things running long into July isn’t going to happen.