New kid on the block...

ladytee

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Hello everybody,

My name is Tania and I live in Brussels, Belgium. Before that I was in chicago for 8 years, but after my husband and I broke up I decided to move back home (Belgium) to be near my family and friends (the heart needs that kind of balm when it hurts). I had two cats when I moved back, Izzy and Emma. Izzy had originally made the trip over with me 8 years ago and Emma is a little stray I found in the alley in Chicago. It was a pretty traumatizing event for all of us. Izzy was 13 years old and had already been through a bout of fatty liver disease 4-5 years ago (absolutely horrible - had to be tubefed etc.) and a few weeks after getting back to Brussels, she came down with it again. I knew from the onset of the disease that this wasit. I knew instictively that she was dying. I dragged her in and out of the vet's for about a month and finallytook that most terrible of decisions... to have her put to sleep. I can tell you, it was just about the hardest decision I've ever had to take. On top of that I was feeling emotionally wrecked after my separation , which made it even harder. It felt like Izzy and Emma were all I had left. So, on July 8th Izzy went over the Rainbow bridge. Even though Izzy and Emma weren't the best of friends (Izzy was a pretty obnoxious, calico alpha-female who had lived as a single cat for 11 years before having Emma forced on her), they tolerated each other and there were very few incidents. They just kept to themselves most of the time, even though Emma would occasionally try to play... It never really happened, but nonetheless, they were OK together.
After Izzy died I felt like Emma was always looking for her. My human interpretation was that she missed her and was feeling lonely. I did my grieving and a few months later I thought it was time to get a kitten in the house. So, in waltzes Reggie, a 6-month old little tiger.
It is the first time in my life I have a cuddly cat! I have always owned rescued stray females who all seemed to have some sort of psychological problem. He, on the other, hand is what I consider a normal cat. At least, I hope he'll stay like this. From experience, I know that they can change when they reach adulthood.
You can gather that I got him partly because I thought Emma was lonely.
Now you have to understand that Emma has always been terribly afraid of just about anything, especially people and more importantly men. As soon as she hears the doorbell, she's off under the bed and depending on whether it's someone who visits regularly or not, she will stick her head out of the bedroom after about an hour or so. But she always hovers near the bedroom doorway so that she can easily slip unser the ebd in case something freaks her out, which coudl be anything from a knife falling to the floor to my guest goiing to the bathroom. It's absolutely amazing. I even freak her out sometimes, just by making a sudden movement. It's quite sad actually. I have only ever been gentle with her and I'm sure she knows I would never ever hurt her, but it seems to be a reflex that is stronger than her. Well, I guess she is who she is and all I can do is take her for who she is. That's also something I've learned from experience.
Reggi, of course, is a kitten and plays a lot and is rambunctuous and a pest half of the time. He actually bullies her a bit. It used to be that he would try and swat her as she walked by, now he literally piunces on her and needless, to say, she doesn't really defend herself... I wonder if there is anything I can do to stop him from bullying her. I mean, he's still a kitten and I'm hoping I can steer his behaviour into a more gentle approach to Emma. Then again, maybe I'm dreaming...
And why is it that kittens wake up and start causing mayhem, the minute you turn off the lights to sleep? It drives me nuts!
I'd appreciate some help on educating him because he's definitely on the way to becoming a disruptive little alpha male. He is snipped though, can't imagine what it would be like if he weren't!!!
 

dawnofsierra

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Loving my beautiful baby girl
Hi, welcome to TCS, Tania, Emma, and Reggie!
So glad you joined us and look forward to getting to know you better!
Your babies sound so adorable, and I can tell how very much you love them!
You present wonderful questions here, and you may want to go over to our Behavior Forum to post them there, that way our experts will be sure to see it! I would be so happy to help you in any way as you learn your way around the site. Please, simply click on my user name and send me a Private Message!
 

fwan

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welcome to the site


What language do they speak in belgium?
I was there at the petrol station and they didnt speak english but i had no idea what language they spoke in!
 

8catstomany

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Dec 17, 2004
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welcome I'm new here too. Glad to see you are moving through the grief process on lots of levels. Hope all things work out for you. The new kitten will help both of you I think. Also I believe Reggie will calm down as he gets used to the new surroundings. He will get used to the routine of your house and settle in to it. My sister has a new kitten about the same age and he was a holy terror for the first few weeks. He has calmed down and is learning her house rules. Good luck and take extra special care of your self.
Andrea D.
 

huggles

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a bit belated - but..

WELCOME TO TCS


I am so sorry to hear of the loss of Izzy
what a hard decision that must of been for you but you helped her pass to the rainbow bridge and now she is watching over you waiting until you meet again

If you feel you can - it might be nice for you to post a tribute to Izzy in the Rainbow Bridge


Originally Posted by LadyTee

But she always hovers near the bedroom doorway so that she can easily slip unser the ebd in case something freaks her out, which coudl be anything from a knife falling to the floor to my guest goiing to the bathroom. It's absolutely amazing. I even freak her out sometimes, just by making a sudden movement. It's quite sad actually. I have only ever been gentle with her and I'm sure she knows I would never ever hurt her, but it seems to be a reflex that is stronger than her.
This is COMPLETELY the same as my Cedar - its just amazing!!! we have been known to walk out of the bedroom and Cedar hits the roof and tail all puffed up - he is so so timid...

How long have you had Reggi for? Kittens are kittens arent they - they love to bound around and play ALOT!!
maybe your question is about the behaviour of Reggi is best off in the behaviour forum where you will get alot more advise which should hopefully help you.

and about the playing as soon as you turn the lights off - all cats around the world are the same arent they
bless them
I find with my two what helps is a small amount of food just before bedtime - that way they have a full belly and ready to sleep - well thats the plan anyway


welcome again from me & my boys
 
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