Lilly is still pretty reserved.
She was turned in to Paws at about 3 weeks. We guess that whoever fostered her either didn't have cats, or had uninterested cats. We got her the day after she was returned to Paws to be spayed. She reacted poorly to the other kittens in the room, but we figured she had just been spayed.
We did try to take her to our friend's for a play date with her foster kittens, but she was freaked out. We figured it was because it was not her turf.
It was also clear early that she had not been socialized by other cats because she didn't understand that biting and clawing hurt. She was clearly not taught.
When she was 2 we decided one cat wasn't enough for 3 cat lovers, so we adopted brothers (it is nice to have a friend who fosters).
When we brought Pippin and Domino home Lilly was terrified of them. Pretty freaky to see a grown cat displaying that discomfort to a 2 pound fur ball. And the kittens did all of the proper submissive things, they weren't aggressive or anything.
It was about a month before she stopped being afraid of them. She started by watching them play, looking just like a sulky teenager. She graduated to playing with them a little, when we weren't looking. If she saw us watching, she would stop. She still isn't wholehearted, but she does engage, and stopped hissing if they run up to her. She still doesn't get that touching noses is a greeting.
We really weren't planning on getting another cat. But Saturday when we went to our friends for a visit Sophia chose Travis. Our friend had them because they weren't adopted right after their spays, and they were not eating well at the shelter.
Supposedly Sophia was shy and not really a lap cat. But she climbed right up in Travis's lap. When we changed rooms, she followed and climbed up in his lap. Every time he moved she would get back in his lap once he settled. Jill and Travis lobbied hard, and said they would help more with the cat boxes, etc. I was resistant. But, Travis has been missing our senior cat Pippi for a long time. She was his baby lap cat.
They were going back to Homeward Pets on Sunday, so we got there when they opened and picked her up. Our friend said we can't go over to her house any more
We expected Lilly would be bent, but she has been amazingly tolerant. It has been less than a week and she appears fairly mellow about Sophia. Funnily enough Pippin was totally jealous. He sat and watched Sophia in a very indignant fashion for a couple of days. Sophia started making friends with the boys as quickly as possible and they are already playing actively with her. Lilly is still mostly watching, but it seems like she is playing more with the boys than she was. Eventually I think the 3 kittens will win her over. They are all fascinated by her.
Here is picture of Domino and Sophia after she stole a piece of cheese from Travis:
She was turned in to Paws at about 3 weeks. We guess that whoever fostered her either didn't have cats, or had uninterested cats. We got her the day after she was returned to Paws to be spayed. She reacted poorly to the other kittens in the room, but we figured she had just been spayed.
We did try to take her to our friend's for a play date with her foster kittens, but she was freaked out. We figured it was because it was not her turf.
It was also clear early that she had not been socialized by other cats because she didn't understand that biting and clawing hurt. She was clearly not taught.
When she was 2 we decided one cat wasn't enough for 3 cat lovers, so we adopted brothers (it is nice to have a friend who fosters).
When we brought Pippin and Domino home Lilly was terrified of them. Pretty freaky to see a grown cat displaying that discomfort to a 2 pound fur ball. And the kittens did all of the proper submissive things, they weren't aggressive or anything.
It was about a month before she stopped being afraid of them. She started by watching them play, looking just like a sulky teenager. She graduated to playing with them a little, when we weren't looking. If she saw us watching, she would stop. She still isn't wholehearted, but she does engage, and stopped hissing if they run up to her. She still doesn't get that touching noses is a greeting.
We really weren't planning on getting another cat. But Saturday when we went to our friends for a visit Sophia chose Travis. Our friend had them because they weren't adopted right after their spays, and they were not eating well at the shelter.
Supposedly Sophia was shy and not really a lap cat. But she climbed right up in Travis's lap. When we changed rooms, she followed and climbed up in his lap. Every time he moved she would get back in his lap once he settled. Jill and Travis lobbied hard, and said they would help more with the cat boxes, etc. I was resistant. But, Travis has been missing our senior cat Pippi for a long time. She was his baby lap cat.
They were going back to Homeward Pets on Sunday, so we got there when they opened and picked her up. Our friend said we can't go over to her house any more
We expected Lilly would be bent, but she has been amazingly tolerant. It has been less than a week and she appears fairly mellow about Sophia. Funnily enough Pippin was totally jealous. He sat and watched Sophia in a very indignant fashion for a couple of days. Sophia started making friends with the boys as quickly as possible and they are already playing actively with her. Lilly is still mostly watching, but it seems like she is playing more with the boys than she was. Eventually I think the 3 kittens will win her over. They are all fascinated by her.
Here is picture of Domino and Sophia after she stole a piece of cheese from Travis:
