Well, I've been thinking about this and decided to post something.
Two weeks ago, my cat Timmer passed away. He and my other cat, Lupita never got along. Lu was here first. I always suspected she was semi-feral or had a feral parent from the skittish way she acts; doesn't like to be held or touched much. Runs when you try to catch her most of the time. I adopted her many years ago with another female cat and they got along fine. That female only lived for four years after my adoption and passed away from kidney failure. That left Lupita alone. I don't think I even waited a week and ran out and adopted Timmer. He was a lovely bengal and very affectionate towards me, but tried to kill her every chance he got. I built a door that they could see each other through but not get to each other, on the second floor landing and Lupita lived upstairs and he lived downstairs. We lived like this for 7, 8 years. I would switch the cats around a couple of times a day so she could come downstairs.
Now that Timmer is gone, she is the only cat in the house. I took that separation door down and she has full run of the house. I noticed she doesn't come downstairs much. She comes down to eat, hangs out with me for about ten minutes and goes back upstairs. She sleeps with me. I work, so I don't know what she does all day. Probably sleeps. I feel like I'm living alone. I go upstairs and try to interact with her but she isn't that interested. I suspect she has been trained to be the upstairs cat after all these years.
I'm starting to get concerned she is depressed. This is the first time in like 12 years she's been the only cat in the house. While she and Tim hated each other, at least they "spoke each other's language." I am sure they talked through the door. It was a gate type door so they did see each other. And after a couple of years, I used to let him upstairs if i was up there. I'd be getting ready for bed and Lupita would hide under the bed. Sometimes I could engage them in play together or treats, but it would always end up in him going after her.
I'm not sure how to handle this. I don't want to get another cat. I'm not ready ... I took Timmer's death VERY hard. He was my little boy and I did what I could for him. It's been two weeks since he died and I still cry daily.
And after what Lupita has been through, I thought she might be better off alone. She's about 13-14 now, skittish. She does seem more relaxed but now and then I find her hiding, like she's afraid he's still here. Bringing another cat into the house might be stressful for her all over again. I'd love it if she would come downstairs and sit with me on the couch, but she doesn't like stuff like that. The only time she comes near me is to snuggle in bed, and then she's all over me.
I'm just not sure what to do.
If anyone has any thoughts or dealt with this before, please tell me your experience or thoughts.
Two weeks ago, my cat Timmer passed away. He and my other cat, Lupita never got along. Lu was here first. I always suspected she was semi-feral or had a feral parent from the skittish way she acts; doesn't like to be held or touched much. Runs when you try to catch her most of the time. I adopted her many years ago with another female cat and they got along fine. That female only lived for four years after my adoption and passed away from kidney failure. That left Lupita alone. I don't think I even waited a week and ran out and adopted Timmer. He was a lovely bengal and very affectionate towards me, but tried to kill her every chance he got. I built a door that they could see each other through but not get to each other, on the second floor landing and Lupita lived upstairs and he lived downstairs. We lived like this for 7, 8 years. I would switch the cats around a couple of times a day so she could come downstairs.
Now that Timmer is gone, she is the only cat in the house. I took that separation door down and she has full run of the house. I noticed she doesn't come downstairs much. She comes down to eat, hangs out with me for about ten minutes and goes back upstairs. She sleeps with me. I work, so I don't know what she does all day. Probably sleeps. I feel like I'm living alone. I go upstairs and try to interact with her but she isn't that interested. I suspect she has been trained to be the upstairs cat after all these years.
I'm starting to get concerned she is depressed. This is the first time in like 12 years she's been the only cat in the house. While she and Tim hated each other, at least they "spoke each other's language." I am sure they talked through the door. It was a gate type door so they did see each other. And after a couple of years, I used to let him upstairs if i was up there. I'd be getting ready for bed and Lupita would hide under the bed. Sometimes I could engage them in play together or treats, but it would always end up in him going after her.
I'm not sure how to handle this. I don't want to get another cat. I'm not ready ... I took Timmer's death VERY hard. He was my little boy and I did what I could for him. It's been two weeks since he died and I still cry daily.
And after what Lupita has been through, I thought she might be better off alone. She's about 13-14 now, skittish. She does seem more relaxed but now and then I find her hiding, like she's afraid he's still here. Bringing another cat into the house might be stressful for her all over again. I'd love it if she would come downstairs and sit with me on the couch, but she doesn't like stuff like that. The only time she comes near me is to snuggle in bed, and then she's all over me.
I'm just not sure what to do.
If anyone has any thoughts or dealt with this before, please tell me your experience or thoughts.
