- Joined
- Mar 16, 2017
- Messages
- 11
- Purraise
- 4
Hi everyone!
I am currently (sort of) fostering to adopt a deaf cat named Audrey. Long story, but she's had some bad homes, and I'm hoping this ends up being her forever home. Her original owner is cautious but optimistic. She wants to see how Audrey does here, and if she can be truly happy and well cared for (I think she can). Her original owner can't keep her because her two resident cats pick on Audrey, but she wants to find her a good home after a few bad ones.
Anyhow, Audrey has been here for over a week, and has been following my resident cat Dollie around. She's not chasing her, but if Audrey sees Dollie heading somewhere, she'll get up and follow her. She always stays near Dollie, and will just sit and watch what she's doing. When Dollie goes somewhere else, Audrey follows. Dollie doesn't seem to mind, and doesn't seem upset by it, maybe just a little perplexed at times. She is being great with Audrey and I'm very proud of her.
They are newly acquainted, so there is still some growling when they approach each other too closely (a foot or two), mostly from Audrey. Very little hissing or any of that, and that's usually from Dollie. Audrey has swiped at Dollie once or twice, but she was totally declawed by one of her bad owners, and doesn't hurt Dollie, and it was only when Dollie was forced to walk right past Audrey to get somewhere. It does seem like Audrey sets herself between Dollie and the exits to the room they're in at times, but she always allows Dollie to pass without incident, for the most part. Dollie does not reciprocate, and does not follow Audrey at all. Dollie does stare back/watch Audrey if Audrey is watching Dollie though. And what I find interesting is that Dollie often if not almost always has her back to Audrey, or is playing/eating/dozing/etc. I often pet and coo to Dollie to show Audrey that Dollie is okay, and that getting loving is a good thing.
When not interacting like this, they act normally, sleep in their own beds, eat their own food, etc. I have noticed that they are sharing a litter box though, even though I have another one. No one wants to use it though, even though Dollie used to use that box.
I think Audrey is still (understandably) uneasy because of her past history with other cats, but I get the sense that Audrey wants to be friendlier with Dollie. It just seems like she doesn't know what to do, how to be friends, and so is asserting herself. She's also tried out Dollie's bed (Audrey has her own nice bed), and Dollie wasn't too happy, but again, there was no fighting. And since Audrey is deaf, maybe she's taking longer to figure out how to interact with another cat on friendly terms (since the other cats in her life weren't very friendly).
One important thing: I was going to do a nice, show introduction with them, but my husband accidentally let the cat (Dollie) out of the bag (the basement, where she was overnight until I could start the process) at like 4:30 in the morning, and there was a minor altercation in the dark. I think either Dollie encountered Audrey and scratched her in offense, thinking her an intruder, or Audrey attacked Dollie and Dollie swiped back in defense. Either way, there's been no physical fighting since then, only the growling at times and rare moments of hissing by Dollie.
Does anyone know what this behavior is about? Audrey always starts off looking alert, with her tail tucked around her, but quickly lays down and sometimes closes her eyes while she "watches" Dollie. I'll post some pictures of them near each other. I can tell when it gets tense, and I try to distract them with treats and loving, but I don't have to do that very often. I've already gotten Audrey purring a few times, and she's scent marking stuff in the house, but has yet to head butt me or rub on me :-(
Anyhow, I find it all so fascinating!
I am currently (sort of) fostering to adopt a deaf cat named Audrey. Long story, but she's had some bad homes, and I'm hoping this ends up being her forever home. Her original owner is cautious but optimistic. She wants to see how Audrey does here, and if she can be truly happy and well cared for (I think she can). Her original owner can't keep her because her two resident cats pick on Audrey, but she wants to find her a good home after a few bad ones.
Anyhow, Audrey has been here for over a week, and has been following my resident cat Dollie around. She's not chasing her, but if Audrey sees Dollie heading somewhere, she'll get up and follow her. She always stays near Dollie, and will just sit and watch what she's doing. When Dollie goes somewhere else, Audrey follows. Dollie doesn't seem to mind, and doesn't seem upset by it, maybe just a little perplexed at times. She is being great with Audrey and I'm very proud of her.
They are newly acquainted, so there is still some growling when they approach each other too closely (a foot or two), mostly from Audrey. Very little hissing or any of that, and that's usually from Dollie. Audrey has swiped at Dollie once or twice, but she was totally declawed by one of her bad owners, and doesn't hurt Dollie, and it was only when Dollie was forced to walk right past Audrey to get somewhere. It does seem like Audrey sets herself between Dollie and the exits to the room they're in at times, but she always allows Dollie to pass without incident, for the most part. Dollie does not reciprocate, and does not follow Audrey at all. Dollie does stare back/watch Audrey if Audrey is watching Dollie though. And what I find interesting is that Dollie often if not almost always has her back to Audrey, or is playing/eating/dozing/etc. I often pet and coo to Dollie to show Audrey that Dollie is okay, and that getting loving is a good thing.
When not interacting like this, they act normally, sleep in their own beds, eat their own food, etc. I have noticed that they are sharing a litter box though, even though I have another one. No one wants to use it though, even though Dollie used to use that box.
I think Audrey is still (understandably) uneasy because of her past history with other cats, but I get the sense that Audrey wants to be friendlier with Dollie. It just seems like she doesn't know what to do, how to be friends, and so is asserting herself. She's also tried out Dollie's bed (Audrey has her own nice bed), and Dollie wasn't too happy, but again, there was no fighting. And since Audrey is deaf, maybe she's taking longer to figure out how to interact with another cat on friendly terms (since the other cats in her life weren't very friendly).
One important thing: I was going to do a nice, show introduction with them, but my husband accidentally let the cat (Dollie) out of the bag (the basement, where she was overnight until I could start the process) at like 4:30 in the morning, and there was a minor altercation in the dark. I think either Dollie encountered Audrey and scratched her in offense, thinking her an intruder, or Audrey attacked Dollie and Dollie swiped back in defense. Either way, there's been no physical fighting since then, only the growling at times and rare moments of hissing by Dollie.
Does anyone know what this behavior is about? Audrey always starts off looking alert, with her tail tucked around her, but quickly lays down and sometimes closes her eyes while she "watches" Dollie. I'll post some pictures of them near each other. I can tell when it gets tense, and I try to distract them with treats and loving, but I don't have to do that very often. I've already gotten Audrey purring a few times, and she's scent marking stuff in the house, but has yet to head butt me or rub on me :-(
Anyhow, I find it all so fascinating!