But, I've been reading your forums for maybe six months and learned so much - hopefully I've made my cats' lives a little happier by applying a lot of the advice I've read here. Thank you for sharing your knowledge so generously.
I adopted my first cat, Dharma, on July 1, 2006 - she was my very first pet (at the ripe old age of 52). I saw her at the local Petsmart, who were working with our county's animal care and control. She was about four years old, and had been a stray - but obviously came from a home because she was already spayed and had been front declawed (no, I didn't know declawing was so bad, but I wouldn't change her for anything). She's about 6 pounds, solid grey with green eyes.
After a while I thought she might want a friend, since I work all day, and in Ocrober 2006 I adopted Dante, a four year old male who had been picked up as a stray, already neutered and all four feet declawed. Dante's black, with big yellow eyes and was about 15 pounds when I got him - he's now down to 13, and the vet is very happy! The first few weeks of introduction were interesting, but we all sleep together and I just melt when I see them grooming each other (even if it seems to always happen at 2:00 in the morning and Dante's just walked over my sleeping form to say hello to Dharma!)
I have to give a lot of thanks to Wheaton IL Petsmart, DuPage County Animal Care & Control, my vet, and so many real life friends for all the advice and hand-holding they gave me while Dharma, Dante and I were learning to live with each other. My life is so much fuller now than it was, and who cares if I'm putting off a new pair of shoes - at least my kitties both have their own cat trees!
And I do want to thank all of the posters here - there were so many times where I learned new things, or gained reassurance about what I was doing at home. Thanks again!
I adopted my first cat, Dharma, on July 1, 2006 - she was my very first pet (at the ripe old age of 52). I saw her at the local Petsmart, who were working with our county's animal care and control. She was about four years old, and had been a stray - but obviously came from a home because she was already spayed and had been front declawed (no, I didn't know declawing was so bad, but I wouldn't change her for anything). She's about 6 pounds, solid grey with green eyes.
After a while I thought she might want a friend, since I work all day, and in Ocrober 2006 I adopted Dante, a four year old male who had been picked up as a stray, already neutered and all four feet declawed. Dante's black, with big yellow eyes and was about 15 pounds when I got him - he's now down to 13, and the vet is very happy! The first few weeks of introduction were interesting, but we all sleep together and I just melt when I see them grooming each other (even if it seems to always happen at 2:00 in the morning and Dante's just walked over my sleeping form to say hello to Dharma!)
I have to give a lot of thanks to Wheaton IL Petsmart, DuPage County Animal Care & Control, my vet, and so many real life friends for all the advice and hand-holding they gave me while Dharma, Dante and I were learning to live with each other. My life is so much fuller now than it was, and who cares if I'm putting off a new pair of shoes - at least my kitties both have their own cat trees!
And I do want to thank all of the posters here - there were so many times where I learned new things, or gained reassurance about what I was doing at home. Thanks again!