The one reservation I've had about Gary moving in, was the cats. Gary has two cats (well, three if you count Charlie, but that's Karen's cat), Galahad and Kayla, both of which had lived their entire lives surrounded by other cats and are used to one another. Dill, meanwhile, has always been a solitary cat. The one time he did see another cat, he marked the entire apartment and refused to talk to Kelly for a week. Not to mention, I knew that Galahad would fight for the alpha male position.
Needless to say, I was worried about the impending brother and sister Dill would be gaining.
We introduced the kitties last night, and I have to say, I am so proud of Dill. He has been the best boy. He's been very gentle and curious, and completely perplexed at why the new guys are so grumpy. Our conversations have been like this:
DILL: Omigod, mom. Did you see? There are other cats here.
ME: I know. Be nice to them, ok?
DILL: Can I smell them? They smell different!
KAYLA: HIIIISSSSSSS
GALAHAD: RRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOORRRR
DILL: WTF?
ME: Leave them alone, buddy. They're freaked out. They're in a brand new place and they don't know you.
DILL: Well, I'm trying to get to know them.
ME: I know you are. But let them come to you.
DILL: Fine.
---
DILL: OK, that was totally not my fault.
ME: I know.
DILL: I was just lying there, leaving them be, when the big one--
ME: Galahad
DILL: --comes up to me and sniffed my butt. I raised my head to reciprocate--
ME: And he hissed at you.
DILL: --AND HE HISSED AT ME. FOR NO REASON.
ME: I know. Dilbert, you're doing so well. You're being so nice and patient with them and I appreciate it so much. I love you the best.
DILL: You'd better.
---
ME: Awwww, look at you guys!
DILL: I know!
ME: Are you friends now?
DILL: I think so! I mean, she's letting me lie here, kind of close to her. She hasn't growled at me for 5 full minutes.
ME: That's great, pickle!
DILL: Maybe I can scootch a leeeetle closer.
KAYLA: HISSSSSSS, Reoooow, Hisssss!
DILL: JESUS!
ME: Oh shit! Are you OK? Kayla, no!
DILL: Bitch crazy!
ME: Oooohh, let me look at you.
DILL: What is her deal?
ME: Oh, it's like I said...she's freaked. Plus, Gary's working today so there's no one familiar here for her.
DILL: Is that any reason for her to violently swat me, when I was just lying there?
ME: No...but give her time.
DILL: And the other one! He's been behind the couch all day!
ME: I know.
DILL: They hate me. I don't know why.
ME: I love you. You're being so awesome.
DILL: Hrumf.
--
Gary seems this will all pass in no more than 5 days, but Christ, I don't know that I can handle 4 more days of this.
Needless to say, I was worried about the impending brother and sister Dill would be gaining.
We introduced the kitties last night, and I have to say, I am so proud of Dill. He has been the best boy. He's been very gentle and curious, and completely perplexed at why the new guys are so grumpy. Our conversations have been like this:
DILL: Omigod, mom. Did you see? There are other cats here.
ME: I know. Be nice to them, ok?
DILL: Can I smell them? They smell different!
KAYLA: HIIIISSSSSSS
GALAHAD: RRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOORRRR
DILL: WTF?
ME: Leave them alone, buddy. They're freaked out. They're in a brand new place and they don't know you.
DILL: Well, I'm trying to get to know them.
ME: I know you are. But let them come to you.
DILL: Fine.
---
DILL: OK, that was totally not my fault.
ME: I know.
DILL: I was just lying there, leaving them be, when the big one--
ME: Galahad
DILL: --comes up to me and sniffed my butt. I raised my head to reciprocate--
ME: And he hissed at you.
DILL: --AND HE HISSED AT ME. FOR NO REASON.
ME: I know. Dilbert, you're doing so well. You're being so nice and patient with them and I appreciate it so much. I love you the best.
DILL: You'd better.
---
ME: Awwww, look at you guys!
DILL: I know!
ME: Are you friends now?
DILL: I think so! I mean, she's letting me lie here, kind of close to her. She hasn't growled at me for 5 full minutes.
ME: That's great, pickle!
DILL: Maybe I can scootch a leeeetle closer.
KAYLA: HISSSSSSS, Reoooow, Hisssss!
DILL: JESUS!
ME: Oh shit! Are you OK? Kayla, no!
DILL: Bitch crazy!
ME: Oooohh, let me look at you.
DILL: What is her deal?
ME: Oh, it's like I said...she's freaked. Plus, Gary's working today so there's no one familiar here for her.
DILL: Is that any reason for her to violently swat me, when I was just lying there?
ME: No...but give her time.
DILL: And the other one! He's been behind the couch all day!
ME: I know.
DILL: They hate me. I don't know why.
ME: I love you. You're being so awesome.
DILL: Hrumf.
--
Gary seems this will all pass in no more than 5 days, but Christ, I don't know that I can handle 4 more days of this.
Labels: Cat Tales
5 Comments:
mine still do it and they've been living together for over 3 years. but it seems as though dill is being the best sport here, which is good because he's the one with the strangers in his house, and therefore the most justified to be pissed off. the other 2 are just confused. once they realize that everyone in their new home is friendly, it should be ok.
yeah, Charlie was very unhappy about being at Karen's, though he did come to see me when I called him. Poor thing... he planted himself right between Karen and I on the floor at dinner (away from the guys) and when I stood up I stepped on him... after that I got hissed at too. But I guess I deserved it!
Say hi to Gary for me, it was good to see him at pennsic! The cats will either get along or just devide up the space, it will be ok.
Will do, K. The good news is that the kitties seem to be adjusting nicely. Kayla was actually the first to come around to Dill and they're now playing with each other! Gally is still a little standoffish but for the most part the growling and hissing has stopped.
Now, to figure out the litter box situation...
you NEED more then one. you can put them right next to eachother but the need more space then just one.
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