Kirsten
11-30-2006, 03:22 PM
Luna has never been a very active cat, but ever since Lily has moved in (more than three years ago), Luna has stopped playing. (The only exception is chasing the spot of a laser pointer, a game we call "kitty light").
However, before Lily moved in, Luna loved to play with a dry piece of soil from the flower pot. I don't know why she loved that piece so much, but she would bring it to me in her mouth, and I would throw it again, and she jumped for it, played a while and brought it back to me; like a little dog, you know. (Lily, btw, does the same with tampons! LOL :o)
Luna stopped playing this game when Lily arrived, and when Lily spent a day at the vet's because of "her" surgery, Luna surprised me by bringing me that piece of soil (from wherever she has been hiding it), and we played as we once did. That day, I already suspected that she would never play again with Lily around...
Well, this is three years ago now, and today, I started a new try (I still have this particular piece of soil). When I threw it, Lily played with it first, but I noticed that Luna was also interested, so I put it down in front of her. She sniffed it, and bat it around with her paw, but all the time, she kept an eye on Lily and didn't play.
Then I did something mean: I pretended I would throw it out of the room, so Lily ran out and I closed the door behind her. :o When I was alone with Luna, she immediately started playing "our" old game, it was really cute and extremely heartwarming. :) However, after a couple of minutes, Lily started howling outside, which distracted Luna and she stopped playing.
This evening has confirmed what I have suspected for a long time: it is because of Lily that Luna doesn't play, and it makes me sad! :( Would Luna be better off without a second kitty? But most of the time, they act like they're good friends! It's only that Lily is much faster than Luna and this may have discouraged her. Also, Lily still forces her to be a mommy cat, she's still suckling!
What do you think about this?
BTW, before you wonder... when I opened the door again and Lily came back, I played "kitty light" with both of them... After all, I don't want Lily to feel left out! ;)
Kirsten
However, before Lily moved in, Luna loved to play with a dry piece of soil from the flower pot. I don't know why she loved that piece so much, but she would bring it to me in her mouth, and I would throw it again, and she jumped for it, played a while and brought it back to me; like a little dog, you know. (Lily, btw, does the same with tampons! LOL :o)
Luna stopped playing this game when Lily arrived, and when Lily spent a day at the vet's because of "her" surgery, Luna surprised me by bringing me that piece of soil (from wherever she has been hiding it), and we played as we once did. That day, I already suspected that she would never play again with Lily around...
Well, this is three years ago now, and today, I started a new try (I still have this particular piece of soil). When I threw it, Lily played with it first, but I noticed that Luna was also interested, so I put it down in front of her. She sniffed it, and bat it around with her paw, but all the time, she kept an eye on Lily and didn't play.
Then I did something mean: I pretended I would throw it out of the room, so Lily ran out and I closed the door behind her. :o When I was alone with Luna, she immediately started playing "our" old game, it was really cute and extremely heartwarming. :) However, after a couple of minutes, Lily started howling outside, which distracted Luna and she stopped playing.
This evening has confirmed what I have suspected for a long time: it is because of Lily that Luna doesn't play, and it makes me sad! :( Would Luna be better off without a second kitty? But most of the time, they act like they're good friends! It's only that Lily is much faster than Luna and this may have discouraged her. Also, Lily still forces her to be a mommy cat, she's still suckling!
What do you think about this?
BTW, before you wonder... when I opened the door again and Lily came back, I played "kitty light" with both of them... After all, I don't want Lily to feel left out! ;)
Kirsten