Schroeder...is up for adoption again #112

[Moesha]

Thanks for the candle.

We had some progress today. Schroeder came over when I woke up this morning and walked on me, ending by standing on my chest. He was purring and even sat down briefly once. I kept waiting for him to turn around and bite my face, but he didn't.

He's let me carry him across the length of the house also.

BUT...he saw Aroara today and that did not go well at all. I had her in the bathroom. I took her out and was holding her. She was hissing at him, but he was ignoring her mostly. I put Aroara down, and she walked away from him. My sister was over visiting and was inside while I stepped outside for just 30 seconds. Aroara came over to the door. Schroeder came sneaking up behind her. When I came in, Schroeder went after Aroara. There was hissing and screeching and running. My sister and I broke them up. I thought Schroeder had run back into his room. I went in there to find him and then my sister said he was in the living room. He went after Aroara again this time behind the couch. I finally got him to go into his room. By then Aroara was so mad she demanded to go outside. I wasn't sure she would come back in tonight. But I just got her back inside. I just don't know if this is going to work out. It kills me to think of him going back and having to live in the cage at PetSmart. He hates that, and he is just getting used to living here.

I also bought him a fishing pole toy that he does enjoy. But he gets worked up playing with that and then he gets worked up when dealing with people. He tries to bite and attack with his claws. He plays rough.

[Cataholic]

I have read things, but maybe not as clearly as I could. I just want to echo again what others have said, but, maybe more strongly. Please be patient with the introductions of two adult cats. The longer the time you can acclimate them to the house- separately, the better off the chances of a smooth transition. Cats are funny. I could not imagine introducing two adult cats to one another in less than a month. Bad first impressions can be lasting impressions. Don't rush it. Kittens- easy peasy. Cats- not so much.

I would get some phernome (sic) plug ins and put them in each room the cats are confined to. I swear by this stuff.

And, lots of extra loves to Aurora, so that she knows she is not being displaced.

Good luck, orangies are so special.

[Moesha]

I found treats that he likes! I bought soft Whisker Lickin's. The only flavor they had was chicken and cheese. I opened them, and he came running as usual. Except this time instead of just looking at it and walking away, he ate them! Now I have two things to use to entertain him, the fishing pole and the treats.

[Edwina's Secretary]

Do you know my Edwina and Eddie?

Edwina came to live with us from a shelter. We adored her, pampered her. She was (and still is!) very, very spoiled. And an only cat for a few years.

And then one day a PetTalker asked if we could take in Eddie for a weekend. Oh how we worried! But we took him in. He lived in the basement. He would not come out for ...gosh weeks I think? We would go to the basement and read the paper or just talk. And we would talk to him, even if we could not see him. (Of course...that has been a very long weekend....)

My niece was also living in the basement while attending college. Eddie started to come out and be with her.

Meanwhile, Edwina -- at the top of the stairs - "what is that noise? There cannot possibly be another cat in my house!"

Until one day Eddie ventured upstairs. He never really went back down to live.

Edwina keeps him in line. She never lets him forget who is the boss.

They moved across the country together in the back of the car.

I don't think they will ever cuddle. But I just went upstairs and they are both on the bed.

They are usually in - at least - the same room. She bites his butt, she slaps his face, she chases him. Sometimes he chases her.

She is a lap cat. He wants to but just can't (because she wouldn't approve? I am not sure.) But today, a guy was here installing my new computer and it was Eddie who insisted on meeting him.

Here is Eddie's first diary diary of Eduardo and his second second diary and it went on.

It takes time but it was oh so worth it.

And I think both Edwina and Eddie would agree!

[3Catcondo]

Moe,
How's it going w/ Schroeder? Are you still using Paw Points?

[Moesha]

I'll answer the easy part first. Yes, I still use paw points!

Now for the Schroeder question. That is more complicated. He is definitely getting used to the house. I found the treats he likes. He will play with his fishing pole. I've seen him play with a hair tie and a ball with a little bell in it. He doesn't play with them for very long, but he does play with them some. He's raced through the house a few times. The noises don't startle him. He's adapted that much.

He has slept next to me or on me a couple of times during the night. He follows me around the house. He doesn't really like to be petted. He will let me bend down and rub him a time or two, but he has never come and sat next to me and let me pet him. If he is on the couch or something, I can sometimes go over to him and pet his head briefly. He is a biter! He bites hard too. I'm not sure if he is trying to play or if he is trying to be mean. I'm thinking it is more a leave me alone kind of bite. But sometimes I am in bed and he jumps up on me and bites. I haven't been doing anything at those times. I'm always trying to talk to him in a calm, nice voice. Trying to encourage his friendship. Honestly, I'm feeling as lonely or maybe even more so than before I brought him home.

I have not let him and Aroara interact with each other again. She has seen him under the door and has growled and hissed at him. Still he doesn't show any aggression toward her while she is doing that.

Earlier tonight I talked to the lady that had adopted him and then had to return him because he didn't get along with her cats. She said he would come and sit in her lap while she watched tv and let her pet him. She said that he would bite her too. But she liked that about his personality. She loved that he was so different and knew what he liked and didn't like and let her know. It scares me.

Then she told me about the problems he had with her cats. This was the reason she had to return him. He bullied them and kept them under the beds. If they tried to come out, he attacked them. She said she tried feliaway plug-ins and didn't notice any difference in the behavior. She said that what finally caused her to give him back to the rescue was that he attacked one of her cats so badly that she had to take her to the vet for stitches. That is what I am afraid that will happen here with Aroara. Or if one of the other cats comes inside, which they periodically do. She had him for 2 months and really loved him but just couldn't do that to her other kitties.

I have to be so meticulous about everything all day long to make sure he doesn't come in contact with any of the others. I am afraid that I won't be able to take any vacations because of the trouble it causes to have him kept away from the other cats. My nieces and nephew come over, and they are all under 10. You can try to tell them what has to happen, but those kitties outside are pretty swift. They race inside before you know it, especially if you aren't paying close attention. They do it often when adults come in and even more when the kids are here. So far I've managed to keep it from happening when Schroeder has been lose, but I can imagine in my mind the disaster that will occur when one sneaks in the door and he isn't confined.

I don't want to have to return him. I want to give him a loving home, but I honestly don't know if my home is the right one for him. After talking with his former mommy, I am more convinced that he needs to be in a one cat home. The thought of taking him back to Petsmart and the rescue breaks my heart, but honestly I don't know what else to do. I'd thought of trying the plug-ins but really don't see the use in that since she had already tried them.

So that's where things stand here. If anyone has any other suggestions, feel free to give them. I've heard all the "be patient" suggestions and am trying them. But perhaps you can see the other side of things with this update from his former adopter. I hate the thought of failing him. But I do have other things to take into consideration as well.

ETA: We're both redheads, maybe that's our problem! hehe
This weekend I went to my friend's house. She has kitties that come over and would let you pet them all day. That really made me miss having my Morgan around.

But I'd rather be able to go back letting everyone else have their normal lives than take any chances of them getting attacked or making them stay outside all the time.

Having Schroeder here has helped me deal with Morgan's loss, but not in the way I expected.