Only kitty

[Moesha]

My Morgan was a dream cat. He was the first one and he really complained at all when any of the others arrived. Granted most showed up outside, but they still wander inside often. He wasn't crazy about Aroara coming as a kitten. But only because she would play with his tail. He was pretty laid back. Now the girls are a totally different story. Simone hated every other cat that showed up even though they were outside. She loved Morgan though. Very similar situation with Aroara. You know the situation with Schroeder. Lemon spends most of her time inside now. Aroara isn't thrilled with her, but I did see them both on the back of the couch right now. Although Lemon was here before Aroara. I am still trying to decide about a kitten. If I get another cat, which I am really considering, it will have to be a male kitten. But if you could get a laid back adult male from the rescue and try it out and it doesn't work out, ask if they would take it back. That's what they offered to do with Schroeder before I got him. I am with you about not bringing one in to live in a bedroom. Make sure to keep us posted!

[katladyd]

Oh, that would be terrible to have to have one live in a bedroom! I was just suggesting that, at first, the new cat would stay there. This went on for about a month with Ming. Then he just flew out of the room one day, ran into Mac, had a fight with him, and then they each went and got something to eat. I dont' think too many cats love each other on site, but most do learn to tolerate each other. Look at Gary's cats.

[Taz_Zoee]

Moe, the shelter would take the cat back without question. I just wouldn't get the adoption fee back (which for an adult cat is only $50).

katladyd, oh I know you weren't saying to leave the cat in the bedroom. Someone else mentioned they have just kept cats separated. I was just saying the only way for me to do that is to keep one in the room. As you said, I would keep the new cat in the bedroom for the transition time. That's what I did with Paizly when she came here. We have baby gates we used when G was here because he was too big to jump them. When Paizly was a kitten she'd scale two gates stacked on top of each other!

There was an adult cat at the shelter that reminded me so much of my Taz. He is considered a senior at 7 years old but I got tears in my eyes when I saw him. He was returned to ARF after a year because the first adopter was evicted from their place. The adoption counselors weren't sure how he'd do with two active dogs. They said he is fine with cats though. I really need one that can handle dogs chasing them. The dogs do not hurt the cat they just think it's fun to chase them. Of course I don't let them when I'm home, but I'm not home all day with them.

Moesha, I hope you can someday get another kitty. I hope I will too! I'm not going back to volunteer at the shelter again until the 9th, so maybe there will be some new cats there. I might even see if I can visit with a couple. They will let me if they know I'm interested in adopting. I'm not part of the socializing of the cats in the volunteer program......yet.

Thanks again for all your support everyone. Another reason I love pet talk!

[Moesha]

The rescue that I used would give 75% if you returned within two weeks. Even though I contacted them within the 2 weeks to say I needed to return Schroeder, since they didn't get around to making arrangements for another two weeks, they kept my $100. I probably would have donated it to them anyway, but I thought they should have at least offered. Oh well. Schroeder has been a cash cow for them. Adopted and returned 3 times. I do hope he gets a home. He isn't listed on their petfinder page. I've been afraid to inquire about him.

[krazyaboutkatz]

Cindy, you don't really need to a get a small kitten. I adopted Sunny when he was 8 months old and he fit in just fine after only 3 days. If I had a dog I also found out that he was dog friendly too. Storm was about 1 year old when I adopted him and he was only by himself for a few months. I then adopted an adult male cat but he didn't like Storm. Storm wanted to play with him but he wanted to attack Storm and then the new cat started peeing every where. I was able to return him and adopt a kitten instead. My RB Pepper and Storm bonded in only 1 hour. It was the sweetest thing. Storm started washing him and they became best friends quickly.

Another time I adopted a semi-feral cat and he was about 8 months old or so. He and Sunny bonded but Storm hated him. I thought that things would get better with time but after 2 years things got much worse. His name was Cirrus and he was trying to become the alpha cat and take over the house hold. Storm is the alpha and he wouldn't let this happen so they'd fight every day. I also had Sky by this time and Cirrus was also attacking him. Sunny was the only cat that he still seemed to like. I had to return him to his rescue group but now he has a much better home.

Sky was about 1 year old when I adopted him and I didn't have a roommate at the time so I was able to keep him in the spare bedroom for 1 week and slowly introduce him. He did great and he loves other cats. He had also been returned back to the shelter once before because the people said that their cats started peeing outside of the box. I guess they didn't like Sky.

When I introduced Pearl, RB Starr, and Ziggy, I just let them be out with the others and within a few days everyone was used to them and the hissing and growling stopped. As they got older I had some problems because they got bigger and personalities also changed.

You just never know how animals will react to each other. I've heard of siblings that have been raised together for years and then something changes and one of them doesn't like the other one. I hope that you'll be able to adopt another laid back male cat that both your dogs and Paizly will approve of and that everyone will get along and live happily ever after. Good luck.

[Moesha]

I would have kept Schroeder if the problem was Aroara not liking him. She was just letting him know she was unhappy, but I'm sure she would have adjusted. Schroeder was the one with the problem in that situation.

[Taz_Zoee]

You are right Tracey. But I'm just afraid I'd be crushed to have to take a cat back. In the situation of G and Paizly, G was three times bigger than Paizly. So I was very afraid he'd hurt her.

Moe, I know the whole Shroeder thing was very difficult for you. And I know you did everything possible to make it work. Like others have said, sometimes they just don't get along.

My original plan was to look for an adult cat. Adult at my shelter is 6 months and up. So that's still the plan. It's not really kitten season anymore anyway. There should be plenty of young cats that need homes too.

I think I will just let Taz pick the right kitty for me. I'll know it's right when it happens. (I hope)