Schroeder...is up for adoption again #112

[Moesha]

I've tried starting this thread several times and am just not sure how to do it. Forgive me for the long post. I tried to make it short, but it just kept growing each time. I think this may be the shortest one yet.

On Saturday my friend and her husband asked me to go with them to Nashville to get winter coats. (I have a terrible coat addiction and made a promise to myself that I would not even look at any for me.) I stuck to my guns! I picked out a coat for each of them. Then we were going to go to eat. But and you knew there was a but coming, didn't you? I asked if I could run into PetSmart to get cat food. I had determined I was not going to look at the kitties there. I just couldn't handle doing that right now. So in I walked, got my cat food, and looked over at my friend staring at the kitties. The area was closed for cleaning. Knowing I couldn't go in and have any kitties grab me, I walked over as a big orange bum was crawling under the cages. He had just been let out so that his cage could be cleaned. I saw a 3 month old smoke gray kitten, Boo. He didn't seem very interested in us though. He finally opened his eyes, and they looked gold rather than green. Oh well. Plus, he was a kitten. If I were going to adopt, my preference would be for an adult male that had been given up by owners. I dodged a bullet! The lady who was cleaning the orange kitty's cage said that if we were interested in adopting we could come inside. We were just looking, so off to the checkout and out the door! SAFE!

Until I was bored on Sunday and felt brave enough to go on Petfinder! OOPS! I was only searching for gray males. I thought I'd see if I could find Boo online. I couldn't find him going through searches. Finally I remembered the name of the rescue organization that had the cats at PetSmart that day. Nope, still no Boo. But...yup, another but. I found the owner of that orange bum! His name is Schroeder. He had been adopted over two years ago but was returned when his owner could no longer take care of him because of cancer treatments. He lost his owner to cancer. I lost my kitty to cancer. And we have the same color hair/fur!

I sent an e-mail asking tons of questions about him and then spent the rest of the night checking my e-mail every 5 minutes. Nothing. No response Monday. Today, I found a different e-mail address for the rescue organization and forwarded the other e-mail to that one. The response was from someone on the board of directors. She didn't have answers to all of my questions but did give me some additional information. Schroeder's foster mom won't have access to e-mail until Thursday. I responded by sending a phone number. Hopefully I'll get a call tomorrow.

Anyway, I'm nervous because I've never adopted through a rescue organization. I'm scared they won't let me adopt him. I'm scared he won't like me. I can't wait to meet him in person and see if he'll fit in around here. I know Aroara won't be happy, especially at first. But if he is laid back enough, I think she'll come around, eventually. So long story short, I'm not sure if he will live with me, but I did get permission for him to live here. If our meeting goes well and the rescue organization will approve it, Schroeder just may have a home here. He will never replace Morgan, but maybe we can help each other get over the losses we've recently experienced. Now, I'll shut up and show you his picture...

Meet Schroeder:



Any suggestions for the rescue application process?

[Grace]

Oh, he is magnificent!! And so very wise - one can tell that from his eyes.

We adopted Abigail back in 2002, after finding her on Petfinder.com. Long story how we got to that point, but the process was not too terrible. We found her; I sent an email; she was brought to our house by her foster mom. I think they wanted to make sure we would be kind to her. I remember her foster mom telling me - if I didn't think it would work don't worry about it.

What they want is a good home for Schroeder - a forever home. Anyone of us could give you a wonderful reference

[Prairie Purrs]

What a handsome guy! I hope you're able to bring him home very soon. Of course he won't replace Morgan, but he'll find his own place in your heart. Good luck!

[Edwina's Secretary]

I can see why you fell for him! That marble coat looks good enough to eat! And that knowing look....he is a keeper.

Hope it all turns out for you both...

[karyn674]

Ah! Moesha,

I'm so sorry for your loss, but (and yes another but still!!) as you say you can help eachother through difficult times, and I do understand you.....he is so handome! Defenitely a keeper!!!

Everything will work out fine for both of you, I'm sure!

[pomtzu]

He's gorgeous. Here's hoping he finds his furever home with you.

[kitten645]

OMG he is gorgeous! And he is wise and feels your lose. You can see it in his eyes. Best of luck to both of you. I hope you are schmoozaling his thick beautiful fur soon.
Claudia

[Taz_Zoee]

He is amazingly handsome! He looks so regal in that picture.

I'm sure they will have no reason not to adopt him to you. You are a wonderful person!!

[cassiesmom]

Where did Schroeder live before his first family, Moesha? Was he an outdoor boy?

My brother's family cat, Milo, is a biter. It goes petting -> tummy rubs -> biting. He also nips me when I try too hard to love on him. He will decide whose lap he sits on (or, more often, who he sits next to) and for how long. I wonder if, when he jumps up and bites you, if he wants to get your attention for something?

Prayers that all will be well for you, Schroeder, and your other kitties. He sure is handsome.

[Moesha]

I don't know many specifics about him. The best that I can get from the rescue is that they think they had him as a kitten and had him fixed. He was placed in a home where he stayed for over two years until that owner got cancer and couldn't take care of him anymore. He was returned to the rescue. They haven't been able to tell me anything about his life during that time. I think he was turned returned in June. He stayed at this other place for a couple of months, mid July until September. He's been here for 2 weeks.

I am really trying hard to get him to adjust. I could probably deal with the biting and maybe even work with him on it, but the fighting with the other cats really scares me.

I am going to try putting him in the carrier and putting that in the middle of the family room while Aroara is inside. I'll see what happens from there and post it here later.

[Grace]

It feels as though you are living in the middle of a demilitarized zone, doesn’t it?

Many years ago we took in a stray who turned out to be an alpha male. Problem was we already had one of those. The new one, Phantom, got along fine with our 2 girl cats, but it just didn’t work out with the other male.

We tried for 3 months – then we found him a home where he was the only cat. He thrived, and calm was restored to our house.

It broke my heart – I felt like an abject failure. You have to think about Aroara and your own peace of mind.

We will support whatever decision you make

[Moesha]

Well, that experiment was interesting. Perhaps someone can explain this to me.

I put Schroeder in the carrier and brought him out to the family room. Aroara was in an adjoining room on a dining room chair. I talked calmly to Schroeder the whole time and gave him a couple of treats while he was calm in the carrier. Aroara could see him from her perch on the chair but made no attempt to come closer. He could not see her. I went over and talked to her and coaxed her off the chair with a couple of her favorite treats. By then Schroeder had started to scratch at the carrier door to try to get out. I was sitting next to Schroeder with calming words. Aroara was a good 10 feet away. He was staring at her, and she was staring at him. She started to growl and hissed a couple of times. Schroeder started panicking in the carrier circling it quickly over and over...BACKWARDS. I'd never seen this before. I don't know what it means. He even rolled over a couple of times in there and then continued circling. After Aroara hissed a couple of times, she went to the living room. She made no attempt to come close to him. She just gave her warning grumbles and left. That's what happened when they were lose before and Schroeder went after her when she walked away. Once Aroara left I immediately took him back in his room of safety and let him out. He came out and was calm. I gave him another treat.

What did I do right? What did I do wrong? Does anyone know what Schroeder's body language was indicating?

ETA: About 15 minutes passed, then Aroara threw up her food. I have never seen Aroara throw up in the three years she has been here. Granted she does go outside, but she's never thrown up that I know of. Then she came over and jumped up in my lap for cuddles. She rarely does that. Then she started squawking and now wants to go back outside. She isn't going no matter what she thinks. This whole thing has me stressed out. Plus I can't find one of my sister's cats. They are on vacation and I've been watching them. The last time I saw him was yesterday morning. I've been over there numerous times calling him and walking the property. My nerves can't take much more of this.

[Catty1]

When is your sister back? You are focusing on a lot all at once! {{{{hugs}}}}

I read in Cat Behaviour about a kitten that was biting a lot. It was suggested to the owner that they make a hissing noise to discourage the biting. Cats don't like that sound.

Also...I am wondering if a temporary mild tranny in a Pill Pocket would help ease Schroeder in. Temporary, as in short term.

I wish I had a great idea...

[email protected] Nancy Efrusy has done amazing readings for many people/cats here. She doesn't ask for money up front, and is very reasonable. She could read Schroeder and Aroara too. Why not email her? You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Brody's Mum does readings also. She is a PT member. She tracked down Lut's missing kitty in Belgium! (Brody's Mum is in the UK).

[karyn674]

Hello Moesha,

I'm sorry, I know you're feeling quite helpless at the moment, but truly and honestly there is not much YOU can do rather then be passive and give time. It is true, you feel stressed out with all the hissing and stuff but its the cats that have to settle down between them and it takes only one virtue.....patience! And a lot of it!

Last year a friend of mine was going to visit her sister in Canada for 3 months, she was trying to find her cat a place where to stay. It hurt me knowing that her cat Kira was going to undertake all that stress, being caged and so on. I also read one time on a post here on PT that sometimes they even change charachter with all the stress. So, I offered her the option that I can keep her when she's away. I thought that for Lulu might even work well and see how she reacts!

In 3 months the first 2 where stressfull, the last month was way better! In my opinion you could only err if you rush things! They have to work it out between them so you can do nothing but be patient. Don't worry that Schroeder is confined to one room, that is his safe area!

It was also funny because they also switched beds!! I cannot understand why, maybe to dominate eachother's possessions? Check this out: Kira's bed with Lulu:

Lulu's bed with Kira:

Kira was young and too active for Lulu. She would hide and jump on her:

I can't say that in these 3 months they befriended but tolerated eachother....especially from Lulu's side:

But one day we where surprised to see )




I was sure I made a mistake excepting Kira and certainly I did think about returning her but I had no option, only to wait for her owner to come back! After the stressful period it was difficult for all of us to part, even for Lulu that kept looking for her all over the house for days.

I want to encourage you because in my opinion things would could only get better, but give them their time and do not rush them. You will all definately gain from a slow introduction!

Good luck!