9/29 O/T my new additions

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knolet

knolet

Member Since 2012
Hello LL ,

It's been a long time since I've opened a condo, I lost Zeus 3 months ago today, and I lost Smokey 11 weeks tomorrow. I still miss them every day. Even though I don't post often, I do still lurk quite often and try to keep up with how you are all doing. Hello, my name is Kathie and I am a member of FDMB Lurkers Anonymous :lol:

I wanted to share my good news.... Last Sunday, I opened my heart and my home to two new fur babies. :-D

Sylvester (formerly known as Calvin), is a big black and white boy, they estimate him to be about 3 & 1/2. At a little over 13 pounds, he is solid, but not overweight. They think that he may have gotten a little frostbite on the tips of his ears as they both have a little slit in them, and he is missing a little spot of fur at the base of his ear..... I wonder if he may have gotten into a fight at some point. Anyway, The rescue where I got the babies is an hour and a half away from my home, and he meowed the entire way home. As soon as we got home, he made a beeline for underneath my bed and that is where he stayed for the rest of the day and night. He wouldn't come out no matter how much I talked with him. By the next morning, after I got on the floor and talked to him again, he came out and has made himself right at home. He is the biggest love bug that I have ever seen, such a cuddler, and likes to knead when he cuddles.

Snickers, I call her Snickerdoodle, is a year and a couple of months (estimate) and is a petite 8 pound dilute calico. She was as quiet as a mouse on the ride home. She too ran right under the bed, but she would come out for scritches when I talked with her, then she'd go back under the bed. She also came out to eat and play with toys. I felt like we were making progress, she even started to come out and explore the house, but would get scared and run back under the bed. I'm not sure what her background was, but I don't think she was allowed on the furniture wherever she was before. I put her on the bed a couple of times and she got really nervous and jumped off. So like I said, we were making progress, then we went to the Vet for a checkup on Friday. They both checked out fine (although Sylvester has ear infections in both ears). Since Friday, I feel like we have taken a huge step backwards. She won't come out when I talk with her. So last night, I moved the bed until she darted into the living room. She stayed out with me and was very affectionate all night (I slept on the sofa), she kept rubbing along the sofa, or on me, scratching her face on the table legs, and coming for scritches. She even found that she liked the comfy chair :-D however, after we got up this morning, she found that she could hide under the curio cabinet and that is where she has stayed.... ALL DAY. She won't come out no matter how much I talk to her and make baby talk, and soft blinky eyes at her. I feel terrible. I wonder if she is OK, is she sick? Does she just need more time? If that's the case, why was she so loveable last night? Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. You can even tell me to dig out those patience pants (as I did say that already, LOL). I'm just really nervous.

So here are the babies.



Hugs.
Kathie
 

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Congrats on your new additions!!

Is Snickers eating and using the litterbox? If the vet gave her a clean bill of health and there's nothing obviously wrong, how does she respond to treats?
 
Thanks Sienne,

She had been eating well, not as much yesterday or today. She did just come out though :-D she had a few licks of the food and then headed for the bedroom. I did give her a little baby food this morning to see if that would entice her. LB use has been good.

She and Sylvester had a little scuffle this morning (yesterday too now that I think of it), I heard her hiss... Wonder if that's what scared her. He is a good 5 pounds heavier than she is, but she was holding her own.

NEither of them really cared for the freeze dried chicken treats... Will have to buy another flavor :smile:
 
Thanks Devon... Yes, they have already brought tons of smiles. They both like toys, I got a cute video of Snickers chasing the laser light, so cute :smile:
 
Hi Kathie,
I don't have any advice, but just want to say that I'm very happy about your new babies.
Sylvester looks very handsome, and Snickers looks like a cutie.
I hope Snickers just needs a little time to get used to the new environment, and that she will soon realize what a wonderful house and bean she now has.
 
Congratulations Sylvester and Snickerdoodles on getting one of the Best Mommabeans Ever :cool:

I bet she just needs more time. As long as she is eating, I wouldn't worry too much.
If you sleep on the couch again tonight, I bet she'll come out and do the same as last night.
 
More progress... She just came out, I sat on the floor with her and she wagged her tail (she wags her tail like a drooler, LOL ) and purred (which sounds like she is growling, but I think it is just her purr). She is having more dinner. Maybe she only likes to come out at night, :lol:

Thanks Mariko and Dyana :-D
 
My guys are very partial to the Wellness jerky style treats. For a while, they didn't seem interested in freeze dried chicken. Now, they're addicted to it.
 
They're so lovely, and bless you for adopting. You know that every cat on the planet says, "Thank you!"

About your timid girl, you could try some Walnut Bach Flower Remedy in their water, as this helps get you past a transition, and find the strength within yourself. I think that getting down to her level and socializing with her there is a great start. She feels comfortable in that place right now, and she can take it from there. Whenever I get a new cat, if they're timid like that, I camp out with them like you did, and it helps them feel secure.

But just in general, give it time. It's a whole new world of smells, things, and a person of her own and a new brother.
 
Hi Kathie,
I am so happy for you and your new fur kids. It sounds like Sylvester has already adjusted and I'm sure that Snickers will adjust just fine. She probably needs time to check you out, to check out Sylvester, and to check out her new surroundings. Did the shelter know their backgrounds? All the kitties seem to like Fancy Feast, so maybe give them both some Classic Turkey & Giblets (Rusty's favorite food).

Hugs to you for opening your heart and home to homeless kitties. Scritches to them both,

Ella & Rusty
 
Aw, they are so beautiful, and so lucky to have found you! I'm sure it'll just take a few days before the know they are home for good. Please keep us posted!!
 
Feliway spray or diffuser(s) mat help too - friendly facial pheromones to welcome her home.

Maybe she just got overwhelmed. You could try keeping her in 1 room to start, so she can learn a 'home base' from which to explore. After a week, open the door for excursions to explore more.
 
Kathie, that is great you've opened your home and your heart to two new furbabies. I think they just need time to adjust to a new home and to each other. I hope they will quickly. They are so adorable.
 
Hi Kathie,
I am so happy for you opening your heart to two kitties. They are so lucky to have you.
Your babies are beautiful. Sylvester looks right at home there on the sofa. Great to hear the progress with Snickerdoodle yesterday, and she's staying out in the living area more. I would love to see that video of Snickers chasing the laser point. Take care, hugs.
 
Hi Kathie - HOW WONDERFUL! New furkids!! They are very cute, and lucky they are to have found you. very cool! I am glad that Snickerdoodle is venturing out more. I suspect that she's just a little "scared": new place, new smells, new brother, new fuds, new LB, new everything. I have adopted many over the years and they all reacted differently to a new home. The latest group have taken to it just like Sylvester. Years ago I adopted a set, older cats, who reacted much like Snickerdoodle has. I gave them there own room, door always open, with the LB and fuds in there for them. They had their safe zone. Over the course of a few weeks they ventured out more each day, as they grew accustomed to their new place, knew they were safe there, knew there were hugs and cuddles waiting. I think it will be the same for Snickerdoodle. Time will make her more at ease. She sounds like a very affectionate kitty, calicos usually are.

Congrats on the new additions! ENJOY!!!
 
What cuties! They won the lottery, coming home with you, Kathie. :-D :-D :-D Michelle makes a good point about some kitties needing longer to adjust. Thank you for posting. Have fun with your babies.
Liz
 
So happy to hear you got new Furbabies! They bring so much to our lives :-D And they are very lucky to have you as their MamaBean ♥
 
They are adorable! Congratulation to you and the kittehs, they struck gold w/ you. Snickerdoodle ail settle in, she is already much braver than Tess was when she first came here.
 
Thanks Picknickchick, I may have to get some of that Remedy stuff me ME :lol: the cats are EARLY risers, but they are getting better as they were stay up all nighters for the first few days. :lol:

Hi Ella :YMHUG: Sylvester and Snickerdoodle were together at the shelter... They weren't pair bonded, but they said that the two got along well. They didn't have much background on either cat, except for the Vet care that they received while at the shelter. The cats got into a couple of tussles over the weekend and I think it frightened Snickerdoodle. She was good last night, but then this morning when he was a bit too rambunctious, she decided to hide. I kept them separated today while I was working, and I think that helped.

Aw, thanks Amy. I know you are right, it will just take her more time. I just haven't experienced this before... when I adopted Zeus he was scared for the first two hours and then was the boss :lol: I already had a relationship with Smokey as she was my Aunts cat, and Sylvester started to make himself right at home on the second day. I do think that separating the two cats today helped, it gave her a little break, time to relax.

Thanks BJM, yes, they both spent the first week in the bedroom, that was quite enough for him, but I guess she needs more time. I do have a Feliway diffuser, but I think I need to get another.

Thanks Josie :-D My new owner, Sylvester is quite happy. ;-) He has been leaning on me since I got home, taking his bath. Wow, he is a groomer! Snickerdoodle does purr and wag her tail at me, hopefully she will feel more comfortable in the rest of the house soon.

Thanks Carla :-D I hope so too. I know she will warm up when she feels more comfortable, he has already taken over the house, :lol:

Thanks Ann :YMHUG: I tried to view that video today do Snickers playing with the laser light, but it wouldn't play. It worked yesterday when I showed my Aunt. Strange. I will get another one, we played with it last night for a good 20 minutes before bed.

Thanks Michelle, sounds like I started out good with these guys, I just need to be more patient with Snickerdoodle.... That and Sylvester needs to calm down a bit, especially in the morning after a good night's sleep. :lol:

Hi Liz, aw thanks for the kind words. I think I was pretty lucky too. :-D

Hi Pam, they sure do, don't they? Not that Zeus or a Smokey ever made that much noise, but the house sure was empty without them. It already feels more like home to have Sylvester and Snickerdoodle to come home to.

Thanks Ann, how long did it take Tess to come out? I mentioned earlier that I don't know anything about their background, but I don't think Snickerdoodle was cuddled much or allowed on the furniture wherever she was. She does wag her tail and purr/growl when I scratch her head and pat her back. I know she will warm up when she feels more confident.
 
Hey Kathie, Wow your new additions are adorable and they sound so sweet! They are so lucky to have found a home with you.

Jupiter has had bad anxiety since he was born. He seems to do better at night though... His anxiety got so bad he wouldnt even come out from under the bed to go to the LB, and after that he started taking anxiety meds, which really seem to help him. Even on days that we have skipped his anxiety meds for whatever reason, his anxiety has gotten better. His mommy had really bad anxiety too... when her babies were born Jupiter was the only kitty who acted scared a lot though.

I know someone mentioned this in a previous reply.... and...Recently someone sent me some "Bach Rescue Remedy" and it does seem to help with Jupiter's anxiety. I really think its worth a try!

Even when moving to our new appt 2 years ago, all of my furbabies were very scared. Little Rosette (Jupe's sister) had never acted so scared. I made sure to talk to her a lot and brush her... (brushing her is her absolute most favorite thing in the world).... and my other civie Ieleiana... catnip seemed to help her! She played a little bit and then I think she realized it was safe. Jupiter was so scared at first and he would hide a lot (he still does) but I really think he just likes the comfy spots to hide in... Something that seemed to help Jupiter was I made a comfortable place for him to hide...

I dont know if this would work... but maybe you could try something like that? Giving both kitties their own places to hide.... I taped a very large cardboard box closed and then made a cut out big enough for Jupiter to go in and out but small enough so he would still have his privacy and feel hidden in there (also put a nice soft fleece blankie in there to make him nice and comfy)... then during the day I would sit outside of the box and offer him treats and within a few days he became so much more comfortable with our new home.

I am sure they are scared and dont want to go back to the shelter so I think snickerdoodle is hiding to make sure you dont take her back :-D I would let her know that she is in her forever home with you and she is safe there. (I believe talking to my furbabies and explaining things really helps!)

I hope they soon find their new home comforting and calming. It will take some time for them to get adjusted to each other and their new surroundings but I know soon enough they will make themselves right at home! So sweet of you to give 2 new furbabies a wonderful and loving home with you. Welcome Snickerdoodles and Sylvester!
 
So glad to see you were able to open your home to such beautiful kitties! I hope they settle in soon. It's been my practice to keep them separated and in their own quiet space for a few days. Let them get used to smells and sounds first. I'm sure they will come to realize how lucky they are and decide snuggles and scritches and treats are where it's at :thumbup It's good to hear from you :YMHUG:
 
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