I earned a huge chunk of money over the Christmas Season by working overtime at the Post Office. I will have no problems sending off my Chapter 13 Payment #7, due 8 February 2003. I am caught up on all other bills, and can now put into action a plan I have been thinking about for quite some time.

As some of you may remember, Pearly was not intended to be an only-cat. When I was given the 15 year old Pearly last February, I was also given the 17 year old Tyler, with whom Pearly got along quite well with in their old home. Alas, Tyler died a month later, and what with one thing after another, I could not even think of getting another cat. Pearly was still semi-feral. We had to move soon. I was entering a Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

Well, things have settled down. Pearly is socialized, at least to me. She runs all over the new apartment. And she is showing signs of being restless, irritable, and discontent. I have talked this over with several AA friends who are also cat lovers, and the majority opinion is that it is now OK to have a second cat, and I should be able to afford it. My Chapter 13 budget is a lot more flexible and generous then the average, thanks to my Lawyer.

So yesterday (4 January) I went to the PETCO in Santa Monica, there to look at Conway, an 18 year old male orange tabby. Conway is still alive thanks to “Much Love Animal Rescue”, and they are the people I have been talking to. Among other things, he also needs Hills Prescription Diet Feline K/D dry food, so I won’t have the problem of two cats on two different foods and trying to eat the other’s food.

I’ve used the extra money to buy a second cat tree, a simple 3 platform affair, that is now in the east window, to catch the morning sun. Pearly suns herself every morning on the second platform. The top platform is just a little too high for her, but may be OK for Conway. I have bought a third litter box for Conway’s use.

Conway

Cat

Bengal,Tabby - Brown Mix

Size: Medium

Age: Senior

Sex: Male

I.D:

Notes: Hey there! My name is Conway and I am a little Bengal mix kitty. I am a total love dove, and you wouldn't even know I was 18 years old, by how playful I am. Much Love found me at the Carson pound where I was destined to be put to sleep! I was a "stud" for a breeder for many years and when he could no longer use me, he just sent me off to the pound! Imagine that! Now, I'm in a warm foster home, but if you liked to invite me over to your place to live out my golden years, please call (310) 636-9115

This pet is: up to date with routine shots, already house trained, altered

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And after reading that advertisement, I made contact with “Much Love Animal Rescue” and had a few long talks with Kim Finger, the lady fostering Conway. We made an appointment to meet at their weekly event at the PETCO in Santa Monica, held every Saturday starting at 10 AM. I showed up, filled out the adoption form, answered a few questions, and was approved on the spot.

I drove home and awaited the arrival of Kim, a friend, and Conway. They inspected the apartment thoroughly, checking out the window screens to make sure Conway couldn’t slip out that way. They approved of my arrangements for the cats, and even admired Pearly.

O yes, Pearly. Pearly had been very restless all morning, for she had somehow managed to sense that a major change was about to happen. When I left the apartment at 10 AM, she was asleep in the crow’s nest of cat tree #1, rather then sunning herself on cat tree #2, which she usually does in the mornings. I had cleaned out, scrubbed, washed, rinsed, and dried her two litter boxes. I had put in new litter. The third litter box was ready, but not filled with litter. I wanted to wait until Conway arrived, so as to be able to introduce him to fresh litter not used by Pearly.

We had decided to keep Conway locked up in my bedroom for 24 hours, so Pearly could smell him and hear him, but not interact with him. We brought Conway (in his carrier) into my bedroom, shut the door, and coaxed him out. The first thing I did was to gently pick him up and place him in the litter box, then draw his paws over the sand. After that, he stepped out to explore my bedroom. I had put out a food dish, a water dish, a scratching post, and some toys.

I was instructed to keep Conway in my bedroom for 24 hours, with the door closed, so that the two cats could smell and hear each other, but not interact. They left, and I settled down for The Long Wait. Conway explored the room, and when I left for AA at 7 PM he was curled up in the heated sleeping cup. This heating cup was another item I had bought from Drs. Foster and Smith, and I had placed it on my bed for Pearly’s use. Pearly rejected it, so the sleeping cup did not have her scent on it when Conway discovered it. He promptly curled up in the cup to start napping.

Pearly was sulking in the living room. I cannot think of a better word to describe her attitude. I spent as much time with her as I could, petting her and playing with Da Bird, but she was still sulking when I left for AA, still sulking when I got back, and was still sulking this morning when I got up.

This morning I scooped out the litter boxes. I was informed that if the situation was too stressful, one or both cats might start avoiding the boxes. But no, both Pearly and Conway behaved themselves during the night. Conway had been eating his food and drinking his water. So had Pearly. So far, so good. After breakfast Pearly went to the east window to sun herself on cat tree #2. She is still there. Conway is still in his sleeping cup, although awake when I walk in the bedroom.

It is now 9AM, and I am leaving for my Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. When I get back at 1 PM, I will open the bedroom door. Hopefully….

Congratulations on the new kitty Andrew ...

Just remember that even if they don't seem to get along at first it can take cats a while to socialize with each other.

Hopefully all will go well from the start .... just don't get discouraged if it takes several days for everyone to settle into their new routine.

I remember back in the late 80's my family had 1 cat. Then we brought in 2 more to the household. The new cats were from the same litter. The first cat would have nothing to do with the new kids on the block, and she kept to herself for the next 8 years.

Then around 1996 or so, another cat showed up and my family took pity on him. This changed the whole equation for how the cats lived. Before the original cat hated the other two, but somehow those three came to a consensus to hate the fourth cat together. After that, the first three got along rather well.

This didn't hurt the fouth cats feelings... he just went and became friends with the dog. I thought it was a semi-amusing situation.

The last cat is now the only cat... the others passed on due to various illnesses between ages 13 and 19, most recently just before Christmas.