Life With Cats and Art April 2019
It always amazes me how people bring a new cat into their home and give it a week or two to see if it fits in. If it doesn't meet their expectations they decide it's not a good fit and look to give it back where they got it or find a new home for it.
Many times I have brought new cats into my home with other resident cats and dogs and I can say from experience that one can't tell from a week or two. Assuming you have prepared your home for the newcomer and have made the proper introductions there is no way to tell how the relationship will evolve. Unless they become instant friends, it will be a slow process and you have to be patient. If you are adopting a cat that you know nothing about it might never have been with another cat and therefore hasn't been socialized. Some have never seen a dog. This, in addition to being in a strange place, can be terrifying.
Red was adopted from Animal Control as a stray. There was no information about him. I usually adopt from Petfinders, where I can get background info but this time I took a chance. Luckily, he fit in and a month or so later became the only cat when Skeeter became ill and died. I then found Casey through Petfinders and was told he had a rough time for a while but now was in a good place while being fostered. I took him in and, as you know from my newsletters, they are doing great.
They continually surprise me as they learn to trust each other and establish their place in the family. The first two weeks they mostly ignored each other. Now, almost a year later they chase each other and the fur flies as they wrestle but they are doing ok. They are much closer now than after their first two weeks together. I think Red has finally convinced Casey that he is the alpha cat but it certainly took him more than a couple of weeks.
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