Adopting an Adult Cat

 

Adopting an Adult Cat

Our beautiful girl Carolina was sucessfully rehomed a few weeks ago, Labor Day weekend. She has always been a wonderful, loving pet, then Mama to her babies, a friend to all of our cats. When I sent Carolina off to her new home, I sent some of her accoutrements, food dishes, the pet ottoman I bought her for her when she had kittens, a new catnip kicker, she loves the nip, 2 scratchy scratchers for lounging and scratching, foods she was currently eating, her favorite treats, and toys she likes to play with. We have a lot of the wand toys, and I let her pick out two that she particularly preferred to engage with. The end of the wands were chewed on and I knew she preferred these, because I played with her with at least 10 wands and these two she ran away with. hahaha... I sent extra items, because I am downsizing and I just don't need as much now. We have always sent the kittens home with scent blankets, blankets with the kitten's scent, the Mama's, fur family and the human's, so when they get to their new home, they are not totally overwhelmed by all new scents. They can feel comfy and self assured with familiar scents. Neptune still oves the blanket his Human sent him to us with over 6 years ago. A few years ago, a family adopted a second kitten from us, a year after the first one they had adopted. When we sent her to her new home with her new scent blankets and her Cat Mom had placed them on a chair, her kitty brother previously adopted found the blanket and curled up in it, absolutely so happy to smell his Mama and family again. It was sooo cute! Feeling self assured and comfy is everything!

Carolina moved into a home with 3 dogs and one cat. Her new Cat Mom's son has the cat for now, so she has been getting used to the dogs with no problem. The first few days, Carolina was kept in her new Mom's bedroom, so she could get used to the new environment. She had everything she needed in there including a big window to watch the birds, squirrels and bunnies. Her Mom let her get used to her as well and didn't push things. Soon Carolina was rolling on the floor for attention and she and her boyfriend could pet her. 

Then her Mom brought in the biggest dog for introductions, which went just fine. She brought in the biggest first, so that if Carolina went after the dog, the dog would be able to handle it. She only hissed a little bit at them for getting too close trying to smell her. But not a nasty hiss. This was Carolina's first time out with Kira, because she was the least threatening. Carolina was doing well, and starting going out and exploring the rest of the house as well while her Mom was at work. Her Mom has her own Pet Grooming business, so she takes the dogs to work with her.

So Carolina's Mom writes, "My Bella can be a jerk not hurting anyone but just a jerk dog. Bratty. And last night I left the door open. And Bella has been kinda sitting in the hallway almost not letting her by. And I would call Bella and Carolina would come out. So, last night Bella was laying down at my feet I left the door open. Jordan took Monty for now. So I could get her used to the dogs first. Plus Monty definitely knows she is here and could care less. His scent is everywere. I'll have Jordan bring him back either tomorrow or the next day. But anyways with Bella being a brat and all, Carolina came out last night walked right up to Bella who was laying on the floor and gave her a couple of wacks turned around looked at me rubbed up against me I had to laugh. I patted her she walked away and Bella was sitting there staring at me like did you just see what she did?... lol.

Bella, shamed by the cat

... I felt bad taking Carolina away from everybody and everything she knew. But she is slowly coming around she is good with me. Now it's the house she is getting use too. Not that big but enough room to run around and hide as well but she likes my room she feels safe but she is slowly checking things out . The dogs came with me to work so she had the place to herself. As soon as I came home she came running out of my room.

 

Cat Scratch Fever, and hairballs

Okay, I know you can now not sing the song, "Cat Scratch Fever!" 

This Blog is not about the serious disease of Cat Scratch Fever, but about why do cats throw up hairballs on their favorite scratchy scratchers. 

My reasoning on this is speculative, but I found myself accidentally immersed in the lifestyle of Cats. So, I became an unofficial expert by observation. 

I wasn't planning on thinking about why cats throw up on the horizontal cardboard scratchers, when it would be so much easier for me if they threw up on the easy to clean laminate floor. I don't mind if they throw up on the furniture covers, unless it is right after I have just finished the laundry for the week. The covers are there to so I only have to clean them when something happens. I am not thrilled when they throw up on the scratchy scratchers, because then they are no good. It gets expensive throwing out supplies. I have been know to cut away the damged part of a scratcher and reuse the part that is still good. 

I think cats throw up on a place that is either convenient in the moment or they run to a place where they find great comfort. That could explain why some throw up on the covers, in the covers, on something they identify with their Hooman or on the scratchy scratchers or some other place they feel safe and comfortable. 

Our retired King Triton almost never throws up. He has very fine, bunny soft hair. His Mama retired Queen Carolina went to her forever home a couple of weeks ago. All the years she lived with us and then after, he loved laying on the scratchers that she also camped out on, but at different times. It was only after she left, that I realized he was laying where her scent was. So last week for the rare occassion Triton started doing the retching sound, and I knew a hairball would be forthcoming and he was on the carpet, and as I was trying to move him to the laminate floor, he ran to the scratcher to be safe from me and being sicky and projectile vomited his hairball and liquid across it. Yes, I should have let him throw up on the carpet. 

But in that moment, I felt enlightened why he was going to the scratcher to be sick and why he hung out there in general. 

Then I felt really bad, because we wouldn't have that scratcher anymore that smelled like his Mama Carolina. 

I did bring out another one that she also loved to lay on in the Cat Room and as soon I did, he went to it. 

Understanding that explained to me why other cats throw up on the bed, because that is their comfort zone, that smells like them and me. I used to think hairballs on top of the cat walks or under the futons were just annoyingly hard to clean up, and opportunistic, but I do have cats whose comfort zones are either way up high by the ceiling or in the Cat Caves, under furniture. 

Note: Everypawdy is not running around throwing up all the time. It's just when you have many cats, for many years, you are going to see a few hairballs. We serve Greenies Feline SmartBites Healthy Indoor Natural Tuna Flavor Soft & Crunchy Adult Cat Treats https://prf.hn/l/xnyqlJd for prevention and regularly groom them with a deshedding tool https://amzn.to/3SAOz30 

Triton on the other scratchy scratcher I got out for him after he threw up on the other one. It's about worn out, but it smells like his Mama. He of course threw up on a nice, new scratcher. Eyeroll... Triton is also currently available for Adoption along with his sister, littermate Mindy. For more info: 

https://vabeachcats.wordpress.com/highlander-cats-available-for-adoption/