(no subject)

[trishkit]

Well, I've been dumped.

It happened on Saturday. As you can imagine, I've been upset, but I am surviving. I am still here in my hometown and have been keeping very busy. I've spent every day either working for my Dad or working for the computer place. I've got lots of opportunities here, so moving back won't necessarily be a bad thing.

I don't really know exactly what is going to happen - I guess I have to get my stuff moved from Ottawa to here. I'm more concerned with my cat -- she is not exactly the most intrepid of travellers, so the move won't be easy on her (you'd think she'd be used to it, we've travelled across the country together). Then there is the fact that she will have to share her new home with my sister's two cats...I don't know how that will go. Pookie has said that he will keep her as long as is necessary, but I really miss her and want her with me.

Tonight I am at my Mom's house babysitting their geriatric dog while they go out carousing. I've actually been feeling quite cheerful today, and the feeling has intensified ever since I discovered that my stepfather has the world's biggest Toblerone bar in his fridge...life could be worse!

Comments

[emrinalexander.livejournal.com]

I'm so sorry this happened.

I'm glad, though, that you have such a wonderful family and that you're with them.

[trishkit.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I really don't know what to think about anything right now (except that boys are stupid), but my family is being beyond amazing.

As one who lives with a gazillion cats, do you have any advice on introducing a new victim to the herd?

[emrinalexander.livejournal.com]

As one who lives with a gazillion cats, do you have any advice on introducing a new victim to the herd?

You bet *G* - we're experts here at Chez Hairball.

Our "New Cat Introduction Method" has never failed to produce, at the least, hissing tolerance of each other - and actually, everybody lays around in big lumps getting along fine.

I assume you'll be bringing your cat to live with you and your sister and her cats?

What we've found works really well, is to take something - like a t-shirt or a towel - a toy, whatever, that smells like your sister's house and let your cat travel with that. It will let her get used to new smells before she arrives in the brand new environment. Likewise, take a toy or something else of your cat's and let your sister's cats have it. That gets them accustomed to "strange cat smell" before your baby arrives.

Now, when she arrives, if it is at all feasible, keep her quarantined from everybody else for about 5 to 10 days. It will be far less stressful for everybody - whenever we got a new cat, he or she stayed in my room with me, for example. Everybody will line up on either side of the door and slap paws and sniff and carry on, but that way everybody gets used to everybody else, without being able to get into altercations. By the time the new cat (whichever new cat it was) emerged from my room, the other cats were curious, but I always get a chuckle out of the confused "I know I know you, but I can't figure out from where...oh, what the hell..." kind of expressions/actions on the herds' collective faces.

Girl cats are far more territorial than boy cats, but they CAN adapt to new herd members. My two youngest cats are sisters, twin girls rescued from a construction site. They love everybody, and nobody has a problem with them, not even my highly picky girl Tonkinese, Merlyn, because we did the whole getting them used to each other's smells and sounds thing, and they were kept apart, in my room, etc.

I've heard other methods, but this is the one that worked every time, for us, though 13 cats (we're down to six now).

[trishkit.livejournal.com]

Wow! That's awesome! I knew you would know exactly what to do! If it has worked 13 times I'm certainly going to take your advice!!

I'll be moving my 13 year old female into my sister's place with her two younger females (aged 4 and 2). Phoebe, the older of my sister's pussy posse, is very dominant and will definitely lord it over my very timid kitty. I like the idea of introducing smells. My mom and stepfather are going to be in Ottawa this weekend for a conference and were going to pick up my computer (and glare at Pookie, of course). I'll send them with some stuff from these cats and get them to bring back something from mine as well. I'm going to go and pack up my stuff in a week or so and I'll bring her back then. I guess one good thing is that my cat has always liked my sister. Our voices sound the same, and she'll respond to Cat Pee the same as she would to me if she can't see us (not that she comes when we call or anything...). At least it won't be a completely alien environment for her.

When I do move Esme in, we can stay in my sister's room, since it's the master suite with a bath that can be closed off from the rest of the place. It was great that you included an approximate timeline -- I would probably have started to freak out after a day or two...I'll try to be more patient!

Thank you SO MUCH for your advice! You can probably imagine how much I have been worrying...I swear I've spent more time thinking about my cat than my boyfriend (a girl has got to have her priorities)! You've made me feel a lot better about the whole process.

Now, I just have to get her through the six hour car trip...poor thing, she hates it.

[cleverocity.livejournal.com]

Waah. That sucks, but it sounds like you are in such a good place, in a lot of ways, with opportunities and family support and Things To Do. If you need any help or want company when you come to pack things up, I'm totally there.

(And also, selfishly, waah, you're leaving me! Not that we have actually spent that much actual time together. But I am still sad that you won't be down the street anymore.)

I have no cat wisdom, though clearly you've already got expert advice. My young man of a cat Harvey and my sister's old lady cat Jack adapted just fine to living together, eventually. They ignored each other for ages, but now they're buddies.

[trishkit.livejournal.com]

I'm sad about leaving just when I met you, too! I'll let you know when I am coming up next. I think that I will be making at least two trips; one to pack and one to remove.

At the moment I'm kind of operating in a vacuum, since I haven't heard from Sean. I'll email when I know my plans.

In many ways I am in a better place here with my family, but right now I'd still rather be in Ottawa.

I hope that things are going better at your end (until the boss gets back at least)!

[mylittleredgirl.livejournal.com]

*hugs and adores you so very much*

I am glad you have your kitty to take with you and fret and worry about!!

I'm so sorry. I hope this ends up for the better. *loves more*

[trishkit.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

*feels better already*

[suzvoy.livejournal.com]

*cuddles and smooches and tickles*

[trishkit.livejournal.com]

*giggles and smooches back*

[suzvoy.livejournal.com]

*smoooooooooooooooooooooooooch*