Strumpet and the Boys
Jul. 7th, 2005 12:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
grnvixenWe are fostering nottygypsy's cat, Strumpet for awhile. We already have 2 cats of our own, both neutered males ages 2 and 6. Introducing them has been a bit of an adventure. Cut for folks that want to avoid cute pet stories
Strumpet is a black & white, beautifully marked, 7 month old female cat. She *really* likes people! We tried to gradually introduce the cats at first by giving Strumpet the upstairs bathroom, then the run of the upstairs, hoping they would all begin getting acquainted through the doors. Welllll, our youngest boy, Max, was immediately intrigued by the newcomer he could tell was in the house. The older cat, Murf, hereafter known as Mr. Grump, was aware of the new arrival but tried to appear uninterested. After giving Strumpet a few days to settle in, visted often by myself and DH, for pets & playtime, we left the downstairs open and loosed the hounds, so to speak. It did not take Strumpet long to venture down the stairs, much to Max's delight. Timing is everything however and as Max was approaching from the front, Mr. Grump decided to check her out from the rear. This was not to Strumpet's liking and with much hissing and hair fuzzing on the part of all 3 cats she bolted back upstairs and 'the boys' faced off outside the bathroom. Mr Grump was removed from the center of the activity and calmed down.
Max continued to be intriqued by Miss Strumpet and spent the next two days haunting the stairs and gradually working his way up them. I never realized he was such a master of passive/aggressive strategy. Slowly he worked his way up the stairs. In the beginning he was met with hissing and spitting. At first he fuzzed up in response but then he would just sit on the step, waiting. When one of us went up to play with Strumpet or check food etc, he would slip in behind us and sniff around, sometimes getting hissed at by her, usually ignoring it. On one memorable occasion he had made it up the stairs and was heading toward 'her' bathroom when Strumpet spotted him, and stopped him in mid-step with a load hiss. Very slowly he turned his head to look at her, even more slowly he moved the back leg up under his haunch, then he slowly sat down. I don't know how long he sat there just watching her, I was turning red from trying not to laugh out loud so I left them to work things out. Later that evening DH found him sitting in the doorway to the bathroom (where Strumpet's catbox, food and water were). Just sitting. He went ahead and removed him in the interest of getting a good night's sleep :).
Gradually Strumpet stopped hissing at Max and pretty much ignored him. Every now and then we would find her partway down the stairs and try to pet and coax her further but she wasn't quite ready. She really had it pretty good upstairs, room to play, her own couch with a big pillow to recline on, big window with lots to see out of, including a birdfeeder, humans to come and adore her a couple of times a day. Then, on the 4th (naturally :)), she finally came all the way down the stairs. Immediately Max was there, some hissing ensued, and back she went up the stairs. I thought this would be like the other times and she would stay upstairs for awhile but almost as soon as Max came back down the stairs, she was back down too and started investigating the new space. Mr Grump met her with growls, which she either ignored or hissed back at him, putting him in his place. We had no trouble keeping track of where she was as Max was usually a few feet right behind. She ignored him completely.
It has been over 2 days now and she pretty much goes up or down as she pleases. She likes her upstairs window and can usually be found there if neither DH or I are not home. She seems to have investigated the open rooms to her satisfaction so if either of us or home she likes to be on our laps (she is a strumpet after all :) ). I tried to 'Strumpet-proof' the house but have found a few things that still need to be put away for awhile, she has the amazing ability to just walk by things and if the fall over look at you like "well why was that there in the first place?" :). I don't think she's found the basement yet, but the sweat shop is blocked off, as is the computer room upstairs for now. Max is not shadowing her as he was but he would still *really* like to play with her. She had deigned to shadow box with him through a chair cover a couple of times but still pretty much ignores him. She is definately more of a people cat, and definately living up to her name :).
Strumpet is a black & white, beautifully marked, 7 month old female cat. She *really* likes people! We tried to gradually introduce the cats at first by giving Strumpet the upstairs bathroom, then the run of the upstairs, hoping they would all begin getting acquainted through the doors. Welllll, our youngest boy, Max, was immediately intrigued by the newcomer he could tell was in the house. The older cat, Murf, hereafter known as Mr. Grump, was aware of the new arrival but tried to appear uninterested. After giving Strumpet a few days to settle in, visted often by myself and DH, for pets & playtime, we left the downstairs open and loosed the hounds, so to speak. It did not take Strumpet long to venture down the stairs, much to Max's delight. Timing is everything however and as Max was approaching from the front, Mr. Grump decided to check her out from the rear. This was not to Strumpet's liking and with much hissing and hair fuzzing on the part of all 3 cats she bolted back upstairs and 'the boys' faced off outside the bathroom. Mr Grump was removed from the center of the activity and calmed down.
Max continued to be intriqued by Miss Strumpet and spent the next two days haunting the stairs and gradually working his way up them. I never realized he was such a master of passive/aggressive strategy. Slowly he worked his way up the stairs. In the beginning he was met with hissing and spitting. At first he fuzzed up in response but then he would just sit on the step, waiting. When one of us went up to play with Strumpet or check food etc, he would slip in behind us and sniff around, sometimes getting hissed at by her, usually ignoring it. On one memorable occasion he had made it up the stairs and was heading toward 'her' bathroom when Strumpet spotted him, and stopped him in mid-step with a load hiss. Very slowly he turned his head to look at her, even more slowly he moved the back leg up under his haunch, then he slowly sat down. I don't know how long he sat there just watching her, I was turning red from trying not to laugh out loud so I left them to work things out. Later that evening DH found him sitting in the doorway to the bathroom (where Strumpet's catbox, food and water were). Just sitting. He went ahead and removed him in the interest of getting a good night's sleep :).
Gradually Strumpet stopped hissing at Max and pretty much ignored him. Every now and then we would find her partway down the stairs and try to pet and coax her further but she wasn't quite ready. She really had it pretty good upstairs, room to play, her own couch with a big pillow to recline on, big window with lots to see out of, including a birdfeeder, humans to come and adore her a couple of times a day. Then, on the 4th (naturally :)), she finally came all the way down the stairs. Immediately Max was there, some hissing ensued, and back she went up the stairs. I thought this would be like the other times and she would stay upstairs for awhile but almost as soon as Max came back down the stairs, she was back down too and started investigating the new space. Mr Grump met her with growls, which she either ignored or hissed back at him, putting him in his place. We had no trouble keeping track of where she was as Max was usually a few feet right behind. She ignored him completely.
It has been over 2 days now and she pretty much goes up or down as she pleases. She likes her upstairs window and can usually be found there if neither DH or I are not home. She seems to have investigated the open rooms to her satisfaction so if either of us or home she likes to be on our laps (she is a strumpet after all :) ). I tried to 'Strumpet-proof' the house but have found a few things that still need to be put away for awhile, she has the amazing ability to just walk by things and if the fall over look at you like "well why was that there in the first place?" :). I don't think she's found the basement yet, but the sweat shop is blocked off, as is the computer room upstairs for now. Max is not shadowing her as he was but he would still *really* like to play with her. She had deigned to shadow box with him through a chair cover a couple of times but still pretty much ignores him. She is definately more of a people cat, and definately living up to her name :).
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Date: 2005-07-07 07:32 pm (UTC)When old Mr. Pissy, Mason, moved down here a full two months before I did (due to feline hostility towards him and his ensuing bad behavior) I was terrified that the other 7 cats here would do the same, not to mention the 3 dogs. Not so. He stayed under Bruce's bed for about two weeks and then sallied forth to be met with indifference or nonchalance by all four-legged family members.
It was the most peaceful introduction I've ever witnessed. Amazing.
awww....
Date: 2005-07-07 08:14 pm (UTC)Re: awww....
Date: 2005-07-07 09:07 pm (UTC)I'm glad she likes her foster home
Date: 2005-07-07 10:24 pm (UTC)Thanks again!
Re: I'm glad she likes her foster home
Date: 2005-07-08 01:37 pm (UTC)