A Lot Of (still) Newbie Questions

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MoonstoneWolf

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Is she down yet?
She's down and had another fight with Shadow. I'm going to just let it be for now on with them. She obviously returns after Shadow is through eating and nothing I can o while inside with my Mom still asleep and burglar alarm on. (Mom suffers from insomnia so I try not to walk past her to turn off).

I looked at a photo I took last month and Shaman was in same spot in tree because she just wanted to.

Question: since these two aren't drawing blood, is it possible they are "playing"? Like I mentioned it looks more to me like Shadow wants to play rather than attack. Having only had one cat at a time in the past I'm not familiar with how cats interact with one another.
 
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MoonstoneWolf

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I'm glad she's down, and good for you noticing that the tree seems to be something of a "hang-out" spot.

I don't know if this will help?
Are My Cats Fighting Or Playing?
Thanks. Ok so reading this Shaman is the one that shows all the signs of "fighting". Shadow on the other hand shows the signs of "playing" during the interaction. So I wonder, is it more annoyance then actual fighting? I often liken the way Shaman runs off seeing Shadow to the human who runs and tries to avoid the "town gossip" or the neighbor who although sweet never shuts up once she stops you to talk.
 

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is it more annoyance then actual fighting? I often liken the way Shaman runs off seeing Shadow to the human who runs and tries to avoid the "town gossip" or the neighbor who although sweet never shuts up once she stops you to talk.
LOL, I love this description, and I'll bet you're right :lol:
 
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MoonstoneWolf

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LOL, I love this description, and I'll bet you're right :lol:
The reason why I wonder that is because one time I saw Shaman and Treasure eat. Shaman went to lay and rest, Treasure went down to the tree to explore. Shadow comes up, walks up to Shaman, sticks her face right in Shaman's face. Shaman hisses, and Shadow turns around to go eat while Shaman closes her eyes to nap a bit more. They were only a few feet away. So it is confusing and their body language around each other changes moment to moment. One time they're ok with one another, then there's the hissing and growling and then there is total avoidance of each other.
 
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MoonstoneWolf

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A question and I"m not worried but just curious, would Shadow constantly chasing Shaman off make Shaman go somewhere else for food or just make Shaman wait til she knows Shadow has been here and left? I'm just curious as usually after these two encounter each other Shaman waits several hours before returning before coming back which of course leads to another encounter. lol
 
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MoonstoneWolf

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Ugh Shaman is still gone. Sorry for venting. I'm trying to get it out of my system before being outside where I come in contact with her, if she returns. Shadow seemed so adamant about claiming this area I'm having my doubts. But that could just be the worry wart in me.
 

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would Shadow constantly chasing Shaman off make Shaman go somewhere else for food or just make Shaman wait til she knows Shadow has been here and left?
I don't know - here's one situation where it would be SO useful if they could talk, because partly it's based on Shadow's "language" of either that she's really intending that consequence (of Shaman leaving for good) or she's just being snarky and repeatedly stating I'm the boss around here.

And partly it's Shaman's personality, --I think... - this is really delving into cat psychology and I don't know if anybody knows because every cat is so different. Certainly she's reliant on and counting on you for food, so I think she'll continue to come around unless there are blood-drawn types of fights.
 
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MoonstoneWolf

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I don't know - here's one situation where it would be SO useful if they could talk, because partly it's based on Shadow's "language" of either that she's really intending that consequence (of Shaman leaving for good) or she's just being snarky and repeatedly stating I'm the boss around here.

And partly it's Shaman's personality, --I think... - this is really delving into cat psychology and I don't know if anybody knows because every cat is so different. Certainly she's reliant on and counting on you for food, so I think she'll continue to come around unless there are blood-drawn types of fights.
So far I haven't seen any blood. But then I'm relying on a cruddy iphone app with no IR as I can't even afford an actual camera to hook up to monitor 24/7. I can only watch for as long as the sun is out an that's it. I'm just extremely sad about this situation. I know I"m repeating myself, but as much as I love all these cats, if I had to make a choice of only one to stay it would be Shaman as she is the one who came to me first when I was down and injured. I hate to lose her. I wish a neighbor would decide to take in Shadow since Shadow always walks around with her tail between her legs and no other cat likes her. But no one here wants to do that. :( This makes me sad.
 

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Hang in there - as much as the dynamics of cat interactions change, maybe someone will move in to your area who has an open heart. If possible, that's something else you could talk to the TNR person about - or maybe a veterinarian in your area, or on Nextdoor? I realize it's kitten season and people who are looking to take in a feline have a tendency to want kittens, but yet there are other people who like and prefer older cats because the energy levels/requirements are less.
 
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MoonstoneWolf

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I tried calling for her but she wouldn't come. Treasure showed up so maybe that's a hopeful sign as those two are always together? But still no sign of Shaman. I need to find a way of getting a decent cam with IR so I can watch what happens at night time.
 
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MoonstoneWolf

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Hang in there - as much as the dynamics of cat interactions change, maybe someone will move in to your area who has an open heart. If possible, that's something else you could talk to the TNR person about - or maybe a veterinarian in your area, or on Nextdoor? I realize it's kitten season and people who are looking to take in a feline have a tendency to want kittens, but yet there are other people who like and prefer older cats because the energy levels/requirements are less.
I'm a bit scared to do the app route. I am only 20 minutes away from the cat killer on Craigslist and after seeing that it makes me leery. I feel I need to personally know the person. I've asked on Next Door and no one responds on there, they just thank you for the post and move on.
 
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MoonstoneWolf

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You're right, that's the best approach.
Don't give up, I know you won't :thumbsup:
Ok, doesn't make the sorrow in my heart go away though. I'm still very scared she may have been run off. She usually would have been here already and as far as I know she hasn't ate since Noon yesterday because she was run off. But with a 1/4 acre backyard she can spot Shadow up here from any angle.
 
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Sorry to keep worrying but when it comes to food schedules, how many times does it take for a cat to come looking for food and the bowl isn't there before they move on? Not sure if worded properly but seems that a lot of times Treasure shows up like minutes after I take the bowl inside. Don't they move on and leave if they consistently don't see food? Ugh this entire thing is confusing to me. I don't want any of them to run off. :(
 
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