Adventures in moving

Teresa and Chester both came out of their crates and explored the sun room.  In fact, Chester was sitting on one of the trees when I came in this aftenoon.  He allowed me to pet him -  a biggie, since he's mostly been hissing at me.

I opened the door between the living room and sun room to see what would happen.  Chester stayed put but Teresa came in to explore.  No fights, no growling, one little hissy fit by Alfred.  But all-in-all, a very quiet day.  I even let the gang into the bedroom.  Josie and Gracie stayed on the bed, just watching them explore.  I got the boys out after about fifteen minutes and everyone seemed OK.

The last few days, Schofield has been refusing to go into his crate.  I can pick him up and take him but he growls and fusses.  I figured I'd leave him out tonight - in the sun room.  So he is out in the room, although everyone else, sans Halsey, safe in their crates.  Halsey is in the living room with Josie and Gracie.  No fussing, no hissing, so hopefully, there will be no trouble tonight.

Baby steps, I guess...

That totally makes sense about Josie being small in size, and therefore having to make sure that all the other cats know she won't hesitate to retaliate if any other cats want to start something, with her. It must be the posturing and loudness, is more of a clear warning, that the others better not think size is of any advantage. And the living room must be a favourite location, too.

Sounds like certain spots of the home are already favourite spots for your cats, but I think that usually changes over time.

I would never have thought an ironing board would have been something to fight over, but when watching the birds at the feeder, then I guess it does matter, who sits where.

Kind of makes you wonder if the birds see the cats tussling on the ironing board, and keep an eye on them, instead.

Yay, Chester ...sitting on a cat tree.

But now it sounds like the cats are switching teams, too, with Halsey joining Team Josie and Gracie, in the living room.

Teresa doing some exploring, and Schofield wanting freedom in the sun room.

All their cat personalities are beginning to shine through, meaning they are more and more comfortable.

It does sound like 'Kitten' "Baby steps"...

I suppose they just have to get more comfortable with each other, too, not just the surroundings.

cat nap said:

That totally makes sense about Josie being small in size, and therefore having to make sure that all the other cats know she won't hesitate to retaliate if any other cats want to start something, with her. It must be the posturing and loudness, is more of a clear warning, that the others better not think size is of any advantage. And the living room must be a favourite location, too. :9:

Sounds like certain spots of the home are already favourite spots for your cats, but I think that usually changes over time.
I would never have thought an ironing board would have been something to fight over, but when watching the birds at the feeder, then I guess it does matter, who sits where.
Kind of makes you wonder if the birds see the cats tussling on the ironing board, and keep an eye on them, instead.

Yay, Chester ...sitting on a cat tree. :bigthumb:
But now it sounds like the cats are switching teams, too, with Halsey joining Team Josie and Gracie, in the living room.
Teresa doing some exploring, and Schofield wanting freedom in the sun room.

All their cat personalities are beginning to shine through, meaning they are more and more comfortable.

It does sound like 'Kitten' "Baby steps"...:happy3:
I suppose they just have to get more comfortable with each other, too, not just the surroundings.

Click to expand...

How did they all get on in your old home?

Josie, Halsey, Gracie, Chester and the late Molly all lived in the house.  They co-existed - seldom interacting, although Chester would groom each of them on occasion.  Teresa had her own room, as she hated all the other cats except her brother.  Schofield and Alfred lived outside in an enclosure.  So everyone had to make adjustments.

Same routine last night, except Alfred was out of his cage, too.   May try to open Teresa and Chester's crates tonight.

Today, Josie and Gracie are still in the bedroom but everyone else is getting along OK - exploring.  Chester ventured into the living room and looked out the sliding glass doors.  I will open the door to the bedroom later and see what happens.

Had a good scare today.  I used the main bathroom and when I finished and flushed, Schofield flew out of the tub like he'd been shot!

Found out he's apparently taken to laying on the cool porcelain and was not taking any chances when he heard that noise!

OK, so everyone's been out in the whole house all afternoon.  They all ate dinner and have been exploring.  A few growls, one hiss.  If I stand nearby and tell them to "be nice" they end the stand-off and go about their business.

Chester is out on one of the trees!

I took down all crates except Teresa's and Chester's, as they each seemed to need a safe space.

Am thinking about allowing everyone full house privileges tonight.

I wonder how many cats will find their way onto your bed tonight

That's great news! 

So Teresa caused a bit of a kurfuffle just before bedtime last night, so I put the four (Schofield, Alfred, Teresa and Chester) in the sun room and let Gracie, Josie and Halsey loose in the house.

Opened everything up this morning and things are going smoothly.  Teresa postured a bit when she met Josie in the hallway but then scooted under the bed and is napping.  Chester is out and about and even explored the living room a  bit.  He saw Josie and gave her a welcoming groom.  She responded and then was on her way.

I am tentatively announcing that Operation Acclimation is a success.  We'll see how long this lasts.

Ahh, awesome..."Operation Acclimation" is a success. ...tentatively.

I think I love that word "kurfuffle"...it sounds so appropriate, when it comes to cats, meetings, and slight chaos. ("A commotion or fuss, especially one caused by conflicting views." from Oxford online dictionary.)

Chester sounds like a sweetheart, using his grooming skills, to make sure all the other cats look presentable. He must be the self designated cat, who has to make sure that all the others look good, and smell like the friendly bunch.

As long as they are all listening to you, then it seems like very good progress.

You might have to explain to Schofield, though, that when he wants to sleep in the cool porcelain tub, he will have to 'attach a little note' on the door...flipping it to...'cat occupied'...so as not to scare you, or him, when either cat or human is using the room. Poor guy, he figured that bathrooms were nice, cool, quiet places to relax in, until that dreaded flush sound. (one of mine, Reed, likes to sleep on shoes and jump out from the shoe shelving, occasionally, so getting scared by cats is part of the excitement, I guess.)

Good night; everyone behaved.  Alfred explored the counter tops, which is the one place I won't allow the cats.  I could hear him because I set spoons on the counter and he hit every one of them!

I had one of the canned air thingies that has an electronic eye.  When the cat walked past it, it would "psst" and scare them off.  The batteries died and even though I replaced them, it doesn't work.  I used it with Molly and Halsey 11 years ago, so maybe its time to buy a new one.

The sun room sans crates.  Still cat central, though.

How are all the cats doing?   I have been thinking about you and hoping everyone is integrated!

Thanks for asking!

They are pretty well integrated.  Teresa, Chester, Josie and Gracie stay pretty close to the bedroom.  They call come out at breakfast and dinner.  Halsey, Schofield and Alfred mostly stay in the sun room or living room but come into the bedroom on occasion.  Teresa is the only one who will challenge them but most of the time, they just stare her down.  Very few hissy fits, fingers crossed.

Schofield is the mouthy one- he's let me know when the squirrels are too close to the window or if Halsey looks at him crooked.  I am very pleased with how things have progressed.

I still have Feliway all over the house, which I believe has made a tremendous difference.  I ran out about two weeks ago and wasn't going to replace them.  But slapping and crying started, so I got refills.  Since then, it has been very quiet.

Well, we've had some excitement.  My sister and brother-in-law visited with their two active boys, who immediately worked both Alfred and Schofield into a frenzy. My mother-in-law loves seeing the cats play, so she egged them all on.  I tried to warm them but no one was listening (don't you hate it when everyone assumes you're wrong because you're the crazy cat lady?)

By the time they left, everyone was one edge and we had a couple of scuffles that evening.  Just about the time everyone calmed down, my husband came for the weekend and we had a few more stand-offs.  Nothing much - some of the cats wouldn't eat and one growled at my husband.  But things calmed down again.

Michael left last night and everyone was actually OK through the fireworks (four blocks away!) and then a huge thunderstorm!!

But by this morning, things were semi-quiet.  The all Hades broke loose - everyone was screaming and running around.  It took me by surprise - and actually scared me a little.  Then I looked outside - and saw Teresa!  Almost fainted.

She was near our bird feeders, on the ground.  Now Teresa has never been outside, so I realized it could not her.  I checked under the bed and she was there, so this is a loose cat.  Free roaming cats and dogs are illegal here and they are very, very strict about it.

Not sure what to do now.  She ran the nano-second I opened the door, so she is either feral or lost.  Thinking about waiting a few days to see if she reappears, then deciding.  I do not want kittens.  I really, really, really hate irresponsible people!

That is quite a bit of excitement.  Poor Alfred and Schofield.  I imagine they don't deal very well with strangers at all.  Whenever people come over and want to see my ferals, I always tell them to get a quick glance as once they spot the "foreigner"  they are gone! I then proceed to tell me that they are good with cats and all cats love them.  They head outside and off the cats go.  The person looks at me bewildered and says something must be wrong with my cats.  Ugh!! 

The fireworks here were so bad.  My outside boys did not handle it well and one of my former ferals that is now inside also had a very hard time.  I am hoping and hoping it storms tonight and the rest are cancelled.  Your cats seemed to do quite well!

I was wondering how your cats did with your husband especially since they haven't seen him much lately. 

Thank goodness it wasn't Teresa you saw, but oh boy, you may have your first trapping to prepare for!   It's never long before the cats find someone who will help. 

I am so happy that Teresa is adjusting to living with the other cats.  Even if she stays in or near the bedroom at least she is more integrated. 

Thanks for updating.  I think of you and your group often.

How is everyone doing? Did you see that kitty again? Sorry so long between the last comment-I always seem to be late to the party.

Everyone is fine, thanks.  All calmed down since the visitors and fireworks are gone.

I haven't seen the cat again.  The lady with the local rescue said several torties have been rescued near a body shop about 1/4 mile from me.  I will set the trap if I see her gain but honestly, I am hoping I don't!!!!

Just checking in to see how things are going.  Are the cat all mingling together or are some still staying separated?  I hope things are going well. 

Thanks for asking!  Josie is basically the bedroom cat, although she will venture out on occasion.  She usually runs to the cat tree in the living room and glares at everyone for about an hour before retreating to her kingdom.

Everyone else has the run of the house.  The two spare bedrooms are still off-limits, as one has my sewing stuff in it (and they would wreak havoc with my thread holders!) and the other is still packed with boxes of stuff we have no room for.  When my husband gets here, we have a lot of things to sell/give away.

But everyone is doing well.  Alfred and Schofield are the only problem, really, and that's because they play so roughly.  Alfred has sores on his jaw where Schofield has bitten him so hard.  I've had him to the vet's for antibiotics.  She also gave him Prednoson because we thought at first is was allergies.  But as it turned out, he was scratching them open.  I just have to watch when they start roughhousing.

I feel very, very lucky because they all adjusted so well.  Schofield and Alfred have really made a difference.  They play with one another and then everyone else - even Teresa! - wants to play, too.  It gets a little noisy on occasion but I am so happy things worked out the way they did.