Well it's been an ongoing trial adding Fred to our family. About 90% of the time the cats get along well, and I really think most of the trouble is Sparky, who needs neutered. It's a money issue for us right now. We aren't going out for our anniversary because hubby had to spend $200 on tires and rims this weekend, so another $45 for the neuter isn't going to happen. He's even starting to fight with Blackie now and then, though he still nurses from him, so I assume it's all that testorone running through his little body (or whatever the cat equivalent is).
Anyway, Fred likes to sniff at Blackie when Blackie's sleeping. I think he's not really asleep, just playing possum, but it's some kind of cat method of saving face while getting to know each other. But Sparky is not even neutral about it, the minute he sees Fred he goes into his crouch and Fred gets hostile back and even growls. Usually they avoid each other, every now and then Fred gets trapped in the bathroom or maybe between some boxes and it erupts. Of course as soon as it gets noisy Blackie has to go see what's going on and all 3 of them end up in it. I usually throw pillows at them until they break it up or clothes from the hamper or something.
Sparky has become quite possessive of me and the bed, so he comes up for cuddles at bedtime and he won't let the others up. Blackie doesn't seem to mind much. He waits until a time Sparky isn't there or he sits on the footboard and purrs away. Usually I have to initiate petting sessions with Blackie, though he loves it so much and just purrs. Fred has seemed more aloof or interested in hubby so I usually just kind of pet him in passing and he looks up at me but he doesn't purr often and he doesn't often ask for more.
This morning I woke up with a cat on my feet, not unusual. I reached down but couldn't touch him. If Sparky sees my hand, he usually walks up me to be petted. Blackie starts purring but might not move. This cat did nothing, so I assumed he was sleeping. Then my daughter came into my bedroom and cried out, "Mommy, look! It's Fred!" Sure enough our little Fredlet had draped himself over my knees and was snuggling up to me for the first time. Melts my heart. I'm such a mushball over my kitties.
BTW, Sparky just showed up looking for lovin' and hs is completely fascinated with the spot where Fred was laying. He seems curious but not possessive or hostile. Got to get him fixed, tho'.
Anyway, Fred likes to sniff at Blackie when Blackie's sleeping. I think he's not really asleep, just playing possum, but it's some kind of cat method of saving face while getting to know each other. But Sparky is not even neutral about it, the minute he sees Fred he goes into his crouch and Fred gets hostile back and even growls. Usually they avoid each other, every now and then Fred gets trapped in the bathroom or maybe between some boxes and it erupts. Of course as soon as it gets noisy Blackie has to go see what's going on and all 3 of them end up in it. I usually throw pillows at them until they break it up or clothes from the hamper or something.
Sparky has become quite possessive of me and the bed, so he comes up for cuddles at bedtime and he won't let the others up. Blackie doesn't seem to mind much. He waits until a time Sparky isn't there or he sits on the footboard and purrs away. Usually I have to initiate petting sessions with Blackie, though he loves it so much and just purrs. Fred has seemed more aloof or interested in hubby so I usually just kind of pet him in passing and he looks up at me but he doesn't purr often and he doesn't often ask for more.
This morning I woke up with a cat on my feet, not unusual. I reached down but couldn't touch him. If Sparky sees my hand, he usually walks up me to be petted. Blackie starts purring but might not move. This cat did nothing, so I assumed he was sleeping. Then my daughter came into my bedroom and cried out, "Mommy, look! It's Fred!" Sure enough our little Fredlet had draped himself over my knees and was snuggling up to me for the first time. Melts my heart. I'm such a mushball over my kitties.
BTW, Sparky just showed up looking for lovin' and hs is completely fascinated with the spot where Fred was laying. He seems curious but not possessive or hostile. Got to get him fixed, tho'.