It's a bit of a long story...
I have a six-year old cat named Miranda, who is the queen of the apartment. It's always been just me and her (since she was two months old), and she pretty much owns the place (I just pay for it).
A few years ago, there was a semi-feral cat who started showing up on my covered patio. I slowly won its (not sure if it was male or female) trust with treats, and over time, it came to trust me. I was afraid to bring it in, because I didn't know how it would assimilate with Miranda (it was very skittish and food-aggressive). I ended up putting a covered cat bed on the patio, and giving 'PC' food, water and treats every day for two years, until it (sadly) disappeared. Even though it never came inside, I treated it as part of the family (my cat-sitter had instructions to feed it and make sure its water was filled). We were buddies - PC trusted me enough to lay in my lap and nap for a while after it ate. I was devastated when it disappeared.
As of last week, there's a new stray in town. A sweet, friendly little thing. I've been feeding it as well, and getting a TON of affection from it. Now, normally I'd consider this my second chance, to correct the mistakes I made in not bringing PC into my home. But, in addition to my endless concern about Miranda's happiness and well-being (she's such a neurotic little diva - my fault, I fear), there's also a new wrench in my plan - I'm moving in a month. My catch-22 is this: I'm afraid to take this cat to the vet, get it checked out, and then try to begin the integration process, only to shake up Miranda's world in another month (moves are never easy, and I'm most likely moving to a studio). Miranda is, of course, always my top priority because she and I are ridiculously bonded. At the same time, I feel a responsibility to this sweet cat, and I can't just pack up and abandon it. So, I'm stuck. I don't know WHAT to do. Life is about to get hectic, what with packing and upsetting my little creature of habit Miranda enough as it is.
I have a six-year old cat named Miranda, who is the queen of the apartment. It's always been just me and her (since she was two months old), and she pretty much owns the place (I just pay for it).
A few years ago, there was a semi-feral cat who started showing up on my covered patio. I slowly won its (not sure if it was male or female) trust with treats, and over time, it came to trust me. I was afraid to bring it in, because I didn't know how it would assimilate with Miranda (it was very skittish and food-aggressive). I ended up putting a covered cat bed on the patio, and giving 'PC' food, water and treats every day for two years, until it (sadly) disappeared. Even though it never came inside, I treated it as part of the family (my cat-sitter had instructions to feed it and make sure its water was filled). We were buddies - PC trusted me enough to lay in my lap and nap for a while after it ate. I was devastated when it disappeared.
As of last week, there's a new stray in town. A sweet, friendly little thing. I've been feeding it as well, and getting a TON of affection from it. Now, normally I'd consider this my second chance, to correct the mistakes I made in not bringing PC into my home. But, in addition to my endless concern about Miranda's happiness and well-being (she's such a neurotic little diva - my fault, I fear), there's also a new wrench in my plan - I'm moving in a month. My catch-22 is this: I'm afraid to take this cat to the vet, get it checked out, and then try to begin the integration process, only to shake up Miranda's world in another month (moves are never easy, and I'm most likely moving to a studio). Miranda is, of course, always my top priority because she and I are ridiculously bonded. At the same time, I feel a responsibility to this sweet cat, and I can't just pack up and abandon it. So, I'm stuck. I don't know WHAT to do. Life is about to get hectic, what with packing and upsetting my little creature of habit Miranda enough as it is.