Ava has almost been with us for 1 week, and she and Kato are well on the way to becoming great friends. She is a lovely girl who readily approaches Kato (and us) for loves. And she purrs like a little engine at the slightest attention. She is in fact, a cat to fill my heart, and is rapidly gaining Kato's affection. They aren't quite sleeping curled up together (yet), but I had both of them on my lap this afternoon! And at some point of the night, we will get both little bodies joining us on the bed. I was delighted the first time I saw Kato lick Ava, as cats will lick and groom their family, so this was a fantastic development. It's so funny seeing Ava reciprocate! Kato has also settled further, and is much more his 'usual' self, eating well, appearing relaxed, giving a few purrs, and requesting attention by jumping into my lap or into my jumper (it also turned cold today, which helps!). He watches Ava constantly and loves to play chasey with her. He also comes to see what is 'hurting' her when she squeaks (I had to clean her foot after a bathroom accident). It's happy families over here!
Well now, last night Kato decided he simply must come into the room where Ava and I were playing. So he did - without any hisses! But he did have some rather 'hunting' type eyes and Ava sensibly stayed up on a desk while I tried to distract Kato with some play (not so successfully). And then we had a blissfully silent night.
When I went to go visit Ava this morning, she took matters boldly in hand and determinedly pranced right past me, zooming through the door, and strutting off around the living room, calling out for some cat friends (I presume). Kato obliged, and tentatively came up the stairs. Ava plunked right up to Kato and reached forward for a nose kiss! All gone my plans for another elaborate day of site-swapping, instead, we had a day of getting to know each other. Kato has been acutely aware that this is a girl cat, and tries to tumble and grab her scruff, with lots of sniffing of her nether regions. Ava flips over and hisses at him. And then scampers off for some chasey games or hunting the toy that I'm waving (Kato ignores the toy and fixates on her). And I've been trying to 'let go' and work out what is play and what is a bit too much. The speed of both of them as they zoom around is astounding! And Ava is a dab hand at getting right to the top of the 7 foot cat tree, then playing swatting games with Kato. (She fell off once, but was up there again in a flash). So far, I'm working on the principle of no noise means we're all having fun. Even a little noise is ok, as Kato is making some new sounds as he searches for her and tries to get close - she's a silent little ninja in their chasey games so he sometimes loses her! But any type of noise that sounds like a cat yoddle, or more than one hiss, and I'm in there asking if they are playing nice, providing a refuge for Ava, or grabbing and cuddling Kato to make him take a break. He definitely benefitted from me calling a break when things got a little too intense, and asking if he wanted a walk...down he trotted at my heels to get his harness and off we went. The funniest thing when we came back, was where I found Ava. I was slightly wondering where she might be, given this was the first time she was left with access to the whole house. She's no slouch! I think she likes Kato very much - she hunted out his favourite sleeping place, where his scent was heaviest, and inside that cave was where she was! Time with Ava in our bedroom The state of separation continues. And we have stepped up the site swapping. Our second night was better - Ava either cried less, or I slept like the deaf. Actually, somewhere just before midnight I was awakened by really loud cries - Ava calling for attention, and KATO giving a meow after every one of hers as he sat outside her door. I couldn't quite work out his tone, but he sure was loud, so I knelt down and reassured him. They both stopped. And I took Kato back to bed with me. Weird. This morning Kato showed interest in Ava's door, so I opened it just a crack. They both smelt and eyed each other, both hissed, and Ava tucked her tail between her legs and sank back. As far as I know, this is great. They are communicating, and Ava shows enough spunk to say she's a cat (not prey to be hunted), and enough submission to mollify her elder. About 10 minutes later, Kato again showed interest in the door - I opened it a crack once more. Kato hissed and Ava backed off into her room with a sad expression as if to say 'Why does the big cat keep hissing at me?' At breakfast, Ava quite happily ate close to the door - Kato wouldn't even try at 3 feet away. So we went for a walk. But this time I let Kato into the garage and closed the door, and relocated Ava to the downstairs room with all her necessaries. Kato couldn't work out why I'd shut him in the garage! But he quickly forgot on his walk. When we came back, I did another switcheroo - this time Ava in our room, Kato in the downstairs, with the door open to his garden and his breakfast given to him there. Ava had me for the next three hours as well as the run of the upstairs territory. She's a bold girl! No hesitation, off she went exploring and sniffing. And then we played with 'Da bird' - so hilarious, and she's amazingly quick! After lunch, Ava was relegated (reluctantly with cries) back into her room, and Kato came back upstairs. The result is that now Ava's scent is all over our home. Kato had a perturbing day of finding her scent EVERYWHERE. Each time he went into a new place, he'd slink around smelling her, and smelling her on 'his' stuff (I didn't let her go into his sleeping cave or litterbox though...I need to avoid Kato getting to the miserable 'on strike' stage). No more hissing at her scent though. And he is still giving me loves :) So, I am a complete novice at cat introductions as this is the first time I've had a second cat.
So far, it is not following the best case scenario, and I'm writing this on my iPhone as I take Kato on his second walk for the day. He's so rattled that someone is in his bathroom, I'm doing everything I can to expend his stress and energy in order to help him out. But boy is it tiring for me, working two cats when they need to be separate! Ava turns out to be a purry little love bug, with good self confidence. She is at ease already- but itching to get out of her little room and explore. So we did some site swapping this morning. While Kato was downstairs, Ava came into our bedroom. She had a good explore and hissed at her reflection. Meanwhile, Kato was doing the same. He'd gone through the open door to her room and was hissing away at her smell! I slipped through the door to reassure him, then went to slip back. I was focused on blocking Kato, and I'd forgotten just how small and fast a kitten is! She rushed past my legs and almost collided head-on with Kato. They both got a huge shock, backflips and hisses mid air on both sides, before promptly bolting in opposite directions. Anyway, I apologised to Kato for the scare, who then padded off downstairs while I settled Ava. She was right as rain, and discovered the food left for her, scarfing into it. Time for walk one of the day! Kato lollopped off into his garden after his walk, so I went and did some research jobs for husband-man (who is away!), sitting on the floor of the bathroom with phone and laptop. Ava was delighted and jumped all over me, tried to eat the cords to my earplugs etc etc, all the while purring non-stop like a truck. The awkwardness of that sitting position then demanded site-swap number two...relocating Ava and I to the bedroom. More precisely, to my bed, as I was zonked! Ava was not a quiet little girl over-nght (unlike Kato when he was little). Besides, I was worried about the temperature of her room - freezing. So I was up a few times to turn on the fan heater and comfort her...then go back to bed only to get up again as I was worrying that I'd left the power switch on and for sure she'd tip her water bowl and there'd be an electrocuted kitten on the first night!! Kato was also on alert. I thought he was rather nice actually, as everytime he heard her cries, he'd lift his head from my legs and look. Then if the cries kept on going, he'd jump down off the bed and sit at the door, looking back at me as if to say 'Mum, the kitten's crying. Come-on.' (So sad that his interest, and perhaps empathy, has been scared away...oh well, my best guess is it just needs time, and positive experiences.) After a 20min kip with sweet Ava, Kato was crying. So it was obviously time for some attention on him. With Ava back in her room, I thought I'd try some treats and sweeten the association with the new being. Now Kato LOVES treats. But it turned out his fright trumped his love of treats, and I could only coax him to about 3 feet away from Ava's door. He was also moaning and hissing at the smell of Ava on my hands, so we went and had treats at ease in the kitchen - albeit with smelly Ava hands ;) Tactic two...tap into the love of play. With a door in the way. Solution: feather under the door. Ava would grab it and pull it, Kato would creep closer to the waggling feather, I'd pull it to stop it disappearing...It went on for about 20minutes, by which time Kato was tentatively looking under the door for the little shadow. TENTATIVELY. And that was enough for today I thought...time to expend the stress - 30mins of play with 'Da Bird', and that second walk. Thankfully, right at this minute, they are now both asleep in their respective beds and rooms. Time for a cuppa and some chocolate for me! More later... |
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