I just happen to like them. Quite a bit. Ok, fine. I like them a lot.
I remember the day I got my first kitten. I think I was about 12 or so, and my brother, mom and I walked into our house on Syracuse after running errands. My mom had a mischievous look on her face, and my brother and I were kind of thrown for a loop, but we didn’t pay too much attention. Upon walking inside, she told us to stay in the dining room and hurriedly vanished down the hallway. The bathroom door opened and out bounced two teeny kittens — both siamese/himalayan mix, one was long-haired and one was short.
My brother and I squealed with excitement (we’d been wanting kittens for a while). I immediately plucked up the long-haired and my brother went for the short-haired. Named after the musical Cats, my Mr. Mistoffelees (Misty), and my brother’s Rum Tum Tugger (Tugger) joined the Friedman household.
Misty quickly became my best friend. She followed me everywhere, perched on the bathroom counter as I got ready for school, and wasn’t too fond of anyone else. She’d lurk behind doorways and swat at the toes of strangers and anyone but me. My best friend ultimately nicknamed her “Sassy,” because that’s what she is — full of sass.
When I moved out of my parent’s house at 18, Misty was one of the hardest members of the family to say goodbye to (sorry Mom!). It’s incredible how connected we get to our animals. I’d come back and visit often, but we were, obviously, growing apart.
The summer between Junior and Senior year in college, I headed to the mall to pick up a pair of pants. My roommate and I decided to wander into the pet store (playing with danger) and check out some puppies and kittens we could love
on while we waited. Low and behold, we fell in love with a kitten.
A tiny baby of a brown and grey tabby, who played with my necklace and tickled my cheeks with her whiskers as she purred into my neck. L-O-V-E.
Needless to say, we walked out of the mall with my pants, and a cat.
Little Izzy, named after Izzie Stevens from Grey’s Anatomy, became my new love — but didn’t replace Misty. Izzy was the queen of our apartment in Boulder — so much that my roommate put aside her allergies of cats in order to incorporate her into our house. Izzy was a total snuggle-bug with everyone who came into the house. She’d just get lost in her purrs and cuddles and loved everyone.
Then, something happened.
I don’t know what, or who, or how, but her personality completely changed. She no longer was affectionate w
ith strangers. In fact. she was just the opposite. She became incredibly fearful, hiding under the bed, growling, hissing, swatting. She was just downright aggressive. We thought it might have been due to her spaying, but the change took place months after. I tried everything I could to calm her down. She was still snuggly with me, but not with anyone else.
Then I moved. And Izzy spent 21 hours in a carrier in our Penske. It didn’t change her demeanor for the better or worse, but now she was in a new location. She loved the small studio we first moved into. She’d sit perched on the windowsills, watching the city-life go by.
But she didn’t have any space to play. And her demeanor with strangers intensified.
Moving to a new apartment gave Izzy much more space to play and run around. It also gave her more space to hide if
she was afraid when guests came over. Alas, she was still unfriendly (to put it mildly) and I’d have to explain to each guest why my cat was crazy and to just ignore her. I became increasingly frustrated with her behavior — my friends just want to love her!
Then, I had a conversation with Trisha, in which she explained how she actually got another kitten — a friend — for her cat who exhibited similar characteristics of Izzy. And now? Her can has calmed down immensely.
I thought I might give it a shot, but I wasn’t quite ready for another cat (nor was I completely convinced).
Then, as timing should have it, Leah announced to the Twitterverse that she had a kitten that needed a new home. Of course, I told her to get him all checked out and if he was healthy, I’d try to introduce him to Izzy.
It’s been 3 days and they’ve spent about 8 hours together. There’s not much physical fighting — just a couple swats here and there. Day on
e was a bit rocky,
Izzy spent most of the time hidden under the couch growling. They’ve finally began testing each other out — playing a bit. And last night, they were both able to take a little nap near each other.
As of now, they’re separated during the day when I’m at work, any time I’m not there, and at night. When I’m there, and able to watch them, I’ll let them roam free. Hopefully, they’ll become friends and Jasper (yes! Jasper!!) will calm Izzy down a bit. He’s not even phased by her aggression — he’s the chillest cat on the block.
Have any of you tried to introduce two cats? How did it go? Have any tips?
It’s easier to introduce a male and female cat. Do NOT introduce a male to male… Or if you do, expect a lot of fighting as they’re quite territorial. Sergio is a completely lovebug when it comes to people, but oh man, we catsat another male cat… Not the best if one likes to play, and the other does not. 😛
Thanks for the tip! Jasper is male and Izzy is female, so I think that’s helping! You’ve gotta come over and meet them 🙂
I’ve done it too many times to count. I AM a crazy cat lady, to the core! You are doing the right thing. Just be patient and give them time. They’ll be best buds before you know it.
I currently have two kitties. Clyde is pure white, lanky, muscular and all man. Howard is a flame point Siamese with baby blue eyes. He’s GORGEOUS. He looks like a creamsicle. They used to have a surrogate sister, Mia, but I had to put her down last year. 🙁
This is my favorite kitty introduction story: When Clyde was a baby he escaped from my house during one of the worst blizzards when I lived in Wyoming. He was gone for 14 days. I put fliers up all over, drove around my neighborhood all night long after work calling and looking for him. I took fliers to my daughter’s school with his picture and she started telling me how this kid and that kid would say they saw him. I didn’t think much of it because kids will be kids and a lot of them were telling her they saw him. But, one little boy kept telling her that he was sure he saw Clyde with another black kitty in the neighborhood. I don’t know why, but I had a different feeling about this story. I kept my bedroom window open a crack every night, despite the frigid weather, just in case he came home. THEN, one night I heard a tiny little meow. I flew out of bed and looked out my bedroom window and there was my baby WITH A BLACK CAT sitting on my deck! The black kitty was pretty shabby looking, long hair, green eyes, would have been really beautiful if it had a bath and brush. I ran out to the deck to scoop up Clyde and the black cat scurried off. His little paws were all scuffed up and bloody and he was sooo skinny and cold. 🙁 It was awful. I took him to the vet the next day and nursed him back to health and he was good as new in no time.
However, he became very restless. He had a taste of outside life and wanted more. I wasn’t comfortable letting him be an outside kitty, so I decided to get him a friend. While looking for him during those two weeks I met this woman who sheltered kitties in her home when the shelter didn’t have room. She had like 27 cats at her house. It was insane. I decided to go there and pick out a cat friend for Clyde. I walked in and she was showing me around, introducing me to one furball after another…they were all amazing. I didn’t know how I was going to choose! Then, she showed me a black cat. She had just found her at the shelter. She had come off the streets covered in oil, pregnant and had just delivered her babies and they all died. She looked hideous. This woman attempted to shave her and she was patchy all over. She looked like she had some weird disease. I immediately fell in love with her. I knew nobody else would want her, so I took her. Whenever I adopt a new kitty I always take the smallest, sickest, ugliest…because I know I can give them the best chance and best life.
Like I said, I’ve introduced a lot of cats. It generally results in lots of hissing, growling, swatting, spitting, hiding, running, chasing…you name it. But, this experience was completely different. I let her out of the carrier in my spare bedroom with the door closed and let her sniff around for a while, get acclimated. When I could tell she was a bit more relaxed, I brought in Clyde. I held on to him, he was much smaller and slowly held him out to her so they could smell each other. They just looked at each other, touched noses and Clyde wiggled out of my arms. They continued to walk around each other, sniffing and then both found a place in the room to plop down and that was IT. they just laid there and stared at each other. No hissing, no growling, no swatting..nothing! They were instant BFF’s and I KNOW this was the kitty that he brought home with him that day. Once her hair grew back out, she looked identical to the cat that was with him on the deck that morning. Destiny!
I think you did the right thing getting Izzy a friend. I totally think she’ll chill out, especially if Jasper is a chill cat. I’m excited for you! I hope your future days and nights are filled with LOTS of purrrrrrrs. 🙂
Yay! It’s so good to hear a story just like that one. And I want to meet your kitties!!!
Izzy and Jasper are definitely getting along well! They’re not snuggling yet, but the hissing and growling is almost completely eliminated. They actually are playing with each other! I’m definitely trying to give each kitty equal love — I don’t want Izzy to think I’m replacing her, and Jasper to feel unwelcome! I’m going out of town this weekend, so hopefully I’ll come home and they’ll still be in one piece!
Thanks for sharing your story!! I’m in CO for Thanksgiving (and will be spending time with Ali). I’d love to see you!
I would love that! I love to cook as much as I love to collect cats, and I owe JJ & Ali a dinner. If plans pan out while you’re in town, maybe I’ll cater some grub to their house and we can hang out.
Enjoy your weekend away!