It’s incredible that something so tiny can have so much vitality, intelligence, curiosity, and grace. I absolutely adore kittens.
Mollie is only four months old, but she picked up all the ropes of our household within a few days of joining us after we brought her here. She is the epitome of a kitten, racing through the house at breakneck speed, stumbling upon the ideal hiding spot, engaging in a game of tackle with the older cats, and finally collapsing to regain her strength before continuing on to the next exciting adventure. Even though everything is brand new, it quickly starts to feel familiar.
Even though she’s graceful, we’re having to resort to the “kitten shuffle.” If you open the refrigerator door, she’ll be inside. While you are chopping vegetables at the counter, she will be at the sink, so please step back. You’ll find her in the restroom, so make your way there.
Any person who adores cats will eventually reach a point in their life when they feel the need to expand their family of feline companions. According to a survey conducted by the American Pet Products Manufacturing Association, the ratio of cats to dogs in terms of population is approximately 90 million to 73 million, and the reason for this disparity is that we can’t have just one of either. On occasion, it is the result of a deliberative choice, while at other times, it is the result of random chance. It has been successful for us in both directions.
We had been considering the possibility of expansion for a while now. During the course of the previous year, not one but two of our beloved feline family members crossed over to the other side, leaving us with “just” three. My husband Paul had a soft spot in his heart for one of the kittens, so when he decided he wanted his very own, he set his sights on a calico female with a black and white pattern.
Even though a cat that has passed away can never be replaced, you can show respect for its memory by giving your home to a new furry friend. One of my coworkers once said, “The fact that they don’t live as long as we do means there are more animals available for adoption.” And things had reached a point where they were becoming a little too tranquil.
So, on a Saturday, we went to a local shelter that was having trouble finding homes for all of the kittens and cats that had recently been abandoned. This little girl, who was black and white and about 4 or 5 weeks old, had been abandoned with neither her mother nor any of her siblings. She was a little reticent, but she purred easily and had no problem being cuddled or playing with other people. We made a claim on her, but in order to bring her home, we would have to wait until she gained 2 pounds and was old enough to be spayed.
The following week, my husband and I went back to see her, and he swore that she gave him a dirty look when she was put back in her cage, so he decided that it would be less stressful (on both him and the kitten) if he just waited until she was ready to come home. We went back to see her the following week.
In the meantime, we were required to settle on a moniker. That would be Paul’s option, and I compiled a list of possibilities. Nothing particularly stood out to him, but after I had put away the list, he remarked, “I think I like Mollie.”
After that, we were forced to pass the time until she was prepared, which took a grueling two months.
The process of introducing new animals can be challenging, but we felt confident in our decision because our own three cats had always lived with others, and Mollie had been at the shelter where she interacted with a variety of cats. As soon as I got there, I went around and put a little bit of vanilla extract on each cat’s muzzle as a warm-up exercise to ensure that they all had the same odor. We gave Mollie some time to investigate the family room, which contains a variety of nooks and crannies, all of which she found very quickly. The more experienced cats eventually found their way inside, and they were surprised to see the newcomer.
There was a significant amount of sniffing, a little bit of hissing, as well as some posturing. Paul devoted some of his time to building a strong relationship with her. After all, he intended for her to be “his” feline companion. She quickly discovered some hiding places, which most likely helped her feel more secure as she adjusted to her new, significantly larger, digs. She found them very quickly. She did, however, discover that her meals were brought to her on a regular basis and that she eagerly accepted cuddles, which were accompanied by a very loud and immediate purr.
Pulitzer, our orange tabby, was the first cat to blossom under her care. He was a big, indestructible guy who could take anything that was thrown at him, including kitten attacks and wrestling matches. When things got out of hand, he would hiss at them. At least for the next minute or so, Mollie exhibited the understanding that was necessary.
Dusty, our senior citizen, had a lot of patience but he didn’t put up with a lot of nonsense. He took a cautious approach, avoiding full-fledged engagement in the process of his game.
And our Russian Blue diva, Tekla, was aware that by claiming the kitchen counter, she would be able to acquire some additional perspective on the situation. She was aware that Mollie was not permitted to do that – at least not for the time being. She did finally give in and play chase with her little pursuer, turning the tables on her.
The acceptance has been satisfactory, to put it mildly. When it is time for meals, Mollie gets in line with the others, and when it is time for bed, she joins the others on the bed and chirps her thoughts to let them know what she thinks. The household benefits from her presence in the form of increased energy and stimulation.
In my opinion, a good indicator of successful integration is when your original cats are able to maintain their (hopefully) loving routines after the new cats have been introduced. Dusty jumps up onto the nightstand and licks his lips, indicating that he would like to come and snuggle with me under the covers. Tekla, too, can be seen squirming under the covers, but she is positioned much lower in the middle of the bed. While I type, she is currently leaning against my arm, which is propped up on the table. Everyone eats a lot, and nobody appears to be uncomfortable or anxious about the situation.
Take a close look at the smudge of black that is located across Mollie’s nose. See how there’s an outline of a cat with two ears and a tail off to the left there? That is significant to us because it represents all of the other cats in our home that have come before her.
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