Oscar settled in!
As some of you will know, 10 days ago we adopted a 9 yr old British Blue Shorthair cat (see avitar). His name is Oscar and we decided, eventually, not to change it. His owners are going to go and work on a cruise liner and so he needed a new home.
Well, we got him back here and took him to the vet to get a check up, only to discover the poor thing had a broken tooth that was infected. The owners had no idea, he was still eating! They even offered to pay for the surgery, they were so horrified. He was given an anti-biotic shot and an appt for surgery to remove the tooth.
To add to the complications, we already had two British Shorthairs, slightly younger, so we have needed to get them used to each other.
I'm pleased to report that the surgery went well and that after a careful introduction process, the cats are all ok! A few hisses from Memphis and Phoenix if he gets up close and personal but that's about it. Whew! What a relief!
We did the whole separate quarters bit for a week, leaving the door rigged ajar; we swapped blankets they'd been using between cats; we brushed them with the same brush; put treats out at his doorway and finally set up a make shift cage for him in the lounge for 24 hrs. Then we took the cage away and waited. It worked. In between that, he'd been booked in for his surgery but ended up spending the night at the hospital because they'd had an accident come in and had to delay his op. Poor cat must have been so stressed!
However, he is now settled in and absolutely fine. He's relaxed and cuddly, a bit wary of the other two but getting more confident. Once he has his check up today, he will be booked in for vaccinations. He's already had a new chip put in as the old one had stopped working!
sandrascookbook.com
- Login to post comments
Replies to This Discussion
- Reply by sandra Alicante on February 17, 2012 at 12:01 pm
-
Just brought him back from his check up and he has a clean bill of health. Got to wait 3 weeks before he can have all his vaccinations to get him up to date.
sandrascookbook.com
- Login to post comments
- Reply by GinaG on February 17, 2012 at 12:13 pm
-
Memphis...Oscar...Phoenix: Operation M.O.P.
It's natural to have a bit of trepidation when merging kitties into a household, but cats deserve more credit than they get for that. In no time at all, the hissing will be replaced with nose touching and paw-pats and, "Hey, bud! Just checkin' on you," it's sweet to watch.
Congratulations again on your newest 'son.'
GinaG.
- Login to post comments
- Reply by sandra Alicante on February 17, 2012 at 12:34 pm
-
I think they have done really well so far. It is funny to watch though, Oscar is sitting on hubby's lap, Phoenix walks up, looks at him and hisses. 'How DARE you sit there! That's MY lap!' Stalks off and sulks. Oscar looking very smug...
They'll eat kitty cookies together as long as they are about a foot apart...
sandrascookbook.com
- Login to post comments
- Reply by karen_noll on February 17, 2012 at 12:40 pm
-
It's great to see them all getting along, more or less. I'm down to one cat at the moment, having lost Maggie this past summer way too early to diabetes. Her sister Cricket is lonely, and I've been debating adding another rescue cat to our household. Cricket was the alpha cat between the two, and adding another cat now could be problematic. I do so want another one, but don't want to live in a war zone or to make Cricket feel threatened. I guess I'll keep debating for a while, but I so love a multicat household.....
Karen
- Login to post comments
- Reply by GinaG on February 17, 2012 at 12:54 pm
-
Karen_noll,
I am sorry for your and Cricket's loss--Great name, BTW--You'll know when it's time. It seems over and over again I hear about the seeming coincidence which leads to the miracle of finding exactly the right one at the right time.
GinaG.
- Login to post comments
- Reply by sandra Alicante on February 17, 2012 at 4:08 pm
-
Yep, quite agree Gina - we had no intention of having a 3rd cat at all.......now look what's happened! We love him already! The vet receptionist is also dotty about our cats, she had her picture taken with them today, to put on facebook apparently!
sandrascookbook.com
- Login to post comments
- Reply by sandra Alicante on February 17, 2012 at 5:15 pm
-
Yeah, I can just imagine the cattitude.....
Memphis -'Hey Phoenix, have you seen our slave recently?'
Phoenix (takes a break from washing) 'Hmm. Not for a while, sent her off to roast some chicken, maybe rustle up a steak or two.'
Oscar - ' I hope she isn't using olive oil for that, gives it a funny taste. What you doin' Memphis, I can hear the cat litter scattering from here!'
Memphis- Well, got to keep her occupied you know, or she might forget we're here. Besides, got to make room for all that yummy chicken, if you know what I mean?'
Phoenix - 'As long as we've got time for a nap before lunch. Got to look my best for the photo shoot. Last time was a disaster. Just hauled me out of the carrier, picked me up and next thing I knew, the picture was taken! Not even time to give my best side. Didn't even use a Hazzellblad thingy, just her mobile phone! Said she was putting them on facebook. Just hope they can cope with all the fan mail.....'
- Login to post comments
- Reply by sarahh on February 17, 2012 at 6:48 pm
-
Congratulations on your new addition! Glad things are going smoothly, despite the tooth and surgery. He looks like a cutie, thought that would probably embarrass him. He looks like he is a dignified gentleman. Have any pics of the rest of your feline family?
- Login to post comments
- Reply by sandra Alicante on February 18, 2012 at 2:25 am
-
Her is a link to some photos of the three of them.
sandrascookbook.com
- Login to post comments
- Reply by GinaG on February 18, 2012 at 4:19 am
-
LOL! Memphis looks like he has his face covered with a blanket when his eyes are closed! Phoenix, I love those black-lined eyes...And just look at the Cheshire grin on Oscar's face: You can see he is very much "at home."
Congratulations. All's well that ends well.
BTW, these pics would make a stunning calender, Sandra!
Gina
- Login to post comments
- Reply by sandra Alicante on February 18, 2012 at 8:42 am
-
I have so many pics of them in cute poses, I could keep calendar makers going for years!
Oscar is asleep on my legs at the moment....makes a nice leg warmer.
sandrascookbook.com
- Login to post comments
- Reply by Mike Nolan on February 18, 2012 at 5:13 pm
-
One of these days we're going to have to introduce a new cat into the household. My mother-in-law is in her 90's, and we've agreed to take care of her cat when she no longer can.
Given how much our two cats hiss when a neighborhood cat shows up at our back door, I'm not exactly looking forward to that. I suspect it will take a few weeks before a peace is negotiated among them.
Our younger female cat often sleeps in my basement office while I'm working there (like right now), the 14 year old male only comes downstairs when he ABSOLUTELY wants something, as it takes him a couple of minutes to climb down the stairs.
- Login to post comments
- Reply by GinaG on February 18, 2012 at 6:25 pm
-
And they do negotiate peace among each other, Mike.
I haven't deliberately had a cat of my own for a lot of years, but recently have been claimed by 2 1/2 outdoor cats as a result of helping the neighborhood address the abandoned cats issue. We live in a rural community. It's all too common for people to move and leave their cats behind as if they're part of the real estate. Really, really sad.
I have been pleasantly surprised to see how quickly they reach an "understanding" but it shouldn't surprise me too much: Cats are very adaptable, resilient creatures.
- Login to post comments
- Reply by sandra Alicante on February 19, 2012 at 2:06 am
-
Mike, both Memphis and Phoenix will guard our garden. Memphis will usually just look menacing and hiss (which is usually enough because compared to the strays round here, he's HUGE). Phoenix is a scrapper and will get into the odd fight, hence his trip to the vet last week for anti-biotics! He only play fights with Memphis though.
However, with careful introduction over 10 days, they have been fine, the odd hiss from all parties if they get too close or feel threatened but nothing more.
This morning I actually saw Memphis and Oscar eating at the same time from the same bowl - I'm sure it was a mistake, they were just so focused on the food, neither noticed!
sandrascookbook.com
- Login to post comments
- Login to post comments
