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Jilly_in_VA

(10,907 posts)
Tue Oct 25, 2022, 08:34 AM Oct 2022

My kitty Winnie

is back, after a period of disappearance following her sister Vicky's death, during which time she showed up only when we were not around, to eat a bit of the food I left and then disappear again (I have it on my back door cam). I suspect she may have been back to wherever Vicky was when she was so badly injured she couldn't make it home. But for better or worse, my little spitfire is back in all her tortietude, hanging out in the woodpile and complaining if I'm late with breakfast or dinner.

I'm considering adopting a sister for her after our gem show trip to Tennessee next month. The sister will be carefully chosen after consultation with the head cat person at the shelter and will reside in a "habitation crate" for 5 weeks to give them a chance to get used to each other through the bars. I expect a considerable amount of discussion and swearing between them during that time. I may decide to let Winnie come into my studio to be fed and spend the night--she ventured in the door last night and I would have let her stay had the upstairs door been closed. I'd considered that for both of them during the winter prior to Vicky's demise. In any case, a sister for Winnie will have to be able to stand up for herself without trying to take over. We need more rodent control than one cat can handle by herself.

6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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My kitty Winnie (Original Post) Jilly_in_VA Oct 2022 OP
Good for you! You might find... CurtEastPoint Oct 2022 #1
5 weeks Jilly_in_VA Oct 2022 #3
Always like being informed of people's animal caretaking! They're acts of kindness we can all do Karadeniz Oct 2022 #2
So pleased to hear that Winnie is back. SlimJimmy Oct 2022 #4
All our shelter kitties Jilly_in_VA Oct 2022 #5
We have a Maine Coon mix that thinks she's the queen. SlimJimmy Oct 2022 #6

CurtEastPoint

(19,188 posts)
1. Good for you! You might find...
Tue Oct 25, 2022, 08:40 AM
Oct 2022

that 5 weeks is a bit long. When we acclimate, three weeks is a good amount of time but you know better than I do as they are yours. See where they are at 3 weeks. GOOD LUCK!

Jilly_in_VA

(10,907 posts)
3. 5 weeks
Tue Oct 25, 2022, 09:43 AM
Oct 2022

is our shelter's policy for barn cats, as they are outdoors/working cats and need that time to acclimate to the area. It takes that long to acclimate them to a larger outdoor area. We usually start opening the crate at 4 weeks but feed them in it for another week. I'm not sure how Winnie is going to take to another cat. Someone suggested a boy, but in my experience they tend to roam and are not always good rodent control officers. The ladies tend to stay closer to home and do the job they are hired for.

Karadeniz

(23,428 posts)
2. Always like being informed of people's animal caretaking! They're acts of kindness we can all do
Tue Oct 25, 2022, 09:26 AM
Oct 2022

amidst the insanity.... we need reminding to stay balanced !!!

SlimJimmy

(3,251 posts)
4. So pleased to hear that Winnie is back.
Tue Oct 25, 2022, 10:03 AM
Oct 2022

Since Winnie is a barn type of girl, I think getting another female is the best plan. They tend to hang out together and are not as territorial. Of course, getting the male neutered will help with the roaming, if you go that route.

Jilly_in_VA

(10,907 posts)
5. All our shelter kitties
Tue Oct 25, 2022, 10:38 AM
Oct 2022

are spayed or neutered before being adopted, so that's not a worry. Winnie's temperament is the worry, now that she is top cat.

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