When my first ginger shorthaired stray walked into our lives and into our hearts, we couldn’t send him away. Not that he would go away after all the food and fawning, we have been giving him. He became our Sunny, named after the Sunday that he strutted into our home and plopped himself at our feet. It was a good thing (and still is), that I am a freelancer and stay at home most of my time.
Sunny and I became unstuck companion. This is the first time I had a cat, I have always been a dog lover hence I never enjoy the companionship of a cat. Sunny, 6 months old is more like a puppy than any cats I know. He is friendly, doesn’t shy away from cuddles and loves to follow me around everywhere!
After Sunny got his first vaccination, we were in serious discussion whether to get him another kitten to play with. Internet research indicates that it is always good to introduce another feline to a young kitten to allow him to get used to another animal. In addition, I always felt I was not enough for Sunny. He is always looking out the window and meowing at other stray cats who loves to stop below our window for a short chat with him.
We decided one Saturday to pop by the animal shelter, SPCA to have a look around. I was all for a puppy and I adore the notion of a dog and a cat getting along. However, we didn’t find one suitable for the size of our apartment – all big dogs. Deciding not to make a wasted trip, we wandered into the cattery and met the most adorable wide-eyed ginger 3-month-old kitten who is starving for attention. That is how we managed to bring Matcha home with us that day. We were worried that Sunny and Matcha could not get along because it is obvious that Sunny is an alpha male (he loves bossing me around). SPCA promised us to take back Matcha if that happens.
A lot of time spent on the internet doing research and watching Jackson Galaxy’s Youtube channel. We slowly integrate the two kittens together, instead of surprising Sunny with a newcomer. We read that at this stage is extremely important and we wanted to handle with care. We sneaked in the house with Matcha and house him in the guest room. Sunny was super suspicious, sniffing around and started hissing at the guest room’s door when he heard mews coming in from the room. Using two meal times a day and for straight two days, we monitored the situation closely. My husband was around at home to help with the integration.
First meal time, we fed the two kittens 3 feet apart between the guest room door at the same time. Next meal time, we moved both of bowls closer to the door and fed them at the same time. Between the meal times, we chose a lull period where we know Sunny would be sleepy and docile after his meal to introduce Matcha in a common play area. Sunny did attempt to scratch him and hissed at the small one a couple of times, Matcha looked confused and kept hiding behind us. From our research, we understand that Sunny is trying to instill his hierarchy in the house with Matcha. We kept each playtime short, about half an hour. By the second playtime, Sunny is chasing Matcha around the play area but we are always on standby to pull them apart if the hissing became attacks.
The second day which is during their third meal time, we switched room this time. Sunny is in the guest room while Matcha is outside and we allow both of them to sniff out the other’s home ground. This time, no more closed door, but the bowls are pretty far apart. They ate facing each other. Sunny couldn’t decide to hiss or to eat.. In the end, he gave up and concentrate on eating instead. It helps that we practice meal time feeding instead of free feeding. This time playtime is a lot friendlier, no more hissing, just a lot of glaring. We can tell Matcha respect his boundaries. He would approach Sunny, with his head bow down slightly and Sunny would ignore him. By the fourth meal time, both of them is able to eat side by side, no more hissing. Sunny even allow Matcha to lick his bowl after he is done. Voilá!
For the first week, there was no more hissing or scratching (swatting) at each other but I can tell Sunny is just tolerating Matcha’s presence. The turnaround was when the second week, Matcha allowed Sunny to sniff his butt and in turn, Sunny begin to groom him all over.
Now I will be lucky if the two adorable rascals don’t gang up on me. Once late into the night, I was furiously typing away when I heard Matcha meowing in the kitchen as if it is the end of the world, I went out of my study room to investigate. Feeling weird that Matcha only wants cuddles, nothing more. I went back to my study to find Sunny on the study table, licking away the slice of fresh cream strawberry cake that I have been gorging myself in the study room! I chased Sunny out of the study room and only to come face to face Matcha on my study table, licking away the cake. That bugger sneaked into the study room when my attention was occupied with Sunny.
They are best buddies now. They play with each other all the time. They do the same things together, both nap at the same time and both comes to me for cuddles at the same time. I don’t think anyone could separate them now.
Author Bio:
Kally runs her own Blog called MiddleMe where she helps people succeed in their chosen career through tips and advice.
Those two have firmly bonded! Congrats on your success there.
Thank you!! The best thing I ever did is adopting these two sweet rascals.
Congratulations and also thanks for a detailed description of how you did it. I am not a cat person myself but I have an indoor cat and feed at least half a dozen stray cats outside my kitchen door twice a day. A large part of my income is spent on cat food. And all though I don’t really enjoy cats. So that is the hold cats have on a person’s life, and especially if he/she is a dog lover. 🙂
Susie
Susie, you’re such a wonderful person to feed the strays. I’m sure the cats love you to bits. I can only say the two ginger boys totally converted me into a cat loving dog person if there is such a label. Haha!
I am not converted yet- in another country and another life, I am sure no cat would lure me its way.
Susie
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Thanks, dear!!
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those are two beautiful kitties.
Sunny and Matcha says “Meow”
They are adorable. Good news all around. With the possible exception of your cake!
Fortunately, it was not a chocolate cake. I’ve been super careful now, making sure I don’t leave anything for them to steal when I’m not looking. They are adorable, loving and cheeky rascals.
These are just STUNNINGLY gorgeous cats. I love your story! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for telling me that!! I’m relating all comments to Sunny and Matcha, I’m sure their ego goes bigger as each comment is read to them. Haha!!
Those are beautiful cats!
Thanks for the compliments!! They are actually strays! I’m lucky that they owe me..
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<3 your kittehs. 🙂
When we got our ginger, who is conveniently enough named Ginger, we took the, uhm, ‘deep end’ approach. (We knew our cat and dog that we had at the time were extremely laid back, so there just wasn’t much concern.) I wonder now if we’d introduced her to the dog more slowly if there’d still be wariness, but for the most part “Hey, look, new cat!” worked out rather well. She’s a lovely part of the family, and I adore that she’s our most ‘catlike’ cat. Posey, who ruled the roost before any of the other animals, is a full on lap-kitteh. Fred’s the crazy screwball who climbs the curtains and attacks my toes at night. Ginger just sticks to herself except when she needs her daily dose of loves.At that point, you WILL love on her. Whether you want to or not.
Awwww.. You have an adorable family!! We are so successful with the transition of Sunny and Matcha, we are contemplating to get a Princess to join the family.. Mainly it’s me who is considering because I think there are too many testosterone in the house. Haha!!
Your cats are adorable! I am so glad you found that they got along. We recently adopted two cats, one month apart, and were also worried about what would happen if Satchi decided he did not want to share us with Peanut. Happily they got on just fine and now totally love each other. Relief.
I totally feel you, Laura!! I was pacing up and down the hallway of SPCA, worried my head off whether Sunny will accept Matcha into his life. We don’t want our two cats to tolerate each other and sleep at different ends of the house. Cute names you got there!!
Thanks. We kept the names that the rescue centre gave them. It would have been a horrible feeling to have to return a kitty to the shelter, right? I am glad it worked out for all our cats.
I probably will cry my heart out if I have to return Matcha to the shelter… I changed Matcha’s name from Dolby given by the shelter because Sunny kept thinking we are calling him!
sweet ginger babies <3
They are babies now… I guess in a human cat mommy’s heart, they will always be babies… 🙂
Lovely pink pawls 🙂
And furry too!!
They are both such cuties and I am glad you took all the steps for a harmonious relationship between them.
They are cuties!! I love it when they are in a loving hugging mood, they will pile on me for hugs and kisses.
Awww! Those big beautiful eyes 🙂
Don’t let those innocent looking eyes fool you.. Yesterday night, Sunny was using his charm on me while Matcha is ravaging the rubbish bin in the background.. Urgh!!
Lol, I bet those eyes are just like the ones Puss in boots uses, they just stare at you sweetly and you forgive them, right? 😉
And with their pink little tongues licking at their pink little noses… Your heart just go awwwwww….
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