A two cat weekend

[Cuban_Liberal]

Because we were closing from noon Friday until 10:00 a.m. Monday, we decided to bring our store kitty, Merlin, home with us for the weekend rather than leave him all alone for 3 days. Merlin has never been here, and we have another cat and two dogs, so we were just a teeny, tiny bit apprehensive about his coming. Anyway...



Merlin

As soon as we opened the door to the cat carrier, Merlin poked his head out and saw the two dogs, who were restrained (but cat-friendly). The look on his face seemed to say "What have we here?", but he wasn't frightened of them, apparently, since he approached both, sniffed each and allowed himself to be sniffed. So far, so good, I figure. I let Grover go, because he's the more mellow of the two, and they mutually sniffed again, Grover gave him one kiss (which he hated) and promptly lost interest in the new kitty. Next came Brody, who was beside himself with curiosity; another mutual sniff and a 'head down, paws out, hey-you-wanna-play' on Brody's partand a polite 'no, thanks' from Merlin. Brody goes and gets a tennis ball for me to throw and ignores Merlin. Then.... *drum roll*.... in walks Sid, our other kitty.



Sid

Sid instantly sees Merlin, and vice-versa; both freeze. Next, a low growl comes from Sid, and Merlin looks around for a safe place. Sid suddenly charges, but Merlin puffs up like a cotton boll and stands his ground. MUCH hissing and swatting, but neither one actually touched the other, oddly enough. Sid backs away, turns and leaves the room--- to go pout, I assume. Merlin LEAPS onto the couch next to Paddy, who pets and whispers sweet kitty nothings to him. Merlin calms down.

Today, Sid has been demanding extra attention, which he's been getting, and Merlin has been exploring and playing a bit with the dogs, carefully avoiding being TOO close to Sid. Overall, I'd say it's going well.

:)

[molly]

1. Your story put a smile on my face

Merlin's expression says it all. Any chance he could be a home kitty?

[Cuban_Liberal]

3. He could become a comuter kitty, I suppose.

He does seem to like it here, but he has his 'job', too, which he enjoys.

:)

[havocmom]

2. Even with the initial posturing, they probably took a certain comfort to

finally meet. They must have all been sniffing each others' scents on you when you go to the shop/come home. Seems it would be like us getting to meet someone we talk to on the phone often and finally get to 'put a face with the voice'.

Hope peace stays as your house guest throughout the weekend. Sweet of you to bring the shop kitty home over the long weekend.

[Cuban_Liberal]

4. Hadn't thought of that

You could be right. I just felt bad about leaving the little guy all by himself for 3 days; Lord knows I'd get bored and lonely.

:)

[havocmom]

7. If there is a computer at the shop, he could get into a lot of trouble

in 3 days. Did you ever hear Steve Martin's bit about his cat getting his credit card # and ordering $3000 worth of cat toys? ;D

[Cuban_Liberal]

8. LOL!

Do cats know how to use Macs?

:P

[havocmom]

11. It would not surprise me in the least!

The new feline around here is a great little student. Watches EVERYTHING we do. Spends much time on the desk. Moves the mouse and watches the cursor respond. She is figuring it out!

She helped tile the tub surround, so I figure she can do the rest of the tile project; my hands are beat up pretty bad. She watches Havocdad intensly.

We are thinking about teaching her to do taxes. Just the simple forms.

[davsand]

5. How kind to bring the store kitty home!

I have got to say, I appreciate you two for bring the store kitty home over a long weekend. There was a record shop here for years that had (it is now closed) a few store cats. I always felt so sorry for the store kitties when I'd walk by there and they'd just be there hanging out with nobody there with them.

I love to shop in places where they have resident cats or dogs--but I really appreciate the places that I know care about those animals.


Laura


PS, Merlin is lovely! He reminds me a lot of a cat I had as a little girl!

[Cuban_Liberal]

6. Merlin is gorgeous.

Thanks!

:)

[KT2000]

9. I would not mess with Merlin

either. He has that alpha look about him. Very beautiful cat and Sid I bet is a sweetie pie!
Thanks for the pics and story too.

[Cuban_Liberal]

13. Merlin outweighs Sid, too.

Merlin is about 15-16 lbs., and on a good day Sid is 10 lbs. I'll have to give Merlin credit--- he didn't take any sh*t from Sid.

:)

[Be Brave]

10. Good story. There's nothing scarier than a cat's growl.

If you ask me, it's much scarier than a dog's growl, hands down! My cat's growl is certainly scary!

[Cuban_Liberal]

14. I agree.

Plus, cats don't wag their tails when they growl, and some times dogs do.

:scared:

[barb162]

12. I am glad this worked out so well. Once when I introduced an outside

female stray to my indoor kitties, well, the one called Babe, 14 yr. old male, put a claw in the outdoor female cat's side. He broke his claw off to the quick and his toe was bleeding. He was trying to kill her as he is the MOST territorial cat I have ever had. It was a horrible fight. I had to work months to get her in, with him, not the female stray, being the problem. I even had him on sedatives a while trying to get his territoriality in check. I have never had a cat as "insanely" jealous as Babe, who was also a stray I brought in as a 2 yr. old. Babe has accepted other cats I have rescued but not that poor little female.

[roguevalley]

15. cats. you're so lucky. I LOVE CATS! Yours are beautiful.

[Cuban_Liberal]

16. Thanks!

Yes, they're both handsome guys, aren't they?

:D