i would like to formally introduce harvey

[fizzgig]

mister man told us his name yesterday and i think it's a good one.

harvey is getting settled in quite nicely and, although mira is still irritated, she looked at him today without growling or hissing at him.

what is interesting to me is that he has taken up all of fat cat's old spots and her habit of being under my feet while i make the coffee because he wants some soft food. something i also find interesting is that mira has stopped talking again. she has never had much of anything to say, but she got really vocal after we said goodbye to fat cat. now that he's home, she's shut her mouth again (he's very talky). she's not mad at us, she still snuggles and loves and curls up with me in bed, she just went back to being quiet.

i don't expect them to be snuggle buddies, but i think they'll be fine once they get used to each other.

i am so head over heels about this guy

[shenmue]

1. O hai, Mr. Squee

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Welcome, Harvey!

[ginnyinWI]

3. how old is he?

Interested because of Mira's older age.

[fizzgig]

4. he's eight

husband thought a younger, more playful boy would be good for her because she is a very spry and playful 14, but i didn't think she'd have the patience for a pesty youngster (and we just aren't at a time in our lives where we can give a little one all the time and attention it needs).

she growls and hisses a bit at him and he sometimes kvetches back, but there has been no aggression on either of their parts. i saw him get up in her space for the first time today (he tried to sniff her butt while she was eating and she didn't totally freak out), but he's leaving her be. i can pet them simultaneously without issue and i am not worried about them getting to the point where they at least tolerate each other (tolerance was the extent of she and mia's relationship).

[ginnyinWI]

5. You are right to not get a very young cat.

My two older females often get teased by their much younger little brother and don't like it. He's actually looking for someone to play with. That may be our next move, to get a younger playmate for him, but I don't like the idea of four cats in the house, plus my fosters in the summer months. A bit too much.

[fizzgig]

7. husband thought she'd like someone to play with

but i knew better.

[elleng]

6. HAPPY you're head over heals, fizz!!!

[fizzgig]

8. he has been good for my heart

he won't, nor do i expect him to, fill the hole left by fat cat, but things feel less empty now.

[Judi Lynn]

9. Really "pretty" if Harvey doesn't mind being called "pretty." Siamese? So cute. nt

[fizzgig]

10. blue point siamese mix

and i think he's cool with being called pretty

[liberalla]

11. My caption, adding to yours...

0h hai, i'm harvey ~ you didn't need the sink, did you?






Welcome to your new home, Harvey!

[eridani]

12. Teh SQUEE iz strong in dis kitteh n/t

[Behind the Aegis]

13. Does it help?

I have vacillated between getting another cat and not. I am just afraid I will be to "Tony" (my cat's name) oriented and not let a new kitty be him/herself. What I can say, is my puppies would likely love having a new kitty. I have to have one who is good with very active Chihuahuas.

[fizzgig]

15. it has done wonders for my heart having him around

i didn't want another mia, i just wanted another friend. it's easy to just let him be himself and i'm loving getting to know him.

[Freddie]

14. Beautiful boy!

Looks like he's settling in fine.
I had never introduced an adult cat to an established cat household (only kittens) until last summer when my daughter couldn't keep 4-year-old Jacob any more and no one else would take him. Been a year now, he and Freddie get along fine and sometimes even nap a foot apart. At first Riley was upset and would hiss at and smack Jake, but he's mostly settled down although they don't "hang out". Much easier than I thought it would be.