Tigger came to us about a year ago, skinny, very hungry. It was hard to resist his plaintive, demanding cry each morning to be fed. We could not get over how unafraid he was. For three years we already had two indoor-outdoor cats. One was a Hurricane Katrina rescued kitty named Meowse and the other was Meowse's friend,named Friend. Thos
e cats use a cat door at will and depending on the day or how fast we moved, are still wary of us. But Tiger liked people, especially ones who would save him from starvation. As time went by he became less emaciated, growing more muscular and stocky. His personality began to emerge. He wanted to be top cat. I sometimes wondered if he wished that Jim and I would disappear and he could just take over the house.H
is swagger demanded respect and began to cause a problem with the two cats who were already tenants and us, who were watching. He intimidated Friend the most. Soon he was confronting him, making eye contact and zoom-Friend was running for his life. With Meowse, who is 1/3 his size, it w
as a different story. Meowse never met his gaze, rarely acknowledged his presence unless swatting at him in exasperation.
Meowse knew in his soul who was top cat and there was no argument. Soon Meowse was standing guard so Friend could come for food.
We began to look for another home for Tiger, who by this time we called Tigger. We hoped his personality would become less aggressive after having him neutered. After a period of time post surgery we noticed no change so continued to look for another home for Tigger. We knew that in a single cat family he would be a wonderful pet. He would love being #1 and would be loyal and affectionate. Wouldn't this be best for him and for me who was exhausted trying to keep altercations from occurring. At the same time we were also trying different strategies to help him fit in. We fed him on one side of the house, hoping he would r
ecognize his space there away from the other two. We tried with a squirt bottle of water to discourage him from the other side of the house. But his loyalty tugged at our heart. One time while having a garage sale in the drive, a potential customer with a ridgeback, came into Tiggers drive. He had been laying on the side unnoticed until he pounced on the back of the large dog with all claws, standing in attack on the dog's backbone. Fortunately, he quickly jumped off leaving only claw puncture wounds. He began to take walks with us, following us around the block, or if we walked further, waiting for us to come back by and pick him up. One time we visited some friends and he waited outside for 3 hours to walk back home with us. We were beginning to become attached.
So now we have accepted him into the family-sort of. He does understand he eats on a different side of the house and that is supposed to be his space. But he often runs around to the other side to swagger around and try to intimidate Friend. Friend has learned of a good spot on the porch that is protected and often lays there. Meowse still guards Friend. Early in the
morning all three cats are on the non-Tigger side door peering in, looking for breakfast. Tigger allows the other two in first, then heproudly crosses the Florida Room and is let out to his space where he eats breakfast. Several times a day or night he shows up to cross the Florida Room and be let out the other side. Then he wants someone to follow him out to keep him company while he eats a bite. I am thinking of putting up a sign that says 'Cat Crossing'. He is very healthy; big and seems to have found a nitch.
Friend has accepted his guarded life style and does not seem to feel banished. King Meowse is confident of his hallowed place in the family and accepts his new responsibility ofprotecting Friend. Tigger seems to know how far he can go and that he will never be King, nor replace Friend in Meowse's heart, but does have a place in ours.
as a different story. Meowse never met his gaze, rarely acknowledged his presence unless swatting at him in exasperation.Meowse knew in his soul who was top cat and there was no argument. Soon Meowse was standing guard so Friend could come for food.
We began to look for another home for Tiger, who by this time we called Tigger. We hoped his personality would become less aggressive after having him neutered. After a period of time post surgery we noticed no change so continued to look for another home for Tigger. We knew that in a single cat family he would be a wonderful pet. He would love being #1 and would be loyal and affectionate. Wouldn't this be best for him and for me who was exhausted trying to keep altercations from occurring. At the same time we were also trying different strategies to help him fit in. We fed him on one side of the house, hoping he would r
ecognize his space there away from the other two. We tried with a squirt bottle of water to discourage him from the other side of the house. But his loyalty tugged at our heart. One time while having a garage sale in the drive, a potential customer with a ridgeback, came into Tiggers drive. He had been laying on the side unnoticed until he pounced on the back of the large dog with all claws, standing in attack on the dog's backbone. Fortunately, he quickly jumped off leaving only claw puncture wounds. He began to take walks with us, following us around the block, or if we walked further, waiting for us to come back by and pick him up. One time we visited some friends and he waited outside for 3 hours to walk back home with us. We were beginning to become attached.So now we have accepted him into the family-sort of. He does understand he eats on a different side of the house and that is supposed to be his space. But he often runs around to the other side to swagger around and try to intimidate Friend. Friend has learned of a good spot on the porch that is protected and often lays there. Meowse still guards Friend. Early in the
morning all three cats are on the non-Tigger side door peering in, looking for breakfast. Tigger allows the other two in first, then heproudly crosses the Florida Room and is let out to his space where he eats breakfast. Several times a day or night he shows up to cross the Florida Room and be let out the other side. Then he wants someone to follow him out to keep him company while he eats a bite. I am thinking of putting up a sign that says 'Cat Crossing'. He is very healthy; big and seems to have found a nitch.Friend has accepted his guarded life style and does not seem to feel banished. King Meowse is confident of his hallowed place in the family and accepts his new responsibility ofprotecting Friend. Tigger seems to know how far he can go and that he will never be King, nor replace Friend in Meowse's heart, but does have a place in ours.
~Joanne Kelly~
Love it!
ReplyDelete