Service Cats: Fighting or Posturing: Introducing Cats

MeOW Welcome to another Service Cat Monday. It seems like furever since our last Service Cat Monday posty, but we’re back. We have a great question ‘bout specific trainin’ methods, but we want mommy to be tip top to tackle it, so tune in next week fur that post. Today, we’re gonna focus on a topic we got via email. Let me get the business pawrt outta the way furst. The followin’ will be written in human English fur reader and translator ease. Our Service Cat Monday posts aren’t meant to be a step by step Trainin’ manual but rather Tips/Tricks/Techniques used/developed by mommy throughout her many years of animal trainin’, cats in purrticular. Training is all ‘bout Repetition and Rewards. Ifin you have any questions, you can leave them in the comment section below or send us an email. Ifin askin’ ‘bout a behavioral issue, purrlease be as specific as pawssible. And, ifin you’ve missed any of the posts in this series, you can ketch up by clickin’ the links at the end of this post. Now, let’s get to our question fur today.

 

 Dezi laying in cat tree in new harness

 

A new reader sent us an email and asked, “When bringing a new kitty into the home with a resident cat, how do you know when there’s a fight or just growing pains? And how do you know when it’s safe to leave them alone together?” That’s a wonderful question. And we’re thrilled that you’re adopting and saving another life. We have another friend going through this very thing right now, so this is perfect timing. This post is not about Aggressive Cats. If you’re dealing with Cat Aggression, please see our post series Calming the Tiger in Your Kitty (links below). So, you’ve decided to adopt a new friend for your existing kitty. Introductions and preparation are crucial to a long and happy relationship between all of you.

 

 Dezi and Raena posture

 

Make sure you have all the supplies you’ll need before bringing kitty home. You’ll need a new litterbox. The rule of thumb is one per cat and one extra. Most cat owners will tell you that they can get by with less, but don’t expect to start out that way. Remember, if you set the stage for success, you’ll get success, if you set the stage for failure, you’ll fail; or your kitties will fail. The last thing you want is for your resident cat to start acting out. So, a new litterbox and a spare, new food and water bowls or a fountain. Mommy always likes to buy at least one new toy for the new kitty. Mind you, all toys are fair game for all cats in the home, it’s just that something special for the new kitty. And, it can be something as simple as the little dollar mice at the checkout. Since becoming bloggers, we’ve learned about the Yeowww nip nanna, and the wonders of kickers. If the kitty you are adopting is over the age of 5 months old and you already have a Yeowww nip nanna, PLEASE GET A 2nd banana before you bring kitty home or as quickly as you can. This will help avoid some territorial spats over the “mine” attitude. Yep, even sis Lexi and me had a few spats over the nip nanner until mommy got us a second one. Mommy also recommends some of the prime grade A treats. You know, the ones your kitty flips over?.

 

 Dezi lays on side while Raena play attacks

 

Okay, you’ve got the extra basic necessities, now what? Get everything set up in a quiet secluded area (Decompression Room) where the new kitty will spend their first couple of days. You want this transition to go as smoothly as possible and be as free of stress as it can be for the resident cat. We don’t personally have the space for kitties to have their own rooms, but we’re going to address this today as if we do. When bringing the new kitty home, mommy suggests putting kitty in the carrier on the floor for a few minutes before taking them to their “Decompression Room”. This will allow the resident kitty a moment to smell the new kitty and vice versa. There may be a hiss or growl, but don’t leave the kitty long enough for this to escalate. Take the new kitty to their room and leave the carrier door open. It will be tempting to stay and coax kitty out and spend time with them. Do Not!!! Resident kitty needs to know they are still valued and that nothing has changed. Leave new kitty to come out and explore their new room in their own time. Return to resident kitty and give them extra love and some of those Grade A treats. Trust me, we’re not fooled. We know something’s up.

 

 Dezi lays and Raena sits in front of her

 

 Angry CatAngry Cat: Ears flat, Fur standing, arched back, tail fluffed and

down, pinpointed pupils

 

Anyways, once you’ve gotten to the introductions and kitties are spending time together in your presence, you need to start watching body language. There will likely be some hissing, growling and posturing. These are all normal. You’re looking for signs of acceptance or a fight. Try not to over react. There may be a tussle or ten. This is also perfectly normal. You know your resident kitty, so watch them especially, for signs of stress. Curious cats will approach one another with ears alert. If kitty’s ears are flat and the back fur is standing erect, Do Not Panic, but be alert, especially if both kitties are displaying this behavior. This is the tricky part. Mommy says, in your mind, you must be thinking positively. Believe this will go well. Expect your kitties to get along. Do Not let them see you sweat. (MOL)  An exchange of swats is normal. As long as the claws are retracted, you have nothing to worry about. If kitty’s ears are flat, fur is standing on end and they begin a low rumbling growl and/or bob/lower their head or turn it slightly, remove new kitty immediately and try again later over some of those Grade A treats or a favorite toy.

 

 Dezi and Raena circle each other

 

Dezi n Raena tussle

 

As long as both kitties can get up/away from the other and they’re not greeting each other with ruffled furs and flat ears, it’s safe to leave them together. Now, we don’t mean after 5 minutes, but rather after several days of no knock down drag out fights. Remember, cats rolling around together is NOT a fight. Cats rolling around together with ears flattened, fur erect, claws out and teeth bared and gnashing at the neck of the other…That’s a fight. More often than not, these meetings will go successfully. Especially if you’ve set kitty up for success and expected it. We know that sounds silly, but remember, kitties feel your emotions and act accordingly. As long as you can remain calm, positive and expecting the best, things should go well.

 

Dezi and Raena play fight

 

 

 Dezi and Raena paws out for swats

 

Cats learn the boundaries from their mothers and littermates/housemates, so expect some biting and swatting. That’s natural and just your kitties way of determining rank. And remember, during this entire process, be sure to give resident kitty lots of extra love and reassurance. We know how easy it is to want to spend time with the new kitty, especially if new kitty is a kitten. Don’t!!! Resident kitty needs to know they’re not being replaced. Try to remember, that resident kitty’s life should be as stress free and normal as possible throughout this whole process. And lastly, sit back and enjoy, you now have two furry purrers to warm your lap and rule your house.

 

Dezi and Raena lay together on the floor

Well, we hope this helped. Mommy says the cases of one kitty trying to kill another or cause serious injury is actually rare. But you do want to take the time to transition successfully to avoid bad behaviors and increase the possibilities of a long and happy life together. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments or send us an email. And remember, you can ketch up on any posts you may have missed in this series by clicking the links below.

 

Till the next time……………………………………..Be Blest!!!

 

Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses

 

Deztinee and RaenaBelle

 

 Service Cats 

What to Look For      Training Foundations      Train Kitty To Massage

Smelling Disease      Do You Need One      Who Bears the Cost

Housing Laws & Exceptions      Accommodations & Common Sense

When the Handler Dies      Proper Training Methods Pt. 1 & Pt. 2

Easiest Task to Train      Getting Kitty Ready for an Outing

Discipline: Stop Countersurfing Kitty      Internal Disputes

Calling Emergency Help      Just What Is Kitty Capable of

Shad: Original Service Cat      Harness, Vest, Leash or Stroller

Dezi, the Wheelchair & Chest      Round and Round We Go

Tumble & Fall Response      Raena Calls for Help

The Rest of the Story     Raena & the Wheelchair Pt. 1 Pt. 2 Pt. 3 Pt. 4

When to Train      Explaining Rewards & Kitty’s Feelings

Stop Kitty’s Begging     Calling For Help Options Pt. 1

Medicating Kitty

Training the Pig Headed, Stallion Strong, Submissive Pup & Conniving Cat

Cats Love Training & Social Media Downfalls

Reintegrating the Scared or Bullied Cat      There’s No Bully Cat Breed

Going for a Walk When in a Wheelchair     Calming the Tiger Pt.1 Pt. 2 Pt. 3

Surviving A Remodel      Taming A Feral Cat

Designer Cats & Scent     DNA Doesn’t Change

Blest Sunday: We’ve Missed You & We’re Back

Hey Raena, come on, it’s time fur our Blest Sunday posty.

 

 Blest Sunday purple kitty clip art graphic

 

          Are you sure sissy? You know, mommy’s been confused ‘bout what day it is fur the last few days now. Kind’a like we get on the silvervine we had the other day.

 

 

 Dezi with silvervine on cat tree

 

Yeah, me knows, Raena. But, mommy checked all the things she normally does when she passes out and it’s fur sure Blest Sunday. Now, hurry, we don’t wanna miss church. 

 

 Raena with silvervine on cat tree

 

          I’s comin’ sissy. Ya’ know, I’s really missed all our catputer time and visitin’ with our furiends these last couple of weeks, but, I’s gotta tell ya’ spendin’ extra time with mommy has been great. 

 

 Dezi with silvervine on the cat tree

 

Me knows what ya’ mean Raena. Ya’ know, one might think that since mommy’s home all the time, we get lots of time to ourselves to play with her. But that just ain’t true. There’s the catputer time of writin’ and researchin’ fur our postys, helpin’ us visit our furiends, doin’ the regular every day cleanin’ that one has to do to keep from livin’ in a pig sty. Not that there’s anythin’ wrong with livin’ in a pig sty…ifin you’re a pig; but ya’ know, us kitties like things a bit more tidy. And there’s the business stuffs that seems never endin’, and of course there’s the passin’ out time, that mommy spends unconscious every day. So, it really isn’t play time all day, every day. 

 

 Raena with silvervine on cat tree

 

          So true, sissy. But, all in all, we are very blest to have the lives we have. Even with all those things happenin’, mommy still makes time to spend with us and with each of us by ourselves each day. Still, it has been fun these last couple of weeks.

 

 Dezi with silvervine on the cat tree

 

Yep, sure ‘nuff. But, mommy has purromissed that startin’ this week, we’re gonna get back to business as usual. We wanna fank all our amazin’ furiends fur their luv, suppurrt and patience while mommy’s been goin’ thru all this dental stuffs. It was a little more traumatic than mommy had originally anticipated, and she’s not 100% yet. But, she is doin’ well and getting’ better every day. She’s back on the smashed tater diet, with some added cheese fur much needed protein to stay strong. Mommy even said she doesn’t mind the taters so much, she just can’t wait fur the day when she can actually bite and chew somethin’ again. And she’s even purromissed fotos, once she’s healed and all the swellin’ has gone down.

 

 Raena with silvervine on cat tree

 

          Now that’s somethin’, sissy. We all know how rare fotos of mommy are. She luvs pointin’ the flashy box at us, but herself? That’s another matter all together. MOL  I’s gonna be happy to get back to visitin’ all our furiends tho’. I’s sure hope we haven’t missed too much. We are blest to have the bestest furiends ever. We better wrap this up, church is ‘bout to start.

 

 Raena with silvervine on cat tree

 

You’re right Raena. Furst, we wanna remind everypawdy to take a minute today and every day to give thanks fur the blessings in your lives. Ya’ know when ya’ start your day with a smile and a fanks, the whole day goes a little bit better. And, even tho’ we don’t really do selfies, we’re joinin’ the Kitties Blue fur Sunday Selfies. We hope you enjoyed our day with the silvervine, we sure did. MOL  Me’s gotta go now. We’ll see you all soon.

 

Till the next time……………………………………Be Blest!!!

 

Dezi: Vibrant Blue 

Raena: Navy Blue 

 

 

 

Luv and Hugs and Kitty Kisses

 

Deztinee and RaenaBelle

Goats and Cutlets #ChewyInfluencer

Hey, is anypawdy out there? It’s me, RaenaBelle. I’s sure wanna fanky fank everypawdy fur your well wishes and patience. This teethy sitch sure got mommy’s goat. I’s didn’t even know we had a goat, but mommy said it was got and she was shot. Not shot, like with a gun or anythin’, but just like, down fur the count.

 

 Dezi and Raena lay together on the floor

 

 

          Raena, we don’t have a goat. That’s just another one of those human sayings like the shot thingy.

 

 Raena lays on floor

 

Well Kittens!!! Humans sure do have a lot of funny sayings sissy. I’s don’t know why they can’t just say what they mean. I’s was really lookin’ furward to meetin’ our goat.

 

 Goat clip art

 

 

          Me wishes humans didn’t have so many colorful words too Raena, but me fur sure ain’t sharin’ anythin’ else with anypawdy else!!! Fur sure, me ain’t sharin’ with no goat!!! Me hears they eat everythin’. And we got new treats to try. It’s bad enuff me has to share everythin’ with you, me’s not sharin’ with mommy’s goat, and that’s that. 

 

 Beyond Chicken Cutlets

 

Are you meowin’ ‘bout those white meat chicken Cutlets from Purina Beyond we got from Chewy, sissy?

 

 

 

This is a sponsored post. We received the Beyond Cutlets in exchange for our fair and honest review. As always, we only bring products we use or have tried. We always tell it like we see it and neither Chewy or Purina is responsible for the content of this post unless otherwise stated.

 

 Beyond chicken cutlet

 

          Me is Raena. As most of our furiends know, we eat freeze dried raw noms, and our favorite treats are also of the freeze dried variety. Well, anypawdy who knows anythin’ ‘bout freeze dried foods and treats knows, they’re quite ‘spensive. Fur some reason, the cost to dry out a chicken can be quite outrageous. Anyways, cuz mommy wants to give us the very bestest she can with the limited funds she has, she offen checks the doggy aisle when buyin’ us treats. Ya’ heard me right, the doggy aisle. See, when it comes to propurr freeze dried treats, meanin’ single ingredient, they’re the same whether they’re in a teeny package fur kitties or a huge bag fur woofies. The only difference is size and purrice. So, even tho’ the Purina Beyond all natural grain-free white meat chicken Cutlets have a doggy on the bag and be listed in the doggy treat section, they’re purrfectly safe and edible fur all us felines. Y, the only ingredients are Chicken, glycerin and salt.

 

 Raena sniffs Beyond chicken cutlett

 

That’s right sissy. And they come in a 2.7 oz bag like we got or 9 oz. bag fur $3.57 or $9.99. Larger and cheaper than ifin they had been packaged fur kitties. Anyways, let’s see what Chewy has to say ‘bout these treats.

 

Key Benefits

  • A snack that’s simply made and genuinely good

  • Purina’s treat specialists use all-natural white meat chicken in every batch

  • Natural, grain-free dog (and kitty<we added this part>) snack that offers both great taste and quality ingredients you can trust

  • Chicken is the #1 ingredient

  • No poultry by-product meal

 Raena sniffs beyond chicken cutett

 

 

Now, as ya’ know, us kitties do have smaller mouths than our woofie counterparts, so there’s fur sure gonna be some breakin’ needed befur we kitties can begin eatin’ said treats, but mommy says that’s not a purroblem. The white meat chicken Cutlets were easy enuff to break apart. That is, after we each had a go at the whole cutlet. Ya’ know, they smelled so delishus, we couldn’t help ourselves. I’s quite enjoyed a few tasty bites of mine’s cutlet. But fur some reason, I’s won’t take another bite. How ‘bout you sissy? 

 

 Dezi takes a bite of the beyond chicken cutlett

 

          Fanks Raena. Me kind’a liked the idea of the whole cutlet to0, but it was a bit chewier than me likes. The normal freeze dried chicken me likes kind’a melts in your mouth. Ya’ know, it’s dry and then when me’s spit mingles with it, and it turns into a real piece of meat. This was chewy and kind’a oily.  

 

 Raena eats treats from hand

 

Yeah, mommy said they felt a bit greasy, and thinks I’s might have got a taste of said grease and now I’s want nuffin’ to do with ‘em either. They’re also not the typical freeze dried chicken breast we normally purrfur. These are more like a large strip of jerky. But, sissy and me had a nice long meow and decided that fur ingredients, cost and size, the Purina Beyond Cutlets deserve a paw up from both of us. Mommy agreed and lends her thumb up.

 

 Dezi eats treat atop cat tree

 

          And of course, we always give Chewy an all paws up. They have purroducts fur all the furry, feathered, scaled and finned furiends in your home. And speedy furee shippin’ fur all orders of $49.00 and over and speedy flat rate shippin’ fur all other orders. And there’s a toy of every box. You know how us kitties luv a good box. We hear lots of the woofies do too. Chewy also offurs an auto ship program so you never have to worry ‘bout runnin’ outta your pets faves. But don’t worry, you can skip, cancel or delay anytime. And, of course we think Chewy’s customer service peeps are the cat’s meow. 

 

 Raena eats treats on cat tree

 

Meowin’ of auto ships sissy, I’s think we have one on the way.?

 

          Me thinks you’re right, Raena. Let’s go see ifin Fedex is here yet. 

 

I’s right behind ya’ sissy. I’s just gonna check fur that goat. Ya’ never know with mommy.?

 

Till the next time…………………………………..Be Blest!!!

 

Raena: Navy Blue 

Dezi: Vibrant Blue 

 

Luvs and Hugs and Kitty Kisses

 

RaenaBelle and Deztinee 

Blest Sunday: We’re Still Here & Still Blest

Hey, is anypawdy out there? It’s me, RaenaBelle.

 

 Blest Sunday purple kitty clip art graphic

 

          Raena, what are you meowin’ ‘bout now? 

 

 Dezi and Raena hang out together during the fireworks

 

I’s was just seein’ ifin anypawdy ‘membered us. Here we had the pawrty of the century planned, and then we went and fell off the face of the earth.

 

 Dezi lays atop the liberty cat tree

 

 

          Purrrrrrrlease Raena. We didn’t fall off the face of the earth. And, our furiends knew mommy was headin’ to the dentist and without her, we can’t work the catputer. 

 

 

 

Yeah sissy, what’s up with that anyways? Who knew ya’ needed a password just turn it on? And, why wouldn’t mommy use at least one of our names as said password? It’s like she wants to make sure we can’t have any fun without her. 

 

          Now Raena, you know we have lots of toys and fun without the catputer. Y, We’ve even had a little fun the last few days tryin’ to make out what mommy’s sayin’? 

 

 Raena lays on floor looking at toys

Okay, maybe we do have lots of fun toys.

 

 

Now that’s the truth sissy. She fur sure hasn’t sounded like our mommy.

 

          She’ll get better tho’, Raena. But we should let everypawdy know how things went. and we’ve got a few peeps to fank too.

 

 Raena looks at mommy from stroller

You’ll just have to enjoy seein’ this foto of me. Mommy didn’t

take da camera to her ‘pointment. But this is a great selfie, don’ch’a think?

 

 

Well, let me meow ‘bout the ‘pointment sissy. Mommy was a little nervous all meownin’ long, but she kept sayin’ that once it was all over, she’d feel much better. Hmmmpht  Anyways, when we got there, they called us right back. The assistant was the same girly that had taken mommy’s impurrsions, so at least she was furmiliar. The dentist on the other hand…yep, mommy had another new dentist, Dr. Ryan. He was an older man, 3rd generation dentist, and gentle as a teddy bear. He was really nice, even tho’ he did make mommy cry a few times. He kept stickin’ mommy with a needle and then he grabbed some funky lookin’ pliers and started pullin’ out her teethies. One at a time till they were gone. I’s could tell mommy was hurtin’ cuz her whole body was shakin’ and puddles of water were fallin’ from her eyes. But, mommy never said a word and Dr. Ryan said mommy was the bestest patient he’d had in years. Then, he got a needle and thread and sewed mommy’s mouth together.

 

          He didn’t sew her mouth together Raena. He just sewed all the holes he just made shut.

 

 Raena lays in mommy's lap

 

Whatever sissy. Anyways, the assistant girly then put these fake teethies in mommy’s mouth and told her stuffs ‘bout comin’ in fur soft alignments and one final hard alignment in 6 months. Like we had a clue what she was talkin’ ‘bout. And then, when we were leavin’, Dr. Ryan gave mommy a big ole teddy bear hug and said he’d be purrayin’ fur her. And yes, mommy started cryin’ all over again. We stopped at the Wally world to get mommy’s antibiotics and some Malt O Meal and headed home. Seems mommy had 4 more teethies in her sinuses and 3 of the lower ones were embedded in a nerve. So, mommy has a sinus headache on top of her regular migraine, and besides her face and neck bein’ all swollen, part of her face is a little numb still. Dr. Ryan, said it’d take a week or two fur her face and neck to shrink back to normal size and the feelin’ should return in a few days to a week. Seems nopawdy told mommy just how much pain and discomfurt she would have durin’ this healin’ purrocess. 

 

 Dezi gets loving while laying on the arm of chair-selfie

Me’s takin’ great care of mommy.

 

 

          Yeah, and since her migraines mess with her vision, we haven’t been on the catputer very much. And, the pain and feelin’ of the fake teethies have made it a little difficult fur mommy to eat even the Malt O Meal, so we’ve all been nappin’ a lot. But, most ‘purrtantly, mommy says, this is all tempurrary and shall pass. And, when it does, she’s gonna feel sooooooo much better. So, we wanna say a meowsy big fank you to all those who helped to make this pawssible. Fank you awnty Kathleen, awnty Carol, awnty Theresa, awnty Kat, awnty Suzanne and LouLou, the sweetest Tuxie Princess Erin and her peep, awnty Kerry and Valentine, awnty Vonda, awnty Anonymous, awnty Claire, Zorro and Pixie (The Swiss Cats), awnty Petal, awnty Debbie, Katie and Waffles (Glogirly), Our sweet furiends Amarula, Frodo and Zulu from Hairballs and Hissyfits, awnty Jullea, awnty Gretel, awnty Cindy, awnty Julie and all our Anonymous Angels. We wanna say fanks to uncle Pete, Timmy and the gang fur helpin’ to calm mommy’s nerves. Ya’ brought her back from the edge Fursday so she could make her ‘pointment. And, we wanna fank you all fur the purrayers and well wishes. Keep those purrayers comin’ ifin ya’ don’t mind.

  

 Raena lays on nip mat on Liberty cat tree

 

Oh sissy, we are so very blest. Not only do we have the mostest wonderful mommy in the universe, we have the greatest furiends in any universe. Even mommy, who can’t talk so good right now, agrees, that we are most assuredly blest. And she wanted to ‘pawlogize to us and everypawdy fur our absence. Unfurtunately, she needs a couple more days to get sorted out, so our big pawrty is still on, just postponed a bit.

 

 Dezi lays atop the Liberty cat tree

 

          Yep Raena, that’s the mommy we know and luv. We will always find the blessing, the rose bud among the thorns. And, we wanna remind all of you to take a minute today and every day to give thanks fur the blessings in your life. 

 

We’re also gonna join up with the Kitties Blue fur Sunday Selfies. C’mon sissy, let’s go give mommy a massage and have a little nap.

 

Till the next time…………………………………….Be Blest!!!

 

Raena: Navy Blue

Dezi: Vibrant Blue

 

 

 

Luvs and Hugs and Kitty Kisses

 

RaenaBelle and Deztinee