It’s Time
Posted By Russ Emerson on March 31, 2008 at 9:50 am
Mycah is at the V-E-T, having not-entirely-random acts of feline dentistry committed upon her. She did not want to get into the PTU this morning, but at least I didn’t have to chase her around like last time.
I’ll be picking her up later today, after the anaesthesia wears off. What, you think they could do anything to her mouth without knocking her out? Dream on. She emphatically does not like having things put in her mouth. Other than food, of course.
It’s time, I think, for there to be another cat in the household. For most of her life, Mycah has has one or two other cats with which to interact. I’ve had her for four years now, and she’s been alone with me for about three years; I think she could use more company.
Mainly because I suck as a playmate.
(I’d have done this a while ago, but my own health issues have prevented it.)
But first, I need to solicit some advice from cat owners, along the lines of “how do I introduce a new cat into the house?” I think there are some factors that need to be taken into account:
- Mycah is going to be thirteen years old this year. She’s not as spry as she used to be.
- Mycah needs to be the alpha-cat around here — her status can’t be threatened.
- I don’t think I can handle a very young kitten, and I’m not sure Mycah would look at a kitten as anything other than a mobile meal. So I’m thinking a juvenile, a “teen” cat – perhaps six to nine months old. Young enough to be the beta-cat, yet big enough to not be completely bullied.
- Mycah will eat any and all food that she can get to, so a second cat needs a secure food source that Mycah won’t be able to get near. How best to accomplish this?
I’m sure other questions will come up, but this is a start.
Thoughts, anyone?