Week 15 & 16 Challenge: Get a New Cat

I have not always been a cat person.  In fact, when I was growing up, I was scared to death of cats!  I like dogs, particularly my teacup poodle, Nickie.  It wasn't until college, when I was living with my cousin the cat lover, that I started to appreciate how awesome having a cat can be.  As soon as I was living in an apartment on my own, I knew I wanted to get a sweet little kitty cat.  Enter my Miss Priss.  She is not sweet (except for rare moments in the early mornings or late evenings) and I'm pretty sure she has split personality disorder or something similar, but she's all mine.

Fast forward 10 years, and I am living in a condo with a small fenced yard.  This yard attracts cats of all kinds who like to stop by for a visit, pee on my grill cover, chase squirrels, or just lay in the sun on the deck.  Once lovely August morning, a mother kitty and her six tiny babies appeared on the deck, and that was the start of my kitty rescue operation that would last for the next seven months.  To make a long story short, four of those kitties now live a happy country life in my parents' backyard with my sweet mother as their caretaker.

Fast forward again to February and Snowpacalypse '11.  I notice that a small gray cat has taken up residence in my backyard.  He runs to hide when I go outside, but he will drink and eat when I put food and water out for him.  Eventually, he lets me pat him, and we become buddies.  He has obviously been a pet to someone, and I name him Niles (all my kitties are named after movie or TV show characters, of course!).  He doesn't seem to stray to far from my yard and spends most of his time sleeping under the deck or sitting on the fence playing lookout.  My condo complex does not allow pets outside, so I am not surprised when I see flyers posted and warnings written in our newsletter about letting cats run loose and feeding them outside.  I know that means I have to find someplace for Niles to go, but I just don't have time to deal with it as the last weeks of school are so busy and stressful.  However, the decision is made for me when I find an animal trap right outside my fence one morning.  I make a snap decision to bring Niles in the house after work, and that's where the adventure begins.

Day 1:  I wait for Niles to come out from under the deck where he has been napping until 9:00 p.m.  I snatch him up before he can go anywhere and install him in the guest bathroom.  I've cleared out the area under the sink and brought in his blanket and toys.  He crawls in and and stares at me with his big eyes for a while, and then eventually comes out to hang in his new favorite spot - behind the toilet.  

Day 2:  I come home from work (on a Saturday - ugh!) and clear out the guest room so Niles can have more space and see out.  He is so happy to be inside!  He is the sweetest little kitty, always wanting to be patted and never growling, hissing, or scratching.  I decide I want to make him a permanent member of my family.  His older sister still has no clue he is in the house!

The rest of the week:  I start the kitty integration process.  It does not go as well as hoped.  My Miss Prissy does not want a new baby brother, and she will chase him away and act like she's going to attack him any time he approaches.  There is much hissing and growling, and the kitties are removed back to their separate bedrooms.

I take Niles to the vet to be checked out.  It turns out he has a microchip.  He escaped his house in October (!!!), and his owners didn't really try to find him at all.  They turn him over to me, and he passes all his tests at the vet with flying colors.  I officially have a new cat!   The cat integration process is put on hold due to a Father's Day visit from Grammie and Grampie (my parents).  Niles makes fast friends with my mom and would like to be friends with my dad, but he isn't interested. ;)  My dad is not a fan of cats.

Week 2:  We have started the integration process again, very slowly.  So far, there has just been hissing and growling but no chasing or attacking.  I am still keeping them in separate rooms most of the time and only letting them out for supervised visitation in the evenings.  I'm crossing my fingers that older sissy will soften her heart just a little bit and share her space with her new baby brother.