Excited :)

[Brandy DW]

I'll cover it, I guess I didn't really think to much about that as I thought they'd want to be able to see what they were hearing and it would help them to get used to me if they saw me all the time and saw i wasn't trying to harm them.

The dog crate is a wire one with a plastic bottom for messes and also so the wire isn't digging into them.

It's big enough for a litter box, their food and water, I have a few toys in there, and a little round cat bed for them. It's not big enough for their carrier and their carrier wouldn't fit with the litter pan I have in there. Also they keep tipping their litter pan, I got them a small one because when I move them into their permanent room it's going to be a walk in litter box like the one Sabriel has - and that really wouldn't fit in the dog carrier as it's almost as big as the dog carrier. The dog carrier I got is for a dog 30-70 pounds. I thought of getting the biggest one but per what it read it was really mostly bigger in height, not length so really wouldn't have helped much.

Tonight I got Nakaia purring again, she doesn't move away from me now. I love it!

With Trance, she still moves away from me when I open the door but not when I just sit by the cage. An improvement from yesterday. Also an improvement from yesterday is she'll sniff my fingers when I stick them in the sides of the cage. When I was petting Nakaia tonight she came up and sniffed my hand but when I tried to pet her again she backed off - so I let it be. After I closed the cage, she was still in the corner and I put my fingers in the side near her thinking she'd sniff them, at first she hissed again but then she smelt them and went back to laying down. I have to be more patient with her. But I think it'll be looking up.

 

[Patti]

It does sound like Trance will take more time, but each kitty is unique and it's great that you recognize this and are willing to be patient with her. Hopefully Nakala will show her that you can be trusted and help facilitate Trance's acceptance of you by example.

 

[Pam Flachs]

I'll cover it, I guess I didn't really think to much about that as I thought they'd want to be able to see what they were hearing and it would help them to get used to me if they saw me all the time and saw i wasn't trying to harm them.

The dog crate is a wire one with a plastic bottom for messes and also so the wire isn't digging into them.

It's big enough for a litter box, their food and water, I have a few toys in there, and a little round cat bed for them. It's not big enough for their carrier and their carrier wouldn't fit with the litter pan I have in there. Also they keep tipping their litter pan, I got them a small one because when I move them into their permanent room it's going to be a walk in litter box like the one Sabriel has - and that really wouldn't fit in the dog carrier as it's almost as big as the dog carrier. The dog carrier I got is for a dog 30-70 pounds. I thought of getting the biggest one but per what it read it was really mostly bigger in height, not length so really wouldn't have helped much.

Tonight I got Nakaia purring again, she doesn't move away from me now. I love it!

With Trance, she still moves away from me when I open the door but not when I just sit by the cage. An improvement from yesterday. Also an improvement from yesterday is she'll sniff my fingers when I stick them in the sides of the cage. When I was petting Nakaia tonight she came up and sniffed my hand but when I tried to pet her again she backed off - so I let it be. After I closed the cage, she was still in the corner and I put my fingers in the side near her thinking she'd sniff them, at first she hissed again but then she smelt them and went back to laying down. I have to be more patient with her. But I think it'll be looking up.

I'm sure your dog crate is large enough to add a hammock to create extra space. This can be nothing more than a piece of fleecy blanket or use a baby blanket, cut to the width of the cage...cut holes in the four corners, and use this type of hook to hang the hammock: http://www.yogaswings.com/2010/10/27/safety-spring-hooks/ You can hang this above the litter box. Your kittens will figure out how to climb into it

 

[Brandy DW]

It does sound like Trance will take more time, but each kitty is unique and it's great that you recognize this and are willing to be patient with her. Hopefully Nakala will show her that you can be trusted and help facilitate Trance's acceptance of you by example.

Even Kim said she was more strong willed, and at the airport the one to look out for. Apparently Nakaia is the one that is accepting of most things and Trance likes to do things her way. I can understand that and I don't want to take that from her. She's made to be her own cat and have her own personality, I wouldn't have it any other way. I am very happy that even with her hissing at me at times she doesn't try to bite me or take her claws to me. I can slowly earn her acceptance and love.

I find myself a bit puzzled right now. Almost feel bad. With how fast Nakaia has taken to me, with her petting and purring and staying in one place it's almost like she accepts me more than Sabriel does and I've had Sabriel for almost 2 years in October. Don't get me wrong Sabriel will let me hold her like a baby, she'll let me pet her stomach, and I know she loves me! But if she's on the floor she's always running to play and rarely just lays down on the floor for petting. At times she's laid down on me and let me pet her but it's not an everyday occurrence... But that also goes back to them being different cats, having different personalities and in Nakaia's and Sabriel's case having completely different breeders.

One thing I am afraid of is Sabriel being naughty in play even after they are completely at ease with each other after the introduction, she is my little biter and though she rarely bites hard - I'm worried about her actually playing with them later and accidentally hurting them. I've seen these two play with each other - them biting on to each others tails (that was so cute and their tails are so long!!! lol) but I can tell they don't hurt each other at all, I haven't even seen them wrestle... With Sabriel whenever I see her play with her toys she plays kind of rough.

Right now I'm so happy I have them, and they're eating and drinking and at least peeing (haven't seen a poo yet but they haven't been eating a ton either). I really think this will be great in the end, particularly since I really think Sabriel needs a playmate (or two lol). But now I worry about all the things that can go wrong. If Sabriel doesn't like them, if they don't like her, jealously, rough play, etc. I need to try to stop thinking/worrying so much when it's still a ways off before I can even start the introduction process... but that's the question people keep on asking me how will Sabriel get along with the kittens and I go on my spiel about slowly introducing them and such but with so many people questioning it - it's starting to get me anxious lol.

First things first, tomorrow morning I bring the kittens to the vet (I had to reschedule their appointment due to weather) and I get to bring Sabriel home (also delayed due to weather). I also need to get the ferrets from their vet. Apparently my time gone Sabriel has been hiding under her blanket at the vet meowing her long crying meows - when I heard that it broke my heart.

Likely going to take a few days for things to get back to normal...

 

[Patti]

I'm sure your dog crate is large enough to add a hammock to create extra space. This can be nothing more than a piece of fleecy blanket or use a baby blanket, cut to the width of the cage...cut holes in the four corners, and use this type of hook to hang the hammock: http://www.yogaswings.com/2010/10/27/safety-spring-hooks/ You can hang this above the litter box. Your kittens will figure out how to climb into it

I have actually used mini bungee cords to hang a hammock from, which allows a little leeway in the size of the cloth used - they can easily hold up the weight of a young kitten: http://www.homedepot.com/p/JOUBERT-10-in-Mini-Bungee-Cords-8-Pack-JB-MINI/100137092 I will also usually reinforce the holes with Gorilla tape or other strong strapping or masking tape so that they don't rip so easily.

 

[Patti]

Yep, you are obsessing a bit too much. Doesn't matter how much you obsess - what will be, will be... and you will be able to handle it. I suspect two playful kittens will be more than enough to keep Sabriel busy without her getting into trouble and hurting either of them with rough play.

 

[Brandy DW]

So the kittens had their vet appointment today, they were little superstar angels. They were very good for them, and Trance didn't even hiss at them.. She associates me with all the trauma I think but I'll win her over. Nakaia cried out with the second shot in the leg, I felt bad hearing that but she should be okay.

I brought the kittens and Sabriel home at the same time, my god that was a disaster. They hissed and Sabriel hissed right back and growled like the entire ride home. I kept trying to calm Sabriel but to no avail.

Kittens are good in their kennel again and I saw Nakaia finally go poo so I think all is good on that front, the other poo I saw this morning must have been from Trance. Well formed and all so all seems good.

I found out today but not over the phone when I called - that on top of Sabriel crying/meowing the whole time. About 3 days in she developed loose stools with a bit of blood in them. They attributed it to stress, and gave her some medication for it which cleared it up. She was supposed to have two days of the medication left but I declined it because she's really hard to pill. I'll just keep an eye on her stools.

Oh and because of how much she has been shedding (like crazy!) I enquired about a comb for her. I tried a brush with her in the past and she never liked it at all. With the comb I figured i'd try that even if she disliked it because of how much she has been shedding. Well on the plus side when I got her home and situated - I combed her and she flat out loved it! She laid down for me and just purred, she even let me get her tummy with the comb! I can see lots of combing sessions in our future lol.

I did call Kim after the vet, told her it all went good. Asked her a question to clarify one of the diagnostic tests and then called my vet back to get that added to the chart. I also brought up the car ride home. I was worried with them hissing at each other and growling that I may have inadvertently messed up for when they will be introduced to each other in a few weeks time. She said they're not likely to remember it and the car ride shouldn't be an issue a few weeks from now. Really hoping that's the case.

She also gave me some idea's for Trance as well. 1) For when I pick her up to scruff her, she told me this before when I first got the kittens but I forgot with everything that's been going on the past couple of days. That should help as apparently she goes limp when it's done. 2) To cuddle her close to my chest so she can hear my heart beat and just talk to her. 3) Wand toys - which have already been mentioned by others on here.

Okay now that I've written another book I think it's time I be quiet lol.

I've got some pictures of them in their cage, but I think I'm gonna let them both loose in the upstairs cat room tonight. Hopefully I'll be able to get some good pictures of them that way with them playing and such.

 

[Patti]

I'm glad to hear that all went well at the vet's and they are settling in well. I agree with Kim that it is unlikely they'll remember their car ride home after a few days, but I'm sure Sabriel is very happy to be home!

 

[Chris Elliott]

Congrats on the kittens! Don't forget to send us pictures of all three!

I agree with Patti--Sabriel will be fine with the kittens. Cats figure out what's too rough quickly--both sides have weapons of mass destruction, and a yelp here and there is usually all it takes to alert the other to what's too rough.

I'm learning to let two of my adult cats figure it out themselves, as long as one isn't cornered. You'll know when it's too much--the yowling will escalate unmistakably when it's time to step in. Have a water bottle ready--don't wade into a cat fight!

As it's two kittens and a cat, things will in all likelihood go just fine. Kittens are so much easier to socialize with other cats.

Best wishes!

 

[Brandy DW]

Progress!!! I was able to pet Trance tonight for a good amount of time without her hissing at me or walking away to the corner. I switched back and forth between petting her and Nakaia. I'll take it!

Bad News - Bad Weather! - Right now living in Sioux Falls is wet, as in were getting a ton of rain and there's some flooding issues. Then tonight we're in a tornado watch until the early hours of the morning. I have thunderstorms on both sides of my house. I'm expecting a good amount of hail. This is going to be another fantastic night.

On top of that, I'm worried about Sabriel. She ate all of her food from this afternoon except for a few bites. I know as soon as I got her home she drank some water because she was hot. However I come home tonight and there is nothing in her litter box (or outside of her litter box for that matter). No pee, no poo, no nothing. Which really isn't like her. I'm really hoping she went at the vet because otherwise this is just strange. Also I swear she feels heavier than when I left... The only plus side is she started eating as soon as I put her food bowl down, so hopefully not a blockage or anything serious, maybe just stress or something.. Still doesn't explain her stomach but hmm. If she hasn't gone to the litter box by the morning she's going back to the vet for some tests.