Jim, I'm wondering if you will ever hear from them at this point. Maybe your vet didn't report it.

Newt

 

We were thinking the same thing.

My vet, all but swore up and down, that it was going to be reported first thing Fri. AM.

Now it's Thurs. about 10:30 AM and still nothing! Poor Shadow is all cooped up in that room .
We wish we could let her out.

Thanx again for your comforting advice.

Jim

 

Jim, so how close was the last reported case of rabies to where you live?

Newt

 

Not sure, but the vet led us to believe that rabies was an epidemic in this area, (Central New Jersey).

I'll research it and get back to you.

Thanx for the support newt!!

Jim (and Sharon)

 

I'm just wondering if the vet had second thoughts about reporting this. Maybe he's thinking it's not a problem.

Newt

 

Well, good news everyone!! Finally heard from animal control in my township.
They were just concerned about the "wound of unknown origin" on her.
I told him that I was almost 100% positive that it was from one of our cats because we had not been letting her out. And that she wasn't a feral cat, just a neighborhood stray.
He just said "OK, if she becomes very ill or dies I need to know". And that was it!!! No quarrantine, no staying inside the house. We are all just so relieved.
Thank you everyone for all your support and encouragement.

Jim

 

WOW!!! How cool is that!! BIG hugs to you, Sharon and Shadow.

Best news I've heard all day.
Newt

 

Awww...big hugs to you too. Sharon and Shadow thank you. We've been enjoying being a family all day.
We're still going to keep an eyes on her for some time, but we're sure everything will be fine.
Contrary to getting sick we've only only seen her getting bigger and stronger from all the good food and vitamins we've been giving her. When we first met her she was boney.

Thanx again for all your good input.

Jim

 

Jim, you are all very welcome, but the accolades goes to you and Sharon for all you've done for this kitty. I salute you both!

Newt

 

Oops. Hit the wrong button

 

Here are the pics of our kitties.

Missy is the oldest at 13yrs.

Sasha and Shanna are probably less than a yr. apart at 5yrs.

And Shadow, we all know about her.

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/c...ew51/Missy.jpg



http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/c...andshanna2.jpg

http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/c...51/Shadow3.jpg

 

OMG, those pics are fantastic! It's so nice to see the faces of the animals we've talked about. I too have a black cat. He'll be 17 in January. His mother is a gray tabby and is 18. She was a feral that my daughter brought to me.

Thanks so much for sharing those.
Newt

 

Well, after playing catch up, since computer ate my hard drive and I have been working 7 days a week....

Am soooo very glad to hear Shadow is doing well, and looking wonderful! You both should be very proud of yourselves and the wonderful care you have given your furry kids! I am so please that the worry was for naught.

Do keep us posted...

 

Yep, me too. Working 7 days a week. I tend to have this rediculous notion that I will eventually get caught up with all this work.

The list of clients is still the same.

On a different note...

Shadow has apparently assumed position of the new dominant female. (They're all female)
And she often goes out of her way and leaves no stone unturned to attack the former alpha cat, Shanna.

Such as ambushes and sneaking around the corner.

Is this normal?? Because now she is being deterred by us not to attack her, but is attacking the other cats too now as well, in what it seems as an attempt to satify her urge. I used the spray bottle you guys suggested and it works quite effectively, but poor Shadow has been through so much already.

I just want to know if it is OK to do this.

Anyway thank you for all your advice and help with her. if you have any thoughts on this I would be very appreciative.

Thanx again

Jim

 

Hi Jim,

Sounds like very normal play behavior. She's becoming more comfortable and more playful. She's young and wants and needs to play. If this is dominance there should be some staring and positioning going on as well. It shouldn't be interferred with.
http://www.petstyle.com/cat/training...ing%20Articles

Newt

 

Thanx newt. I read the article.
OMG!! It just seems so agressive!! I mean when they go at it, it really sounds serious. Sometimes I feel like they would tear each other up if I didn't intervene.
Also I feel sooo bad for poor Shanna, she just hides all the time now.
Will she ever be the same again??
I'm not so worried about the other cats, they seem to be getting along with Shadow about as well as they get along with each other.
I'm worried that they might hurt each other if I leave them alone. Is this a possibility??

I'm a little concerned.

Jim

 

Jim, I think once dominance is established you will see everything calm down. I'd give it a few more days and maybe do more research on the internet about dominance in a multi cat household. That will give you more understanding of the behaviors.

Newt

 

I'm already starting to see it. I always feed Shadow first now. I always cater to Shadows needs first, and I always give Shadow TLC before the other ones.
Everything is going to be OK I think .

I'll keep you posted.

Jim

 

Great news!! Goodie, goodie!! I'm sooo glad to hear this.

Lots of hugs,
Newt

 

I am so very glad to see/hear that things are working out...sometimes all it takes is patience and the willingness to let the critters sort it out amongst themselves...

Do keep us posted and congrats on the new addition to the family.

 

Thanx so much your response, but my SO does not seem to think that all is well between the former alpha and the new alpha.
Shanna the former alpha just hides all the time now.
Consoling her does not seem to help. When you are done, she just goes back into hiding.
Is there anything I can do to help Shanna come out of her hiding place?

There does not seem to be anything out of the ordinary with the other cats in our household, other than the normal occassional hissing and chasing.
Poor Shanna has apparently been hit pretty hard by all of this.
Do any of you guys have any tricks up your sleeve that I can try to help poor Shanna out. I really care about her a lot and I miss her .

It's sooooo ironic. Before it was poor Shadow, now it's poor Shanna

Well if you have any ideas please let me know.

Thanx

Jim

 

Jim,

Patience and time are the best suggestions at this point. The cats will sort themselves out in their own time. Keep making certain to spend time with all of them individually, and perhaps a bit of extra with Shanna.

The last time we brought a new fur kid into the house, it took many weeks before things settled back down into the new heirarchy...as long as they are not fighting in earnest, and everyone is eating and doing their business properly, simply give it time.

Let your SO know that once I had a new cat, male young adult, come into our household group, and it took nearly 6 months before everything got back to the *New* normal...and not to worry.

Keep us posted.

 

Hi Jim,

I totally agree with Rhainy. It's going to take some time, and extra time spent with Shanna should help her through it.

Please keep us updated.
Newt

 

I do spend a lot of extra time with her. I am in the bedroom and she is snoozing in the sock basket atop of my SO's dresser. She is soooo cute when she's sleepy. I always give her extra treats too.
I hope everything will be OK.
I'll keep you posted as well.

Thanx Jim

 

Just an update.

Poor Shanna the (former alpha cat) still hides whenever she is in the house.

It's really hard to tell whether or not Shadow is just playing or curious when she approaches Shanna, but Shanna always sees it as a threat and goes into hiding. I really miss her.
I try real hard to console her, but she is sooooo upset that she hisses at me and scratches me sometimes.

I just can't wait till we get Shadow fixed so she can go outside.
Her appointment isn't untill January 7th though.


I think maybe when she finally does things will get back to normal a little bit more.

Jim

 

Well here's an update.
Shadow has become very acclimated to being inddors. And Shanna is getting used to Shadow. She doesn't hide nearly as much anymore. In fact she has now adopted our bed as her new safe spot and sleeps with us every night.
I think everything is going to be OK between these two and when Shadow does finally get to go outside they may actually become freinds.

I thank all you guys for all your help through this tough time.

Jim

 

Jim,

I was just thinking about posting to ask how things were going...

I am very glad to hear that Shadow and Shanna are both settling in. I know how hard it can be sorting out new furry kids...I have 7 cats and 2 dogs, all rescues.

Please do keep us posted and don't hesitate to ask if you have any other questions.

Seasons Blessings to you and your family.

 

And same to you RhainyC

 

Well here's an interesting update on Shadow.
We took him to the vets Monday to get fixed. That's right him. And the vet found out that he was a male and not a female like we had thought all along.
Also he said that he was an altered male, meaning he had already been fixed. So this means that shadow did have a home somewhere at one time .

I feel soooo bad now, like we stole someones cat. But when you see him now as compared to before, he's not all scrawny and skinny. I'm just hoping we did the right thing by taking him in and feeding him and loving him.

And BTW no sign of rabies and no visit from the health department.

Thanx

Jim

 

Jim, sorry to be so late in responding...had electricity problems with the icy weather here...

Now don't go feeling all bad about Shadow having had an owner before you. You did _Not_ steal him, he came to you...

If the other owner really cared enough, they would have been out looking for him, and advertising and so on. I know, I have done so when my cat went missing, after sneaking out.

I am glad that Shadow has a good and loving home, and is healthy as can be as well as fixed.

So don't feel bad, think of it is adopting a teenager (*winks) and let it go at that...

 

Thankx again rhainy for your reassuring words.Jim

 

Oh BTW Shadow is allowed to go out whenever he wants now. And it's amazing he doesn't go very far and always wants to back inside after being out for a few hours. I figured he would run away for a few days at least after being cooped up in this house for so long. But, nope he's either waiting at the door or comes running when you call him.

All is well at the home of Jim and Sharon

Thanx everyone for all your help

Jim