[dc]A[/dc]s I wrote earlier, Stephanie and I adopted a second cat this week: Rags. This meant the joy of introducing Rags to our first cat, Nigel. We weren’t concerned too much about Rags, as he shared a community room with other male cats at the Humane Society. Nigel, however, was a different matter. The Humane Society told us Nigel was ‘a bit of a bully’ around other cats when we adopted him.
Rags the cat. Photo by me, shot with my 50mm Canon lens.
So like any responsible cat parent in 2013, I posted Twitter and Facebook updates about the introduction process over the past few days. Here are all my Cat Watch updates, in chronological order. Enjoy, and Happy Caturday.
Rags gettin’ fancy. Photo by me–you can see me in his eyeballs. Shot with my 50mm 1.8 lens.
- All signs point to us adopting another cat today. Nigel will have a brother. Because, cats. Daniel J. Hogan’s Home for Gifted Cats.
- Stephanie just sent me a video. Rags the cat is home with her now, purring happily. Hoping introducing him to Nigel goes smoothly.
- Stephanie and I, apparently, have a fondness for big cats. Nigel is about 12 lbs. Rags, according to his paperwork, is 13.4 lbs.
- Was on the fence about keeping the name Rags for the new cat, but I like how “Nigel and Rags” sounds.
- 2nd Cat Update: Nigel knows something is up. Making plenty of confused meows. Also wants to know why he can’t nap in the bedroom.
- Brushed out some of new cat’s hair with the FURminator and gave it to Nigel. Lots of sniffing and face rubbing. Good sign maybe?
- Nigel sneaks over to the door Rags is behind and hisses a bit. On the other side Rags is all, WHATEVS BRO /flops on his side.
- New cat Rags is very enthusiastic with his affection. So many headbutts. He also kneads his paws–Nigel does not. Cats.
- Cats saw each other for first time via a slightly cracked door. Growls and awkward swipes exchanged. They have at least seen each other now.
- Rags has an advantage over Nigel: he is able to pull cracked doors open with a paw. A trick Nigel never learned.
- Nigel locked up, Rags has run of most of apartment. He is rooting around Nigel’s box of cat toys, pulling some out.
- Bought the cats Star Wars collars. Nigel: brown and green with Yodas. Rags: black and blue with TIE fighters.
- Cats introduced to each other. Minor growling and hissing, and stare downs from a safe distance. No blows exchanged. Yet.
- Rags is exploring the apartment. Nigel is following and watching his every move–from a safe distance.
- Neither cat is being aggressive though, which is good. This has been Cat Watch 2013.
- Rags scratched at Nigel’s cat stand. Nigel ran over in aw-Hell-no fashion. Went in the bedroom and jumped on Rags’ cat stand. #CatWatch2013
- Stand off. #CatWatch2013
He’s close, I can feel it. Photo by me.
- “I know you are in there.” Nigel keeps watch outside the bedroom door, with Rags and Stephanie on the other side. #CatWatch2013
“Quiet. You smell something?” Photo by me.
- Nigel batting at Rags as he walks by, looks more like he is trying to high-five. No hissing or growling.
- Progress. Also, I don’t have a place to sit now. #CatWatch2013
The cat version of All in the Family. Photo by me.
- Both cats are snoozing on the couch within 3 feet of each other. Warming up to each other, I think. #CatWatch2013
- In other cat news today, Nigel got his head stuck in the handle of a paper shopping bag.
- Nigel leaned over to where Rags is sleeping and sniffed his tail.
- Nigel and Rags laying on the floor, batting toys around.
- Rags laying on floor under table. Nigel walks up behind him and playfully bats at his tail.
- Synchronized self-grooming on the couch.
TL;DR: Nigel is warming up to Rags. They aren’t really growling or hissing any more, and Nigel looks like he is trying to play a bit. The introduction went better than we hoped—Stephanie hopes the two cats will be snuggling each other soon. I think her head would explode if she saw such a thing though.
Affiliate Plug: Star Wars R2-D2 Cat Collar on ThinkGeek
