I'm sorry Smudge but..

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-17-2003
I'm sorry Smudge but..
4
Fri, 07-23-2004 - 3:04pm
Hey,

I posted a while ago about having 2 cats that don't get along. The older resident cat seemed to have no problem, but the younger new one was the one that refused to get along. Any chance the younger one (smudge) got, she'd attack the older one (raughja). Raughjka, being 13 years old, obviously, was stressed out and scared. he'd keep pulling out his hair, and hiding. I tried for 3 months to get this to work. Now. This is where I drew the line.

Smudge was spayed. But shortly after i got her, i noticed my bedroom started to "smell". I caught her peeing in my closet on my clothes. That was tnough for me. I live in an apartment, and simply can't have that. I just wonder why she did that all of a sudden after 3 months. I figured jealousy, or she was angry because she'd have to be kept in my bathroom while I was at work. Anyway, after I saw that, that was enough. I tried looking for another home, I tried getting a friend to take her, etc. All else failed, I took her back to the shelter i got her from (but they're no kill.) I was SO sad. I cried all the way there, all the way back. And she's probably sitting in that small wire kennel doing the same. She was so cute, and such a good cat otherwise. I wish she didn't do what she did. What else was i supposed to do. I hope she'll get adopted into a nice family, with no other cats, she deserves an amazing home.

So now that i'm crying again, heh. My question is, it's been about a month since i've "returned" her. My cat is still pulling out his hair (but he's had that habit for a while, it's just gotten worse. the hair grows back though.). I REALLY want to get another cat (one that i KNOW gets along with others). I truly don't believe it was Raughja who had the problem accepting Smudge. I'm kind of scared to try again, because of this incident. It's not fair to the cat, Raughja, or myself, should something not work out again. I have a TREMENDOUS love for animals, more so cats than anything, and the local humane society if packed to the roof with cats (as usual), and they're trying to "clear them out" but reducing adoption fees to half price. So this of course, is tempting. And i'd love to give another cat a loving home, because i can do so much for them. I may not eat for a week, but I make sure Raughja does! I'd give up my own needs for theirs.

So my question is, is it too soon, or should i even try to bring in another cat after this incident? Is that fair to Raughja? Should I just continue to be a 1 cat household until Raughja passes on (which won't be for many many years!)?

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2004
Fri, 07-23-2004 - 3:20pm
I'd watch the cats/kittens interact with each other at the shelter, get the most easy to get along with, laid back one they have. Probally opposite sex of the one you have. Also, has a vet diagnosed your cats hair problem? They may have some medicine he can take, predisone or something. I'm glad the shelter is a no-kill. And its not right that an older cat gets harassed in his own home. donna
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-17-2003
Fri, 07-23-2004 - 3:29pm
Thanks for your response.

I've taken my cat into the emergency vet a while ago because he was chewing at his back and his legs, he wouldn't let me touch him, he'd hiss and spit at me. He was acting abnormally, and chewing himself to the point he'd bleed.

I took him in, and the so called "vet" diagnosed him with epilepsy. The reason why I call him a "vet" ie because I don't agree with that, and I don't believe the doctor had anything to base his opinion on, he did no lab work, and only examined his mouth. My cat is 13 yeard old, i've had him from the age of 6 weeks. Not only would have I probably have seen signs by now, but i've read up on it, and those are not signs of epilepsy. He had matted hair on his back. I honestly believe it was driving him crazy, it was itching, and he was doing what he could to make it stop. I think he only hissed and spit at me because he was irritated, saw the kennel (associated that with going to the vet), and didn't want to be bothered. The groomer shaved his mats out at the vet, and cleaned him up. Since then, his hair has grown back normally, and i've been doing my best to brush him. But he seems to still be pulling it out. I don't have any reason to believe he has fleas or anything. He's been doing this for over a year now. It doesn't seem to be hurting him, he's not bleeding, his mats haven't come back, and I can't see any signs of irritation. He seems to do it when he's cleaning himself, then he'll stop and pull a chunk out. I don't know. As long as its not hurting him, a health problem, and not buggin him any, i don't mind. It's just alot to vacuum everyday!

Avatar for cl_lcni
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Fri, 07-23-2004 - 4:07pm

I'm so sorry that you had to return Smudge.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-01-2003
Fri, 07-23-2004 - 6:53pm
Oh, I hope they found him another home!!