POT PURRY
We have one for the books this issue! Pat Garner (Pagar–Roanoke, Va.) has a young MC boy who is now wearing braces on his teeth. Seems he «ran into a door» and knocked an upper and lower canine slightly askew. Pat’s veterinarian has an open minded dentist friend—sooo, braces. At last report the boy was doing fine and the teeth are shaping up. Only one thing, Pat’s having trouble teaching him to brush after eating!
While we’re telling cat-tails, Becky, (Miss Kennebunk) Ellis spent the holidays with her left hind leg in a cast. She tangles with a garage door and lost. Had letters from Becky with «during and after» pictures. In her last note she reported complete recovery, except she can’t convince her folks that she is ready to resume her outside activities.
A real topper, though, is Mumbo Eastman (Ktaadn, Brunswick, Maine). Since he retired from the production line Mumbo has been allowed to stroll around the premises. Well–while helping unload the car after a vacation trip, Mumbo vanished. Frantic searching for days, checks of the neighborhood and local shelters, adver tizing went on for two weeks but no Mumbo. Then one day, the boss lady thought she saw him in a neighbor’s yard and went to investigate. It wasn’t Mumbo, but as she started to leave, she heard a faint meow from the sky. She looked up and spotted a black something in the very top of a tall pine tree. Up went a ladder and down came what was left of Mumbo. The story ended happily and Mumbo is on his way to again being a «fat cat». Apparently something, probably a dog, chased him and Mumbo (who grew up in the city before moving to Maine) didn’t know how to get down.
I had a letter from a desperate lady who had brought a new kitten into the family only to learn that her adult cat did not approve of any new feline residents. This can be a problem. I have found that usually a kitten under 6 or 7 months has little or no trouble becoming accepted. There will be some initial snorting and mumbling from the oldsters but in a few days it is over. Introducing older cats is more difficult and the degree of difficulty varies from cat to cat.
When I introduce a newcomer, I make sure that everyone has their front claws clipped. If the new arrival is a kitten, I just turn him loose and let him get acquainted. None of my tribe will get really mean with a youngster so it is safe. If it is an adult being introduced, I put him in the spare room for a few days and let the introductions take place through the screen door (specially installed). If your doors are solid (as most are) they can still manage by sniffing and playing footsie under the door. It also helps to reverse the situation a few times, letting each get used to the smell of the other. When they are finally allowed together, there will probably be some spits, growls and maybe a few swats exchanged but I stay out of it unless voices indicate a coming explosion. Then I talk, scold a bit and if necessary separate. The pecking order has to be established and if nails are clipped very little damage to either party is likely. It’s good to have some water handy (squirt gun, spray bottle, garden hose etc.) just in case.
The length of time required to smooth all the ruffled feathers varies. At Heidi-Ho, some of the tribe are quite blase about new arrivals and with these mutual acceptance is almost immediate. Others take longer and some are unpre dictable. Heather and Fanny Abigail fit the first category even when they have kittens. Molly fits there unless she has kittens, then she is a witch. When Great Grandpa arrived she ignored him until the kittens came then she «treed» him in the den for the better part of two months. After the kids were gone,things were fine and I thought she had accepted him. When her next litter arrived she was OK until the kids bagan to roam the house and then Thomas had to retreat to his hideout again. I imagine he’s glad she has only one litter per year!
Connie