It looks like I'll be getting another kitten...for my kitten!

[Lorien]

I met with a pet behavioral specialist about my problems with Puck and Pippin. Pip WILL NOT leave Puck alone, and Puck is pissed off all the time and not eating enough because of it. When Pip isn't after Puck he's begging me to play with him using his favorite toy (fake fur mouse on a wand). He drags the toy behind him and whimpers pathetically if I don't stop whatever I'm doing and PLAY! I've never met a cat who demanded as much attention as Pip does; he's truly living up to the Turk reputation of "feline border collie".

The specialist said that he would need a kitten of his very own to take his mind off of Puck-but he needs to be the one to choose the kitten! This is going to be tough; I'll likely need to foster again to help him find his perfect little brother, and I'm still so nervous about Panleukapenia (a swift and always fatal disease that is rampant here in Florida). I don't know what precautions I can take against bringing it into my home. I'd actually rather adopt an adult kitty, but I already tried that once this year and Puck nearly bloodied herself trying to get to him. I hope that she won't hit the roof if I bring in another kitten, but maybe if it's small and submissive then she won't be so hostile towards it. I'll be talking to a rescue group this week about my dilemma, so wish us luck!

Waiting for a little brother....

[demnan]

1. Young male cats and older females sometimes clash

I know I did this when I got Pad Thai. Lily had a really bad time and even got depressed and stopped eating so I had to take her to the vet and get appetitite stimulants. I had to take her alone into the bedroom every day for a quiet time of brushing and petting so that Paddy wouldn't try to compete with her. It got better as he got older but he is very demanding as well, as you know.

Charley was the perfect 3rd cat for us. He walked in and his main focus has always been Pad Thai. He is loving to me but he grooms and plays with Paddy. Although he occasionally tries to bedevil Lily, she actually tolerates him far better than she first did Pad Thai.

Where is Oberion in all this? I thought he liked playing with kittens. Is Pip too much for him too?

[Lorien]

2. Pip is about the only kitten that Oberon has ever hissed at

Pippin loves to play pranks on everyone, which is typical of all Turks (Puck does it sometimes too), but Oberon is so easily frightened that the constant surprises wear thin on him. He will play chase with Pip every so often, and I have seen him instigate a wrestling match with Pip once in a while, so there's not a huge divide between them. Pip has yet to be neutered (that will happen very soon), so hopefully he'll take it down a notch after that occurs. When I got Pip I though that he would be the perfect middleman for Oberon and Puck. Obie loves to cuddle with other boy cats, and Puck is too hyperactive to play with Obie (Maine Coons are MUCH more laid back. It's like pairing a bloodhound with a Jack Russel), so naturally I thought that a boy Turk would be just the ticket. I just didn't expect that Puck would cop such an attitude over a kitten who is so much like herself!

I did just hear from a cat rescue group who says that they have several litters that need foster homes ASAP. I plan to take one in in another week or so (too much work on my plate right now). Hopefully it won't take too many litters for Pip to choose "his" kitten!

[Lorien]

3. I've been approved as a foster by a local cat rescue group

They have a massive kitten boom this spring, so just in time I guess! I'll also be doing some artwork and advertising for them- they need it!

[Grateful for Hope]

4. Good news, Lorien!

On both pieces of news. You, Pip, and the little foster babies will all benefit!

[BrklynLiberal]

5. Wow! She is so lovely..and has grown up so much!!!!

What if you go outside of Fla to get a kitten..to avoid the panleukapenia?

[BrklynLiberal]

6. oops. Replied befor eI read all the posts. Congrats...we must have pics, of course.

[Lorien]

9. Thanks! They do grow up so fast

I need to get some more photos, too-the most recent ones I have are more than a month old. I'm also hoping that SOMEDAY I can get a photo of him when he isn't squinting! He really hates that flash, poor guy:

[BrklynLiberal]

10. What incredible pictures!!!! The look on his face is priceless...it just melts your heart.

The entire setting and background and the way he is posed.....A professional pet photographer would charge a fortune for pics like that.
Fantastic is the only word I can come up with. I wish I could get pics half that good...Wow...

[Lorien]

15. Aww, thanks!

All you need is a fast digital camera and a fun wand toy. Take enough of them and you'll have several professional looking pics too! (I must have taken 30 or more just to get these two).

:hi:

[Eurobabe]

7. What a cute sweet little face!

Will you get another T.A.? :loveya:

[Lorien]

8. No, probably a domestic shorthair

Turks are very rare, so bonafide Turks almost never end up at shelters. Besides, TWO hyperactive and very demanding feline border collies is enough! I saw a gorgeous four month old maine coon mix at Petco on the weekend, but I assumed that he would be a better friend for Obie than for Pippin. Pip needs to choose his OWN little buddy. I'm hoping that he chooses a nice little tuxedo, just because I miss having one around the house. The rescue has a few tuxedo boys for me to try out. An orange boy or black cat might be nice too-just something that mixes up our color scheme a bit (it's already hard to tell Pip and Puck apart in low light), so we'll see. I won't get them for another week or so...I still have to finish my taxes and a huge pile of work first!

[blondie58]

11. that is wonderful, Lorien

and so wise to let Pip choose his own friend. You know about www.petfinder.com/, don't you? Can't wait to see the pictures of the new little guy.

[Lorien]

13. Yeah, I used to post my fosters on there all the time

and I'm sure I'll do the same with these, because I had quite a bit of success last time around!

:hi:

[huskerlaw]

12. Pippin is so adorable!!

Many of his features remind me of my Kyra. Kyra's a rescue, so I have no idea what "kind" she is...but I've been trying to figure it out, without any success. We know that Momma Cat was a regular-looking all black short-hair. The cat we suspect of being Papa Cat appears to be a multi-colored, though basically light-haired Maine Coon (or something similar). Her 3 siblings look nothing like her, all 3 are short-hairs. But here's Kyra:



(Ignore the weird patch of semi-missing hair on her side. That hair STILL hasn't grown back/caught up from when they shaved her pre-spay...about 6 months ago!)

[Lorien]

14. She's sitting like a Maine Coon, and has the right face shape

so she may be part Maine Coon. You'll have to wait to see if a ruff and fluffy "britches" develop. I had three half MCs as fosters once; two looked like Maine Coons, and one looked like a very large boned domestic short hair! One would have never guessed that they were siblings.

[huskerlaw]

16. Oooh great!

We had a Maine Coon when I was growing up and he was the sweetest cat I've ever met. Kyra's pretty darn sweet too, and very calm for a kitten.

I just took more pictures of her...I think she already has the "britches"...what do you think?