In my years as a real estate broker, I learned to focus on doing the most productive activities first. And to appreciate the difference between urgent, important, urgent and important, and urgent and unimportant ones.
Urgent and important right now is my need, goal, desire, passion, to get folks disabused of the "My cat would never accept another cat" way of thinking! NOT SO, in virtually ALL cases. I can speak with authority as I have had literally thousands of cats through my shelter, and they all, always, pretty much immediately, get along!
Lots to unpack here, to coin a phrase.
I bring home old, young, traumatized, starving, injured, cats. Cats who have had to fight for food on the streets. Cats who have never lived with another cat, and those who have lived with too many (hoarding situations) And......
THEY ALL GET ALONG FINE!
I've given this a lot of thought, and have come up with a few ideas about why mine do, and folks are so convinced that theirs will not, co-exist peacefully, even lovingly.
1. My first theory is a tad snarky, but in many cases, I'm sure, spot-on: folks don't want any more cats, and use their cat or cats as an excuse. "It's not me, it's my cat ".
2. Cats are following the expectations of the guardian. They are way more astute than we give them credit for. they understand your expectation or thinking that they won't accept another cat, and act accordingly.
3. Folks don't introduce the new cat diplomatically and tactfully! They don't explain that the new cat is for the existing one's benefit, that the existing cat's place in their hearts will not change, etc., etc.! Anitra Frasier in her book The Natural Cat, lays out a good scenario for the introduction. Six Pages! Lots to ponder and learn from!
I would be delighted to talk with you about introducing a new cat or cats!
So many more cats would be in loving homes and out of the steel shelter cages or off the streets if we could teach folks that adding cats is doable. Give it a think!
Urgent and important right now is my need, goal, desire, passion, to get folks disabused of the "My cat would never accept another cat" way of thinking! NOT SO, in virtually ALL cases. I can speak with authority as I have had literally thousands of cats through my shelter, and they all, always, pretty much immediately, get along!
Lots to unpack here, to coin a phrase.
I bring home old, young, traumatized, starving, injured, cats. Cats who have had to fight for food on the streets. Cats who have never lived with another cat, and those who have lived with too many (hoarding situations) And......
THEY ALL GET ALONG FINE!
I've given this a lot of thought, and have come up with a few ideas about why mine do, and folks are so convinced that theirs will not, co-exist peacefully, even lovingly.
1. My first theory is a tad snarky, but in many cases, I'm sure, spot-on: folks don't want any more cats, and use their cat or cats as an excuse. "It's not me, it's my cat ".
2. Cats are following the expectations of the guardian. They are way more astute than we give them credit for. they understand your expectation or thinking that they won't accept another cat, and act accordingly.
3. Folks don't introduce the new cat diplomatically and tactfully! They don't explain that the new cat is for the existing one's benefit, that the existing cat's place in their hearts will not change, etc., etc.! Anitra Frasier in her book The Natural Cat, lays out a good scenario for the introduction. Six Pages! Lots to ponder and learn from!
I would be delighted to talk with you about introducing a new cat or cats!
So many more cats would be in loving homes and out of the steel shelter cages or off the streets if we could teach folks that adding cats is doable. Give it a think!
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