So, Oranjello and the kitten seem to be getting along great! I am concerned that Oranjello plays too rough with the kitten and doesn’t realize how much bigger he is than the kitten. But the kitten would get wrestled enough to meow and try to escape, but then if the kitten gets away, the kitten keeps coming back for more. My mom said they’ll be fine together. So I am not as worried that Oranjello is going to kill this kitten, just somewhat concerned.
The kitten is acting great and very outgoing now. He explored the spiral stairs on his own, and he doesn’t seem as fearful of heights as Oranjello was (Oranjello needed “training carpet” provide traction to to use the stairs). He seems to like Oranjello too. He’s still slightly skittish about me and Clint, and I think if given time he’ll come around. He doesn’t object to us once we’re there petting him or holding him. He just acts ever so slightly scared when we first come up to him. He’s not like Runny/Tigger where he hides forever. He does leave the couch and not hang around us, though.
My main problem is Oranjello’s behavior to me and Clint. He spends all his time downstairs either playing with the kitten, or looking longingly at the kitten behind the utility room door. Last night, when it was bedtime, I went and got Oranjello and brought him to the bedroom with us. Oranjello did *NOT* want to come into the room with me, and he was actually growling at me when I was holding him! He’s never growled at me!
I sat on the bed for a few minutes, and he was just growling and acting all annoyed. I got really depressed about that. I actually said to Clint “What, does he have rabies or something?”.
This morning, I actually realized that I had had a dream back in May about Oranjello being mean and me worried about him having rabies. When I reread the dream, it was more than just Oranjello being mean and me worried about rabies. In the dream, Oranjello had been playing with some wild cats, and when it was time to go home, I picked him up, and he got mad and was snarling and hissing and trying to attack me. Crazy, huh.
Anyway, Oranjello seemed fine this morning – he had slept with us in his usual spot on the headboard. No alarm clock shenanigans this morning. I let him and the kitten play while I made my breakfast. Then I locked the kitten up, and Oranjello stayed downstairs while I finished up my stuff and went to work. Clint said Oranjello did not hang out with him at all while I was at work which is unusual. He said he brought him upstairs and gave him some fishflakes once, but he went right back downstairs. Not the human-social cat that he usually is.
So, my thought is I shouldn’t keep the kitten if I want to keep a relationship with Oranjello. I am scared if I keep the kitten, I won’t have any kitties that would love me since they are too busy playing with each other. Then again, maybe if Oranjello realizes the kitten is here to stay, maybe he won’t want to spend every waking moment with it. I just don’t know, and time is up. I have to decide whether I am keeping this kitten tonight.
I asked Clint what he thinks, and he seems to think we should keep the kitten, but he said if I’m the one having second thoughts, he trusts my opinion more. I just don’t know. Clint suggested I post this blog entry and see what everyone else’s thoughts are…… sooooo… any thoughts????
August 29, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Hi, I caught your post on Ian’s friends’ page (I think we met at a party of his some time this year). As far as the kitty wrestling goes, they are just playing Who’s In Charge, after all, Oranjello has to teach kitty he’s the big cheese becase he’s been there longer. Totally normal. As for his interest in the kitty, I think that is totally normal too, and after the novelty has worn off he’ll be his usual self with you again. He probably feels like it’s his job to look after the new kitty, show him the ropes & such. As for his growling, I’ll bet he didn’t want to look like he was vulnerable to the new kitty, because he’s trying to establish a hierarchy with the new guy. Keep the new kitty, it sounds like they are becoming great friends!
August 29, 2008 at 11:01 pm
My own thoughts from personal experience. I got Toonces as a kitten, and didn’t get Vlad till a year later.
You may have waited too long to get a second cat. Oranjello sees this as HIS home and is jealous and territorial. But, he will get over it.
It took a year for the growling to stop at night when I got Vlad. It’ll most likely be less for Oranjello, since he’s still younger and more willing to adapt.
If you want a second cat, keep him. The older Oranjello gets, the harder it will be to get him used to a new cat.
August 29, 2008 at 11:09 pm
After having seen the pictures, keep him. They seem to be getting along. Oranjello will adjust.
August 30, 2008 at 12:41 am
yay. Thanks for your thoughts everyone. I also googled, and some pages mention that the growling at me is normal.
Specifically this page: http://www.fourpaws.org/pages/adopting_pages/introducing_cats.html
and this page: http://www.catforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=52056&sid=a5adae05714443ae8a86d71477b78175
August 30, 2008 at 1:33 am
Oranjello was licking his butt, and the kitten took the opportunity to pounce on his tail. And then Oranjello like twitched the very end of his tail. He was totally playing with that kitten.
And there was no doubt in my mind that Oranjello loves the kitten. The doubt is that he’d continue to love me, but I think it’ll be ok.
And re-reading Kim’s comment, where she says “As for his growling, I’ll bet he didn’t want to look like he was vulnerable to the new kitty…”, I can see it now. Oranjello was like “Mooooooom! You’re embarrassing me!!!”
August 30, 2008 at 4:25 am
He’ll get over it. It’s just that up till now he’s used to being the center of attention, and now he has to share it.
August 30, 2008 at 10:23 am
Sorry I didn’t see this until this morning!
Yeah, I agree with what others have said; there’s no reason to think that Oranjello’s behavior will be permanent. A lot of animals adjust really well after a certain amount of time goes by. If 6 months go by and he’s having major behavioral issues, then I could see feeling worried, but I think it’s safe to wait to see how things turn out.
I do think it’s normal for new cats (especially in the first week) to be more interested in each other than in the people around them; after all, it’s a completely new kitten he’s getting to play with. It’s funny that the kitten keeps going back for more even though Oranjello does so much roughhousing.
August 31, 2008 at 10:01 pm
i think you have nothing to worry about pets adjust to babies. My dog who has been # 1 for yrs had to deal with an infant and then when my son was 2 1/2 I decided i needed a kitten and they all got along great of course there were bumps. But nothing we couldn’t handle. The biggest thing now is keeping my kitten away from my bird.And my other son my dog doesn’t leave my side and my cat comes home at night to lay with us.He’s now an out door in door cat since we moved from FL to CT.They have all been great with the change it’s been me that’s having a hard time Hope you think about everything and make a great decision.
September 1, 2008 at 9:11 am
I’m late on this one– so I have very little to add.
But I will say don’t worry about Oranjello not loving you as much. There are a few key things that you will get to provide him that the kitten will not. You know like… food and pets.
September 1, 2008 at 3:50 pm
The kitten is here to stay, and it’s all working out. Oranjello is almost back to his normal self. The kitten & Oranjello play together, and then they’ll also sleep together.
I caught them both laying together in the Cat-i-lac Mom bought.
September 1, 2008 at 9:29 pm
I’m late on this one too, but I agree with the above comments. Oranjello and the kitten will get used to each other, and eventually become bored, and then they’ll be begging you and Clint for attention again. : )
Congrats on the new kitten!
September 9, 2008 at 3:23 pm
I’m very impressed you titled this “kitten dilemma” instead of “pussy problem” or some variation. You have more will power to avoid tasteless jokes than I do!
September 9, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Hmm, those thoughts didn’t even enter my mind. I guess I don’t have as dirty a mind as you
I must work on that.
September 12, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Uh-huh
February 18, 2009 at 11:19 pm
[...] Got another kitten, Lemonjello, to be friends with Oranjello. They are best buddies. (Lemonjello was free, as kittens should be). [...]
March 30, 2011 at 2:12 am
[...] was when the other prospects were coming. Soafter hemming and hawing from Tuesday to Friday (and Carolyn blogging about it), we finally decided to keep the kitten. We’re glad we did, except Oranjello is a completely [...]