Reflection: Living with Four Cats

The short: Four cats is TOO MANY.

The long:

When I moved back home I took my two cats - Pretty Kitty and Stitch - with me.  It was very nice of my mom to let the cats come too.  Since she already had two of them (and dislikes having them)

Pretty is in the background and Stitch in the front

They joined my mom's two cats - Cocoa (the mean one) and Snickers (the fat one)

I wasn't sure what to expect, but I did think that Snickers wouldn't really care and Cocoa would be mean and grumpy.  I think I was about half right, b/c Cocoa was still mean and grumpy, but Snickers did care that they were there.

She pretty much antagonized Pretty from the get go.  You see, my cats are fairly small.  Stitch is about 8.5 pounds and Pretty is about 8 pounds.

 

While Cocoa is probably more along the lines of 12 pounds (total guess) and Snickers is a wopping 18-20 pounds.

 

Snickers on the left and Cocoa on the right

 

Snickers just picked on the cats from the beginning - especially Pretty (she is the more social cat).  Sounds came from Pretty that I have never heard before.  Snickers would chase Pretty around the house and there would be these horrible hissy/growly/moany sounds.  Real fun to hear in the middle of the night...

Things got better over time and they weren't as hissy, but I really think that Snickers is going to miss having these two cats to chase around.

 

 

 

I learned something about the cats while having all four of them in the house together.  Pretty and Snickers are a lot alike.  They like to be around people and will follow us around or dart into the bathroom if they know that's where we are headed.

 

 

And Stitch and Cocoa are a lot alike.  They stay more away from people (although Stitch like people and Cocoa just hisses and growls).  They keep more to themselves and enjoy the same spots always.

Cocoa really didn't come around to the cats... but no one really expected her to.  She's grumpy.  She did finally warm up to me - but it took several months of trying before that happened.

 

 

I know my mom is happy to go back to the two cats b/c well... four cats is just too many.  They make bigger messes (throw up all the time... although I really think this is a Snickers problem since she gobbles up food faster than her stomach can take it evidenced by the mostly undigested food... but I know that ALL cats puke).  You don't really know which cat is causing the problem (poop on the floor... who did it... my guess - Cocoa just b/c we've caught her in the act before... oh and she peed on Lindsey... that's a new one)

 

 

My cats mostly stayed in my room.  Stitch especially.  Cats are so funny they do this thing where the "follow" you except they are in front of you.  They try to anticipate your next move.  Like if I'm headed down the hallway and think I'm head for the bathroom they will dart in there, only to realize I'm actually headed to my room so quickly come in there.

 

Cats are great pets... despite what people may think.  They are fun, social, entertaining, cuddly, loveable and just enjoyable to own.  I hope that the move goes well with them and we get the basement set up in a way that makes sense.  I am still working that out.

So in conclusion - cats are great, don't have four!