And Kitten Makes Three

Duncan and Kate

October 19, 2009 -

Michelle T. -PetSmart Charities, Inc.

I’ve had cats all my life. Growing up, we always had at least three cats, and sometimes more. When I left home for college and lived in the dorm for a year, I felt that dorm room was extremely lacking without a feline companion. Even before I secured my own place for the second year of college, I adopted my cat, Kate. For almost 12 years, the two of us have lived mostly alone, with only brief appearances from other cats and people. She’s definitely my soul-mate cat.

When I applied for the Communications Representative position at PetSmart Charities, I admit that I felt like the interview process would have been easier if I had more than one pet. Luckily, that problem was resolved only a few weeks after starting my new job, when my friend moved away to a cold climate and adopted to me his desert tortoise, Mischa. Within just another two months, I adopted a second cat, Duncan, and then a work hamster, Mia. (Mia was with me until she died in September, and now I have Alice, a robo dwarf hamster.)

I think the appearance of a second cat has partially ruined Kate’s life. When I decided to bring home a brother for her, I envisioned a cat who would make her life cozier and not so lonely. As it turns out, Kate wasn’t lonely, she was happy. Now with Duncan on board, I’m trying to figure out how to keep the balance between two cats who don’t get along. I adopted Duncan when he was nine weeks old. He was 3.5 pounds when I brought him home, and I thought Kate would show him who was boss and mold him into a respectful cat. Unfortunately, Kate hid under the bed, Duncan ballooned to 12 pounds, and now he chases her through the house and keeps her penned into her room or under the bed all day.

A few weeks ago, I got to go to Chicago to attend "Feline Forum: Practices and New Perspectives," a conference that PetSmart Charities put on for cat-lovers across the United States. During work at the conference, one of the tracks I sat in on was called "How to Think Like a Cat: First Introductions" by Pamela Johnson-Bennett, which covered cat-to-cat introductions. Eureka! I picked up some very helpful tips about how I could possibly make Kate and Duncan get along better. So far I’ve been too lazy to try any of them, but my positive attitude is rubbing off a little bit. Last weekend I took a nap on the bed with Kate on one side and Duncan on the other. That’s progress.