I Got A New Cat, It’s Not Going According To Planned

I'll be honest, life has been life-ing lately. When my cat Butters passed away, I felt like I lost a piece of myself. She was my soul cat. Her passing was unexpected. I still mourn her months later.

My other cat Toast was missing her as well. I wanted to fill a void and adopt another cat. Not just for me, but for him. I did my research and visited several shelters in the area. I will always rescue my cats. I just feel there's something to be said for animals who truly pick you.

I found Stuffing at the Providence, RI animal control. I went down there to see one cat specifically but I immediately saw that cat had some behavorial issues. I had to think of Toast and couldn't bring a cat home who I knew he wouldn't get along with. After playing with about 10 cats there, I saw another cat in her cage just sitting there. She wasn't desperate to get my attention so she flew under my radar. But I didn't want to leave until I played with each cat. Her name in the shelter was Beverly. She had been picked up off the street and she is a one year old female. Soon as they let her out of her cage, she ran right up to me and headbutted me. Which, if you have never owned a cat, is a sign of love. I knew right away, Beverly would be exactly what I needed in a cat.

I brought her home the following week. Erika and the staff at Providence Animal Control were amazing and made sure I had everything I needed, including medicine as Beverly had a cold when I got her. While I was worried, they assured me a cold is common at shelters and with a week of medicine, she'd be fine. They were right.

I came up with her name about five days later. I wanted a name that was an ode to Toast AND she was so stuffed up. I called her Stuffing, Stuffy for short. You need toast to make stuffing. I wish I could say that it's been one big happy family, but it hasn't. Let's just say Toast and Stuffing are not buddying up to each other like I thought they would.

I've always had two cats. Introducing them has never been an issue for me. So I did it the same way I've been doing it and now I realize, I introduced them too soon. Not to mention, Toast has not been neutered. When he was with my female cat Butters, he was fine so I figured he'd be fine with Stuffing too. NOT the case. He's constantly stalking her which is causing her to resent him. I've tried everything under the sun. Separation, slower introduction, feeding them separately with a divider in between. Nothing seems to be working. I even posted in the Facebook group "My Cat Is An A-hole" for advice. Most people said to watch Jackson Galaxy videos. He's a cat expert and has some amazing advice. But after two weeks, I'm still having a lot of sleepless nights.

I've had a few vets tell me neutering Toast will solve all of my problems. So, that's where he is right now as I'm writing this. I dropped him off up in Epping, NH at a low cost pet spaying and neutering place that I HIGHLY recommend. Rozzie May is located way up in Conway, NH however they also have pick up locations in Epping. Another low cost spaying and neutering clinic is AWARE of NH. They were very attentive and quick to respond and want everyone to know they are highly reputable and have openings now.

I hope and pray this calms Toast down to the point where he and Stuffing get along. In the meantime, I'll continue to be patient and show both cats equal amount of love.

Me and Stuffing

Toast