THE MOST PERFECT MATCH -- NEW KITTEN INTRO I had introduced Pippin to Polly when Pippin was a young kitten. That was four years ago. And twelve years before that I had introduced Polly, when she was a kitten, to the family’s resident cats. Now Polly was gone. Kidney stones and a cardiac arrest had taken her from Pippin and her family. Polly had been one of my cat mates on a television special. So when Nan, their guardian, contacted me about Polly, of course she asked me to find the right companion for Pippin. “Pippin’s eyes are so sad. Polly was his protector. He’s not himself with her gone,” said Nan. She went on to say that Pippin had become her shadow -- his way of letting her know how he felt without Polly. I told Nan I would contact NY PetICare as I felt sure they would have Pippin’s right match. A young kitten or cat who was very healthy, playful, confident and preferred cats to people would bond quickly with Pippin. NYPetICare provided the perfect match -- a healthy, robust, female kitten who loved other cats. The foster guardian drove her in from New Jersey. Soon after they arrived, I had him place her carrier in a small sitting room, with a litter box and water, with the door closed. She quickly scampered out of her carrier and wrestled with the fuzzy bunny I’d left for her. After her foster guardian left, I opened the door, and she eventually made her way to the bedroom where Pippin was hanging out. Nan had closed the doors of the other rooms so the kitten would not be distracted. “I want to go in and see them, but I know The Wilbourn Way Intro well. Let them be,” said Nan. She went on to say how with the other introductions, her cat always found the kitten, but not this time. I explained that I could tell this eighteen week old kitten was sort of a type “A” catsonality. Although she would let Pippin reign supreme, she preferred to get right to whatever it was, no patience for the waiting game. Before I left I reviewed the cardinal pointers with Nan: • Keep your distance. You don’t have to stay at home now. The more you’re out the better. • When you must interact with the kitten, acknowledge Pippin. You might say: Pippin, I’m feeding the kitten so she doesn’t eat your food.” Sure, Pippin won’t get your literal meaning, but he’ll sense your interaction with the kitten is on his behalf. This very simple technique will defuse rivalry. • Remember, even after they have bonded, mention Pippin’s name whenever you interact with his kitten. So easy to do and Pippin will love you and the kitten even more for this gesture. • Pippin won’t be deceived if you sneak attention to his kitten on the sly. He can feel or sense what is happening. He doesn’t have to see it to feel or believe it. Let Pippin be the affection provider. • Have visitors follow the same hands-off policy or let your guys hang out in another room if they can’t resist the temptation to shower the kitten with affection. • Bedtime: I know Pippin always sleeps with you. If his kitten comes a-bed, and he’s oblivious, not to worry. But if this agitates Pippin, sequester yourself in the bedroom. • Remember Pippin’s kitten is invisible to you – with practical or necessary exceptions. • Ten days from the day that your two visibly bond, (Pippin grooms the kitten or curls up with him.) you can interact with the kitten. "I remember how ten days seemed impossible when you introduced Pippin to Polly, but it really paid off" said Nan. Later that evening I received the following email from Nan: “Look at the two of them. That’s my Pippin! By the way I named the kitten Melli. That’s honey in Greek". As you can see by the attached photos Pippin really found his Honey. THE MOST PERFECT MATCH -- NEW KITTEN INTRO I had introduced Pippin to Polly when Pippin was a young kitten. That was four years ago. And twelve years before that I had introduced Polly, when she was a kitten, to the family’s resident cats. Now Polly was gone. Kidney stones and a cardiac arrest had taken her from Pippin and her family. Polly had been one of my cat mates on a television special. So when Nan, their guardian, contacted me about Polly, of course she asked me to find the right companion for Pippin. “Pippin’s eyes are so sad. Polly was his protector. He’s not himself with her gone,” said Nan. She went on to say that Pippin had become her shadow -- his way of letting her know how he felt without Polly. I told Nan I would contact NY PetICare as I felt sure they would have Pippin’s right match. A young kitten or cat who was very healthy, playful, confident and preferred cats to people would bond quickly with Pippin. NYPetICare provided the perfect match -- a healthy, robust, female kitten who loved other cats. The foster guardian drove her in from New Jersey. Soon after they arrived, I had him place her carrier in a small sitting room, with a litter box and water, with the door closed. She quickly scampered out of her carrier and wrestled with the fuzzy bunny I’d left for her. After her foster guardian left, I opened the door, and she eventually made her way to the bedroom where Pippin was hanging out. Nan had closed the doors of the other rooms so the kitten would not be distracted. “I want to go in and see them, but I know The Wilbourn Way Intro well. Let them be,” said Nan. She went on to say how with the other introductions, her cat always found the kitten, but not this time. I explained that I could tell this eighteen week old kitten was sort of a type “A” catsonality. Although she would let Pippin reign supreme, she preferred to get right to whatever it was, no patience for the waiting game. Before I left I reviewed the cardinal pointers with Nan: • Keep your distance. You don’t have to stay at home now. The more you’re out the better. • When you must interact with the kitten, acknowledge Pippin. You might say: Pippin, I’m feeding the kitten so she doesn’t eat your food.” Sure, Pippin won’t get your literal meaning, but he’ll sense your interaction with the kitten is on his behalf. This very simple technique will defuse rivalry. • Remember, even after they have bonded, mention Pippin’s name whenever you interact with his kitten. So easy to do and Pippin will love you and the kitten even more for this gesture. • Pippin won’t be deceived if you sneak attention to his kitten on the sly. He can feel or sense what is happening. He doesn’t have to see it to feel or believe it. Let Pippin be the affection provider. • Have visitors follow the same hands-off policy or let your guys hang out in another room if they can’t resist the temptation to shower the kitten with affection. • Bedtime: I know Pippin always sleeps with you. If his kitten comes a-bed, and he’s oblivious, not to worry. But if this agitates Pippin, sequester yourself in the bedroom. • Remember Pippin’s kitten is invisible to you – with practical or necessary exceptions. • Ten days from the day that your two visibly bond, (Pippin grooms the kitten or curls up with him.) you can interact with the kitten. "I remember how ten days seemed impossible when you introduced Pippin to Polly, but it really paid off" said Nan. Later that evening I received the following email from Nan: “Look at the two of them. That’s my Pippin! By the way I named the kitten Melli. That’s honey in Greek". As you can see by the attached photos Pippin really found his Honey.
Posted on: Wed, 31 Jul 2013 16:16:39 +0000
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