After Shadow

hev_2

Just lost much loved 18 year old cat, Shadow.

Young (14 years old) cat is missing her a bit, not quite sure what to do with herself, very clingy. DS also seems to be missing Shadow, who was brilliant with him. He is 16 months old and he loves animals, relatively (!) gentle with SIL's dog, next door's dog etc.

I am undecided. Originally I decided not to get a kitten. Smoke, the little cat, has always been the kitten of the house, still acts like it and at 14 she is unlikely to react well to another kitten, let alone a cat. DS is lovely, and he has been pretty good for a toddler, but he is still learning to walk, there are gates everywhere now, and sometimes I can't get to him in time to stop him giving an industrial strength cuddle or grabbing a tail - it would be wrong to get a kitten and an older cat that was an unknown quantity would be out of the question.

But Smoke is just so low at the moment. Smoke categorically refuses to go near DS and goes past him at top speed and so DS is missing an animal friend. Don't get me wrong - DS is always told to play nicely, and I try and stop anything too toddler. Smoke just isn't maternal. I am also missing Shadow so much.

Would it be sensible for me to stick by my original decision. In a few years we hope to get a puppy, when DS is a bit older, and perhaps a new kitten then. Any ideas welcome.

LillyJ

This might sound stupid but could you not get a guinea pig or something for your DS? Then he could have supervised cuddles with it giving the cat more time to itself. That would help teach him how to treat animals as they always want to cuddle too hard at that age! Then when he is a bit older you could get the puppy that you were considering? He could also help out with caring for the guinea pig and cleaning its cage which will help him understand responsibility.

hev_2

Thank you, LillyJ, I'd not thought of that, but it makes a lot of sense

I have been very insistent that we do not have rodents in the house in case they invite their house mouse relatives :rolleyes: but actually it's a really good idea.

On the other hand, it may give Smoke an unexpected sense of purpose :rotfl::rotfl:

I will speak to OH tonight, see what he thinks.

(once suggested to him that we get four gold fish for feng shui purposes and he asked, given that we had cats, how long we would have four goldfish :rolleyes:)

LillyJ

Large guinea pigs are better than hamsters or rats in my opinion for little ones as they are more willing to be cuddled, and aren't as wriggly. They also aren't as likely to run off as they are a bit lazy. I would get one of those large ones rather than the small ratty ones if you know what I mean.

Maybe keep smoke away from it though

hev_2

I've got a little picture of our bad tempered tabby wearing welders goggles and using a blow torch to get into the cage. :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

It may be just the thing - I have always tried to get DS to be gentle with pets, and seeing me look after a pet in cleaning cage etc will be great for him.

And if I site the cage right, I can keep an eye on the guinea pig but it will bring some excitement into the life of Smoke.

Win, win win.

tishywish

Hi Hev, I was wondering how you were getting on.

I've been told by guinea pig owning friends that cats don't chase G Pigs so you should be quite safe on that score - but don't hold me to that if Smoke is the exception! She might find it quite fascinating

I would hope Smoke will get over losing Shadow in time, although they've been together for so long it's not going to be easy. Introducing either another adult cat, or a kitten, is likely to be stressful for her I would think. At least she can avoid a guinea pig if she wants to, it can't chase her at speed or jump up after her!

hev_2

Thanks, tishywish.

Smoke has always been, well, she was born wearing Doc Martens. If she was human, she'd have tattoos and everything pierced. She has no concept of fear. She used to bully our old tom cat - I can remember her attacking him relentlessly when she wasn't as long as his tail. She never grew out of that. So far, the only thing that has made her remotely nervous is spray whipped cream.

Cats always make an impact.

Smoke was so tiny when she got here - she needed a safe place urgently and really when we got her she was far too young to leave her mother. When her old playmate our tomcat passed away she was really depressed for ages. She just lay around. Now she is older there is less I can do to get her to play and get her out of herself. As Smoke is a really tiny cat (all fluff and malice) a nice big Guinea Pig could be just the intriguing addition to the household that she needs. As long as the poor Guinea Pig was in a really strong cage :rotfl:

DS would probably be absolutely fascinated - a nice big placid Guinea Pig that he could squeal and 'stroke nicely' would be brilliant. He may be 16 months old, but right from the start I wouldn't let him be rough with the cat - he doesn't know until he's told, so the earlier he is told the better!