Expert: Dear Tabbi - 8/28/2008

Question
My two cousins and I have 5 cats between us. My two boys are the oldest at almost 4. About 2 years ago they brought home a beautiful female Siamese cross that had not been socialized very well. (Izumi) We did the requisite introductions with the boys and acclimation to the new home. She loves the boys and they love her but she doesn't like my cousins at all (one of them thought the best way to discipline her was to "spank" her), and they think she is wacko, crazy. So,she basically moved in with my big boy and adopted me and I love her to death. For all intents and purposes she's my cat, she interacts with my friends when we are home alone etc. She's sweet and smart. In the meantime the cousins adopted a pair of her siblings from new litter and all the cats get along just fine. All are indoor/outdoor.)In June I was gone or a few days and a new puppy came to live at the house. A young, small, very energetic puppy with no manners or training. She chews my big boy to death, it's a love/ tolerate relationship with them. All the other cats except Izumi have managed to get to the point where they get along with the pup. The pup is smaller than most of the cats. But, I've had to be gone off and on for several days at a time since the puppy came and every time I get home it's worse with Izumi. When I'm gone she is refusing to come in at night, my cousins can not get their hands on her for anything. And when I get home I have to put her on kitty lock down with no privileges outside my room to get her used to being handled and settled down. And it takes days. Do you have any suggestions to make the situation better? Also, at the end of Sept. I have to be gone for several weeks to my mom's I'm considering taking her and the big boy with me. I'm very concerned that if I don't I'll come home to one less cat. I need to come up with some sort of plan. Help.

Answer
Felica,

The poor kitty! I definitely would take her too your mom's! In the mean time I would find a friend with no kids or dogs to leave her with. She is too high-strung to adjust to the situation. I'm surprised she has not left home already. She is a very unhappy kitty, and continuing the present way of life for her may permanently change her personality.

Tabbi