Poor Teddie. He spent a while as a stray, and he’s very mild-mannered, probably didn’t do so good on the Road, until he got picked up, you know? He’s very REFINED, except for this habit of marking his territory and peeing and crapping outside the box.
So I read up on it some. When cats do that, they are either trying to establish dominance, or trying to send a message to their human that they LOVE them. Yes, that actually. An insecure cat in a new home will do that because they want you to smell their pee and love them. Haha. Because they have marked you for their human.
So, knowing that, I took out all the dog pads that Teddie marked, and have been quite lavishing him with affection (which I think he needs, poor little guy). This means major Mom time, and it also means acting as his wingman when Marvin always, ALWAYS, tries to horn in on that. Marvin does not need reassurance, or Mom time (well except for the time I spend rocking him and holding him like a baby, which he loves). Marvin does not have one neuron firing at any given time haha. He’s adorable.
But so is Teddie. And he deserves that Mom time without Marvin. So I boot Marvin out occasionally and lavish Teddie with affection, without Marvin there to demand his own attention.
I am learning a lot about cat behavior from this. Teddie has quit (I hope, I think for now) peeing and crapping on the living room rug, and taken to leaving very large messages in the catbox, which Marvin promptly goes in and covers up. Haha. He’s so NEAT, Marvin is.
Taking in two rescued strays, almost at the same time, has its challenges. But I adore these little guys. For a while I feared I wouldn’t be able to handle the two of them. But they love to rumble together and they love their Mom.
Happy Caturday. And Happy Mother’s Day, to all you who are still lucky enough to have your Moms with you. My own Mom is 83 and infirm, and we will be taking her to Olive Garden tomorrow. And Minnesota Arboretum later this month. I sprang for the 60 dollar tour of the place for her and her sister. I just hope she will not try to be King Kong and walk it all. Those wheelchairs there are for rent for a pretty reasonable price. Mom’s pretty stubborn tho, so who knows.