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[animalangel1]

Oh....he was balancing on top of the gate and I quickly took him off and put him on the floor outside the gate (the gate is covered on both sides so they can't see through it).  He did not have time to "locate" her position in the room as he was looking how not to fall and where to jump to.  I was standing right next to the gate folding clothes on my side of the bed - within a foot of the gate. It happened very, very quickly. 

As long as the baby gate is covered - she cannot see the bars to get through and she doesn't try. It's very funny actually.  You can watch her - when the gate is not covered, she keeps her eyes on it watching to see who or which cat will come to the gate.  When you cover the gate, she completely relaxes and no longer watches the gate - like it's a closed door.  I guess what she can't "see" she won't try to get through. At least, that has been what is happening here.  Very strange.....   

The only "problem" with putting Lexi in the computer room is that the only time she has human companionship is when we are sleeping at night.  She sleeps with us.  She is fine on her own during the day and we can bring her in the computer room with us when we are in here but it gets very, very hot and stuffy in this room with the door closed with the computers going.  We humans can't take the heat!!!  However, Lexi HAS now discovered how to jump up on top of the small upright freezer we have in here (another item throwing heat) and then climb up into the staggered, pillowed closet shelving to nap or whatever on. She "found" my "bread basket" on the shelf of the bookcase in here and well..... it's a cat basket now, not where I can keep my bread. Seems to be her new "favorite spot". I'll see if I can get a picture..... I'm sure she'll be up there at some point today.    (the room is a 10x12)

Sparky IS settling down some.  He's in here right now - looking out the window next to Neil's computer.  He has been calmer since he has not "seen" her so I think we can still make this work.  He was only jumping the gate to get to her food AGAIN!!!    Not to get to HER.  He has not even "thought" of her as far as I can see from the way he's been acting.  He's a little "food hound" and he really needs to lose some weight.....    When we are passing through the gate (the walk through kind) he might slip in if he's quick; he goes straight for the food bowls.  Doesn't even TRY to find where she is. It seems he couldn't care less as long as he can get to the food. 

I have been keeping them from seeing each other to make certain that things are all COMPLETELY calm and settled before the very limited viewings start.  I just want to be SURE they are both in a "good place" before I start doing that.  That's why I'm letting it sit like this for a while. Want to make absolutley certain I am working from square one.

Regarding a cat flap in a window, you can cut a board the width of the window and a little more than the height of the purchased cat flap.  Then shut the window and screen on top of the board.  Use some sort of hardware gizmo the affix the board to the window- some sort of rectangle thingy where one end gets screwed to the board, and the top to the window.

OH! I SEE!!! Like the "old fashioned" fans you can fit in a window then close the window down on top of them!!!!  I got it.  Great idea!!! I will certainly see about what I need to create/build some. 

[galensgranny]

OH! I SEE!!! Like the "old fashioned" fans you can fit in a window then close the window down on top of them!!!!

Yes.  But do affix the board to the window a little bit to make sure it stays in place with the cats pushing through often, plus maybe a strong wind might jiggle it.   Being as you have several cats, it might be good to have two cat flaps in the board because sometimes one cat blocks the flap.

The only "problem" with putting Lexi in the computer room is that the only time she has human companionship is when we are sleeping at night. 

You need to go visit her for at least a few minutes at a time when you are awake.  Even take 5 minutes a few times a day.  She needs to see the humans other than the humans lying "unconscious" for hours.  Even if you get bored sitting the room with her for 5 minutes in the daytime, too bad.  Just do it.

[animalangel1]

Oh, we do visit her many times a day.  She's so cute.... she coos and rolls over when we enter the room.  She is now head-butting us and yesterday she actually licked my hand for the very first time!!!! We laugh at her a lot too.... you can walk down the hall at any give time and see her LITERALLY in the air about 2 to 3 feet off the bed.  It seems she likes to "fly"!!!!! 

I meant that she only had EXTENDED human companionship during the night. 

[galensgranny]

Oh, I was taking you literally.  Glad to know you do go visit many times a day.  Many short visits are fine if some extended visits can't be managed.

[animalangel1]

Oh my goodness, no!!! We would never desert any kitty at all!!    She runs across the bed when we come in to change our clothes, and if we are both in there at the same time, she runs back and forth not knowing who to go to first!!!!  Neil lays on the bed with her and she cuddles with him.  She even lays up against him during the night as well.  She's a daddy's girl.  When she is not sleeping with her daddy, she is sleeping... or more accurately, ATTACKING my feet.  Even in the middle of the night.

Earlier tonight I brought her out to the living room and put her on the back of the couch.  She was going to jump down and run back to her room but then decided to lay there and nap for about a half hour. Now we are in the computer room and Neil just put catnip on the floor between our chairs and she's rolling in it.  Silly girl..... Sparky is on the bed on the other side of Neil laying with his eyes open but not really paying attention or sleeping.... seems all is well here for the moment!! 

[galensgranny]

A tip: don't use catnip when cats are not fully integrated.  While Sparky happened to stay where he was, it easily could have wound up with him being attracted to the catnip, and wind up seeming to Lexi that he was "getting in her face".

Also, catnip makes some cats act more aggressive.  It does make them "stoned", acting on things in their brains.

[animalangel1]

We weren't planning to give her any catnip.... she kind of knocked the container off the shelf on the bookcase in the computer room so Neil gave her a bit as a treat.  No worries!!! We KNOW Sparky gets all agitated and aggressive with catnip (as does the Peaches) so it was just a one time occurrence.

Here's a photo of what USED to be my "bread basket" in the computer room:





It has also come to light that she enjoys walking on top of unopened potato chip bags.  Neil is NOT going to be happy:  he does not like potato chip CRUMBS!!!!

And here is something we "tried" last night that worked out VERY well: 



Lexi is on the white blanket in the upper left. Peaches on the arm in front of Lexi, Leo to the right of Lexi, Sparky on daddy's side of the couch and my boyfriend Milo in the front (orange guy).   This lasted about a half hour before Lexi went off back to her room of her own accord. Onyx was in the cat tree. Sorry about the mess.... haven't been home to clean and "nobody" else does it for me. 

[galensgranny]

Love the pics! 

It has also come to light that she enjoys walking on top of unopened potato chip bags.  Neil is NOT going to be happy:  he does not like potato chip CRUMBS!!!!

  indeed!  It probably is fun to walk on the potato chip bag and hear all the crushing crinkling noise.