Cat Houses/Enclosures for Cheddar and Ivory

[animalangel1]

Mark - I don't think Vicki and John would have a hard time getting Cheddar acclimated to the great indoors - I think the biggest problem would be getting "only child Tux" to accept Cheddar as a housemate. 

I think Cheddar was fine being petted and stuff and as I recall, they were able to just pick him up and put him in the carrier.  He's already adjusted to the humans and I really think he WANTS to come indoors.  That's why I was wondering if they thought of letting him in for a while while Tux is behind closed doors to see how he would react. 

[grammywms]

Mark--Cheddar was no problem.  John just picked him up and put him the carrier.
I sat in the back seat with him.  He meowed a few times, then curled up and was content the rest of the way there.  He was quiet while we waited our turn.  When we took him out of the carrier in the exam room, he allowed the vet to put him on the scales and curled up while being weighed.  He didn't flinch when he received his shots, and gave the vet no resistance when she examined him from head to paw to tail and under. 

Michelle --Yes, I think if I opened the door, Cheddar would come right on in.  The biggest obstacle now is my dear husband, John.  He thinks Cheddar and Ivory should be our outdoor cats, and Tux our indoor cat.  I, on the other hand, am longing to bring Cheddar inside, at least to see how he and Tux react and behave in the same space.
They seem to get along fine through the glass door...no threatening gestures anymore.  I know they have smelled each other's scent on John and me over the past several months. I don't even think we would need to put Tux in another room.  We would play that by ear. So, we'll see if John softens.  He's a pretty nice guy.

[animalangel1]

Vicki - I completely know what you mean about John - my husband is the same way.  I want to bring in the black kitty that I've been feeding for a few months and now that it's getting really nasty cold outside, I am *hoping* to convince him to let me keep the kitty inside (cause it's cold) AND because it's Christmas AND because I'm going to "lose" two kitties in the coming year to two years. (One is IN kidney failure, the other has kidney disease)

[grammywms]

Michelle--I hope Neil softens up by Christmas. 

[grammywms]

The big house has been vacated...guess we'll turn it into the feeding station, when the weather gets bad with lots of snow on the ground.  In the meantime, I took the bi-level apart and now Chedar and Ivory each have their own separate cozy little houses...they both nap and sleep in their houses now.  It is so cute to look out and see them curled up in their little lambs wool beds.  I check them every day to make sure they are dry--if they get damp, I pop them in the dryer.  So far, so good.  For the most part, they play in our yard.  We found a dead mouse in the yard today.  Ivory was seen (by me) the other night chasing and playing with something in the dark in the yard...guess we now know what that something was.  Good mouser that Ivory.

[animalangel1]

Hi Vicki!!!!

I'm so glad to hear that both Ivory and Cheddar have adopted their new homes now!!!!  Great news!!! 

I am hoping, too, that Neil will soften about the black kitty whom I have yet to name. "She" was watching me through the picture window the other night.  Sparky was on the   table looking out at "something" and meowing softly so I went over and there she was, just looking up at him and he looking down at her.

Wild Al is also still around.  He's been coming around for 2 years or so now.  TOTAL feral.  I did have him neutered but he was way too wild to try to keep. 

It seems the black kitty and Wild Al ARE buddies.  They were on my porch together only a few feet apart with no posturing or hissing or such.  I am wondering how it would impact them SHOULD Neil soften and let me keep "her" inside?  Would they be lonely without each other?  Would it be emotionally devastating for them both???  I am still torn on what to do.......

[grammywms]

Check out some of the websites for black cat names...you may find something you like.  i.e.  Deegan means "black-haired" in Irish. 

As for separating the two cats...I feel the same way about Cheddar and Ivory.  Cheddar is ready to come inside, but Ivory is still too skittish to let us get close enough to touch her (unless she is looking away).  Then I wonder whether Cheddar would be content to stay inside, or whether he'd want to go out and come back in.

[animalangel1]

Thanks for the idea to look up black cat names Vicki!!!!  I came across "Onyx" and I LOVE  it.  So does my husband.  We think that Onyx fits our outside kitty pretty well even though there IS a bit of white on her (or him).  I might end up going with that one.

[galensgranny]

Wow, Vicki!  You sure have done a lot with the outdoor houses for the cats!  Great job! 

Seems that the cats have decided they like two separate little houses the best.  They sure are lucky to have wound up in your yard! 

[grammywms]

Thanks, Margaret.  We have had so much fun providing warm, cozy houses for Cheddar and Ivory.  They nap in them and sleep in them at least part of the night.
When it's rainy/snowy they stay holed up in their little "nests".

Here is a pic I took yesterday with both kitties sitting on their "rooftop" at the same time...which is rare.

I took it from inside the backdoor, so there is a glare from the sun.  Was afraid that if I opened the door to take the pic outside, they'd get down.