Thursday 25 May 2017

Growing Family

Tinks


My son and daughter in law have just adopted Tinks. She is from the same rescue that Harley came from and is about the same age or a little older. Harley will be four this year.

She seemed like a perfect match for us. Friendly, likes children, loves (absolutely adores) dogs and has lived with another cat before.

She spent the first 24 hours in a “safe” room away from the rest of the house, but was allowed to wander round the whole house to get used to the smells and sounds while Harley and Dusty were out of the way.

Dusty in the woods


We should have waited 24 hours before introducing Harley and Tinks, but they met face to face through the patio door. Harley’s tail puffed up, but I think that was just surprise on her part to see a strange cat in her house. They seemed so eager to meet that we allowed them a brief encounter and waited for the hisses and growls.

Harley just wanted to be friends, but Tinks had a little growl and a hiss. They met several times after that and within 5 days they are getting along fine. Not cuddling each other or anything like that, but respectful and relaxed together.

Harley


With Dusty it is a little more difficult. He has always chased cats out of the garden because there are a couple round here who come into our garden with the sole purpose of beating Harley up.

Tinks is not in the least little bit afraid of him. She’s come right up to him and rubbed noses, but occasionally he’ll lunge, so when they are together he has a lead on – just in case. I’ve put a baby gate up on the office door and they spend a lot of time close together but with the gate as a barrier. She is desperate to be near him and he is desperate to play with her.

Making friends


Meanwhile, Harley is throwing herself at Dusty, batting his ears and yelling, “Chase ME! Chase ME!”

I am sure with patience and time and lots of positive reinforcement (they get to eats lots of chicken when they are close together) they will be good friends.

And just as the weather hots up, we have to have all the windows and doors closed so Tinks can’t get out! Phew! Hopefully it won’t be too long before she can go outside to sprawl in the garden with Harley.








17 comments:

  1. I hope they're all good friends very soon.

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  2. Tinks is gorgeous Teresa. It's amazing how after a while it's as if they've lived together forever isn't it! But hard work and eyes in the back of the head time until it happens eh! :-) xx

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    1. She is a pretty little thing isn't she -and so dainty. She's even smaller than Harley. We've dispensed with the lead now which is another step forward, but they're still only meeting under supervision :-) xx

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  3. So pleased to hear about the new addition to your family, Teresa. I was scared stiff when we first introduced Bonnie to Bob after we got married but we needn't have worried as they're now the best of friends.

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    1. Thanks, Wendy. It is lovely when they form bonds and grow to love each other.

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  4. Tinks looks like a lovely addition to your family. She is the same colouring as the cat I had before I left home. I'm sure they will all be getting along fine together soon. My daughter in law reported seeing a deer in her garden yesterday. Her dogs were not allowed out until it has disappeared and then they chased down to the bottom of the garden. You can only imagine what they were thinking. It was a little thing with a white bobby tail, thankfully, so no harm to animal or person.

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    1. That must have been amazing - a deer in the garden. I can imagine the looks on the dogs' faces. I'm just thinking of how Dusty looks when he watches the wood pigeons walking round outside - seeing a deer must be 100x more exciting!

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  5. Love your animal tales, Teresa - lovely photos of them all! Hope they are all soon playing together.

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    1. Thank you, Rosemary. They have started playing together which is lovely. And they steal each other's food - Harley and Tinks are on different food, so I suppose it's the grass being greener even though Harley used to turn her nose up at the food Tinks has. Dusty doesn't care what they eat - as long as they save some for him!

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  6. Welcome to Tinks! Cats and dogs - not sure Flossie and Charlie would appreciate a cat but we do get deer in the garden - at least, we did until we Flossie-proofed it last year. One or two still seem to pass through if the gate is left open mind you. We are still getting Charlie used to Tommy, my daughter's french bulldog/Boston Terrier pup - they love to play but they also love to scrap and poor Tommy sometimes goes home a little battered even though he is now bigger than Charlie. Animals eh? :-) X

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    1. Apart from birds, the only wildlife we get in the garden are hedgehogs and squirrels, although we do hear foxes going past sometimes in the middle of the night. Tommy sounds gorgeous :-) x

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  7. Sounds like Tinks is settling in well. When Dusty and Harley get in league with Tinks, you won't stand a chance against them. ;)

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    1. It's as if she's always been here, Carol. Dusty and Harley already gang up on me - she hasn't joined in with that yet, but I'm sure she will :-)

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