How Bringing a New Kitten Home Changed Our Lives
The real-life story of how one small and beautiful kitten turned a house upside down
Melissa Maddison
30 July 2017
Houzz Australia Contributor. I love hunting for interesting things, finding unusual treasures, then bringing them home and displaying them in a unique way.
Houzz Australia Contributor. I love hunting for interesting things, finding unusual... More
‘Get Mum a kitten for Mother’s Day’ they said. And they did…
One more couldn’t hurt
Just a few months ago, things were perfect in our house. We have a beautiful, faithful, trouble-free rescue dog who does what he’s told and requires only our love and the occasional (okay, twice daily) walk.
It wasn’t like we’d never had cats. I grew up with lots of pets; cats, dogs, horses, rabbits. My husband and I, since the beginning of our relationship, have housed our fair share of mogs. We thought we knew what we were doing. And we already had a cat. A shiny, sleek black cat with dainty white socks and a smudgy white nose. He was a happy cat. His happiness has now been compromised.
Just a few months ago, things were perfect in our house. We have a beautiful, faithful, trouble-free rescue dog who does what he’s told and requires only our love and the occasional (okay, twice daily) walk.
It wasn’t like we’d never had cats. I grew up with lots of pets; cats, dogs, horses, rabbits. My husband and I, since the beginning of our relationship, have housed our fair share of mogs. We thought we knew what we were doing. And we already had a cat. A shiny, sleek black cat with dainty white socks and a smudgy white nose. He was a happy cat. His happiness has now been compromised.
For the love of pets
Perhaps because we’d reached a state of pet nirvana – dog and cat tolerating each other, no spraying, just warm cuddles with a contented lap cat – we thought it was safe, and indeed an act of great kindness and charity to rescue a kitten from a shelter.
Perhaps because we’d reached a state of pet nirvana – dog and cat tolerating each other, no spraying, just warm cuddles with a contented lap cat – we thought it was safe, and indeed an act of great kindness and charity to rescue a kitten from a shelter.
Give me shelter
So off we went, in search of the perfect kitten to complement our oh-so animal-friendly household. People warned us. The vet said that there was a good chance that the other animals would not accept the latest addition. The people at the shelter gave us advice on how to introduce the new beast. “Don’t just lump them all in together,” they said. “Keep them separate, but able to see each other.”
I was perplexed at the idea of a house divided by a screen door in the middle, but I improvised and we brought our new rescue kitten home.
What homeowners with cats need to accept
So off we went, in search of the perfect kitten to complement our oh-so animal-friendly household. People warned us. The vet said that there was a good chance that the other animals would not accept the latest addition. The people at the shelter gave us advice on how to introduce the new beast. “Don’t just lump them all in together,” they said. “Keep them separate, but able to see each other.”
I was perplexed at the idea of a house divided by a screen door in the middle, but I improvised and we brought our new rescue kitten home.
What homeowners with cats need to accept
The new addition
Oh, how we fussed and clucked at her tiny little paws and imitated her squeaky meow. We were mindful not to handle her too much, and were very aware of sharing our love equally with our other animals. In order to keep her apart from the – at first – quietly inquisitive cat and dog, we gave up our own bedroom to all of her diet and toilet needs.
Thinking this would only be temporary, we stepped over the kitty litter tray with smiles on our faces, and scooped up her smelly messages with sympathetic sighs. I imagined it wouldn’t be too long before she’d be adventuring out and spreading her kitty paws to the rest of the house, and I would be moving the kitty litter tray to a more suitable spot, like a laundry or a toilet. Anywhere else but our bedroom.
Oh, how we fussed and clucked at her tiny little paws and imitated her squeaky meow. We were mindful not to handle her too much, and were very aware of sharing our love equally with our other animals. In order to keep her apart from the – at first – quietly inquisitive cat and dog, we gave up our own bedroom to all of her diet and toilet needs.
Thinking this would only be temporary, we stepped over the kitty litter tray with smiles on our faces, and scooped up her smelly messages with sympathetic sighs. I imagined it wouldn’t be too long before she’d be adventuring out and spreading her kitty paws to the rest of the house, and I would be moving the kitty litter tray to a more suitable spot, like a laundry or a toilet. Anywhere else but our bedroom.
Cats are nocturnal
Having a kitten cuddling up to you at night, especially in winter, is positively delightful. Being scratched on the nose every morning at 4am is less pleasing.
After weeks of sleepless nights, my husband and I encouraged her to sleep with our children. And at first they were thrilled with the notion. But soon they began closing their door at night, to keep kitty out as she completed her racetrack manoeuvres around and over them, while they hid under the covers, whimpering about her needle claws.
Having a kitten cuddling up to you at night, especially in winter, is positively delightful. Being scratched on the nose every morning at 4am is less pleasing.
After weeks of sleepless nights, my husband and I encouraged her to sleep with our children. And at first they were thrilled with the notion. But soon they began closing their door at night, to keep kitty out as she completed her racetrack manoeuvres around and over them, while they hid under the covers, whimpering about her needle claws.
A dog’s life
The dog, simply too lazy to do anything about the kitten, silently tolerated her from the day we brought her home. And while the YouTube videos I had planned to take of them frolicking and playing together are still a pipe dream, they can be in the same room together with only a few hisses and growls to accompany.
The pooch made it clear very early on that he did not approve of her using his tail as a toy, and she got the hint quite quickly.
For the love of dogs
The dog, simply too lazy to do anything about the kitten, silently tolerated her from the day we brought her home. And while the YouTube videos I had planned to take of them frolicking and playing together are still a pipe dream, they can be in the same room together with only a few hisses and growls to accompany.
The pooch made it clear very early on that he did not approve of her using his tail as a toy, and she got the hint quite quickly.
For the love of dogs
Cats are solitary animals
Our Enormous Giant cat, as he is now affectionately called (despite being of normal size), has made no attempt at all to accept a new friend. Instead, he has reverted to a savagely territorial defender, and will hunt the kitten down if the house is fully open to all of the animals. We now have a hallway door that permanently cuts our house in half, affecting the heating and the general ‘flow’ of the home.
The kitten will disappear in seconds when Enormous Giant makes his presence known, and none of us have been able to discover her secret hiding spots. She is a brazen and happy puss down one end of the house, and a nervous and jangled kitty when venturing out beyond the hall door.
Our Enormous Giant cat, as he is now affectionately called (despite being of normal size), has made no attempt at all to accept a new friend. Instead, he has reverted to a savagely territorial defender, and will hunt the kitten down if the house is fully open to all of the animals. We now have a hallway door that permanently cuts our house in half, affecting the heating and the general ‘flow’ of the home.
The kitten will disappear in seconds when Enormous Giant makes his presence known, and none of us have been able to discover her secret hiding spots. She is a brazen and happy puss down one end of the house, and a nervous and jangled kitty when venturing out beyond the hall door.
In pursuit of happiness
Despite all of the door closing, segregated feeding areas and continual monitoring of the ever-changing whereabouts of all the animals, I’m so pleased we got a kitten. Did I mention she is a pure delight? She has a machine-gun purr, and is constantly at the ready for cuddles and pats.
Now that we are a household of three animals, one of them small and adorable, I have seized the opportunity to teach my children about the responsibilities of owning pets. They feed and water all of the animals, generally without complaint, and I can see that they are animal lovers already, a value that I desperately wanted to instil in them, even if only to understand their animal-crazy mother a little better.
Read more stories about pets
Despite all of the door closing, segregated feeding areas and continual monitoring of the ever-changing whereabouts of all the animals, I’m so pleased we got a kitten. Did I mention she is a pure delight? She has a machine-gun purr, and is constantly at the ready for cuddles and pats.
Now that we are a household of three animals, one of them small and adorable, I have seized the opportunity to teach my children about the responsibilities of owning pets. They feed and water all of the animals, generally without complaint, and I can see that they are animal lovers already, a value that I desperately wanted to instil in them, even if only to understand their animal-crazy mother a little better.
Read more stories about pets
As she sits here with me, perched on the table where she shouldn’t be, with the sleepy dog at my feet, I’m filled with love. I know that, in time – perhaps a long time – Enormous Giant will eventually realise that she is here to stay and there is room enough for both of them. And kitty will grow bigger and be able to defend herself more effectively.
Maybe the kitty litter will get to the laundry after all. Perhaps one day they’ll all loll about in the backyard together, while I quietly sneak up behind them, with the video camera rolling.
Tell us
Share the trials and tribulations of introducing a new pet to your house. And if you enjoyed this story, like it, bookmark it, save the photos and share your thoughts below. Join the conversation.
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Maybe the kitty litter will get to the laundry after all. Perhaps one day they’ll all loll about in the backyard together, while I quietly sneak up behind them, with the video camera rolling.
Tell us
Share the trials and tribulations of introducing a new pet to your house. And if you enjoyed this story, like it, bookmark it, save the photos and share your thoughts below. Join the conversation.
More
Read more fun Houzz stories
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When my son and DIL brought a rescue kitten home it was a nightmare as resident cat of 9 years did not want a bar of her . Resident cat went her cat run each day and kitty remained in side Over night kitty was locked in the laundry while resident cat roamed the house .Resident cat was glad when kitty left to live in her own house . ha ha the trials and tribulations of pets.
I know this isn't the forum for a discussion on this but we find it hugely frustrating that ranging cats can denude the area of wrens, frogs and antechinus and so on and yowl at 4am on our driveway without being answerable to anyone. Sorry Alexandra Robinson but bells don't work - that tiny tinkle is barely discernible above the sounds of Australia - wattle birds/kookaburras/, wind, wind chimes and music from neighbouring homes, cars and mowers etc etc etc. I hugely appreciate that cats are great pets and are important companion animals ('some of my best friends.....') but they need to be looked after very responsibly. That's all I'll say further, I promise.
And we have two dogs. They lick the cats and chase them and happily cuddle up with them.
Might I suggest getting more cats????