"Pinky" is the cat I adopted at the beginning of June. She was a victim of a house fire, thus the burnt nose. Her family was left homeless and Pinky was brought to the shelter. When I visited she had been at the shelter seven months. After hearing this sad story my heart took over, not my brain.
I had been searching for another cat to befriend our sweet Emma Lou, who was our only kitty. When Emma was adopted into our family she joined a menagerie of 4 cats, 2 dogs, a pair of steers, 3 hamsters and a bird. The rabbit ran away. Over the years our menagerie has dwindled and I felt Emma was lonely and needed a friend, a feline friend that is. Enter Pinky.
Pinky aka "Edythe Larue" has lovely bedroom eyes, a beautiful coat, rolls of fat and is lovely to look at. However, she can meow and hiss in one breath, does not like to be picked up, and is just now warming up to my husband. The big problem, this is where I should have listened to my brain, Pinky has huge paws with claws. These claws have attacked sweet Emma , who has none. Emma who is sixteen and not as agile as she once was. These claws have dug deeply into our furniture, and now are shredding our pine door jambs. Initially, I gave her the benefit of the doubt, and time to adjust. I have come to the conclusion that Pinky should reside in a home with a single female, be the only pet, and should remain inside. I do need to say Pinky has bonded with me. She waits at the top of the stairs for me at night, purrs, is friendly, sleeps beside me or on the windowsill by the bed. But in order to keep peace and Emma's safety Pinky resides upstairs. Oh, she can sneak down and attack, even with a bell on, but Winslow will hear all the commotion and chase her back up. I should also reveal that Emma, who received a brain injury last year after hitting an inside window, has seizures, and these attacks from Pinky can trigger one.
So, enough said. I need to decide whether to keep her or return her. I keep hoping this situation will improve, however, I just don't think it will. I am listening to my brain. And yes the shelter will take her back and is a no-kill facility. Your input is greatly appreciated. Oh by the way, my husband wants to keep her.
I had been searching for another cat to befriend our sweet Emma Lou, who was our only kitty. When Emma was adopted into our family she joined a menagerie of 4 cats, 2 dogs, a pair of steers, 3 hamsters and a bird. The rabbit ran away. Over the years our menagerie has dwindled and I felt Emma was lonely and needed a friend, a feline friend that is. Enter Pinky.
Pinky aka "Edythe Larue" has lovely bedroom eyes, a beautiful coat, rolls of fat and is lovely to look at. However, she can meow and hiss in one breath, does not like to be picked up, and is just now warming up to my husband. The big problem, this is where I should have listened to my brain, Pinky has huge paws with claws. These claws have attacked sweet Emma , who has none. Emma who is sixteen and not as agile as she once was. These claws have dug deeply into our furniture, and now are shredding our pine door jambs. Initially, I gave her the benefit of the doubt, and time to adjust. I have come to the conclusion that Pinky should reside in a home with a single female, be the only pet, and should remain inside. I do need to say Pinky has bonded with me. She waits at the top of the stairs for me at night, purrs, is friendly, sleeps beside me or on the windowsill by the bed. But in order to keep peace and Emma's safety Pinky resides upstairs. Oh, she can sneak down and attack, even with a bell on, but Winslow will hear all the commotion and chase her back up. I should also reveal that Emma, who received a brain injury last year after hitting an inside window, has seizures, and these attacks from Pinky can trigger one.
So, enough said. I need to decide whether to keep her or return her. I keep hoping this situation will improve, however, I just don't think it will. I am listening to my brain. And yes the shelter will take her back and is a no-kill facility. Your input is greatly appreciated. Oh by the way, my husband wants to keep her.
11 comments:
Of course, now I remember Edythe,... I'd forgotten about her. Well, you know that MY heart is with dear Emma. Perhaps a less-opinionated kitty would be a better companion. The right match is out there for Pinky, I'd let her go back so she can find it,.. and so they can find her.
Think of your home as her halfway house. She needed you to help her heal before she can find the perfect place for her. Think you're right on about where she will be happiest. Listen to your heart - from your posting it's in line with your head at this point in time.
Cedar said what I was going to say :) but better. I like this part, "The right match is out there for Pinky, I'd let her go back so she can find it,..and so they can find her."
Sometimes it just isn't the right fit. Sweet Emma doesn't need to be worried about "big paws with claws".
That's so sad. You were so good to take Pinky in. It's heart breaking when they don't get along. I guess I'd have to agree with Cedar on bringing her back to find her rightful place. Hugs to you for strength and wisdom.
Blessings~ Birgit
Keep her. Get her declawed. I think things will smooth out when she realizes she can't hurt anyone.
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
You can trim her claws so she won't be scratching and attacking. I have several rescues and it has taken time with them. There isn't a no-kill shelter here that ever has any room and there have been times when I felt like it just wasn't going too work out at all but everytime they finally seem to work it out and end up getting on just fine. I also have one that has seizures due to a brain injury and would you believe she is the one here that loves to start a spat. I hope it works out well for you and the babies.
Thank you all for your comments and suggestions. The only possible way to trim Pinky's claws would be to sedate her. As far as declawing is concerned, it is not an option. Shelters here in Maine discourage this. When I adopted Emma she was declawed and an indoor only kitty. This is a very tough situation, one I had hoped would work out.
My vote is to keep her. I always tell my Purr Gang that they are safe now. I never give anyone back but it's your house & your decision.
Aw, bless your heart for taking in Pinky during her time of much needed healing. I've got to say, though, my heart goes out to Emma Lou, your veteran kitty. She deserves to have a comforting, calm and safe house. She's probably quite confused by this change in home status and, given her age, isn't as adaptable as feisty Pinky is. I have no doubt that Pinky would thrive in another situation where she can be Queen Cat and own the whole house.
I think Emma Lou deserves to have her whole house back. I believe Winslow H. thinks so, too. :-)
Hi Julie, sorry for being so late to reply to this. It's a tough one! I think I would err on the side of taking her back to be re-homed, gorgeous though she is. Otherwise I think you're just going to have this underlying and unconsious tension in the air. I really don't envy you your decision.
How is she doing Julie? Since Pinky is in your most recent post I assume she is still with you.
If she's going after Emma I would assume she is trying to assert her dominance and she can sense Emma's poor health and weakness. We've been through it with two older cats where the younger ones kind of picked on, or stalked them.
As for her toenails, our Luna was an absolute BEAST when we first adopted her!!! We'd wrap her in a towel and it was still all my husband could do to control her while I trimmed them. She's so much better now : ) But usually the vet will trim them for $10. If you do it a few times a year that's not to bad. She may chill out like out Luna did. What she really needs is someone who's as fiesty as she is to play with! LOL! And that's why our Phineas came into the picture!
Luna also used these for a while in Pink: http://www.softpaws.com/
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