Dear Daniel and Andrew,
First of all, Bessie is: adorably, beautifully, completely DELICIOUS! And cute, to boot. Also, as Abba/Norman (hereinafter referred to as "A/N") said this morning, "She's a ballsy cat, probably has a tattoo!" She's a very East Village type of cat, definitely not of the suburban variety. She give new meaning to 'curious,' and loves tearing from one window to another (and we have many) to look out at what's going on. So, this is where we are. Saturday evening after you, Daniel, left, she checked everything out and more or less settled down. Not so, Ginger. Ginger has decided that it's a Hatfields/McCoys, Jets/Sharks, Crips/Bloods kinda thing. For the most part, Cinnamon is of the "I'm outa here, you girls work it out" frame of mind (although does hiss every now and then). Ginger says it's her club, she's the main member and Bessie can just sling her hook. She staked her claim to the territory by laying at the bottom of the stairs, thus denying Bessie entry, or across the door to the bathroom, with the same result. I would move her away so that Bessie could have some freedom of movement. Not that Bessie seemed particularly phased by any of this. Saturday night the humans didn't get much sleep, what with the hissing and growling going on by Ginger. At 4:00 yesterday morning I was Googling "The integration of a cat into a home with resident cats," which perhaps I should have done before she arrived! I learned two important things: (1) Cats [unlike dogs] are not pack animals; (2) Cats are highly territorial. I'd already realized that by then! The useful information I got was that the introduction should be made graaaaaaaaaadually; that the new cat should be segregated with its own food/water bowls and own litter box someplace else, and that it can take a while for integration to occur. Sunday morning (at a more respectable hour) A/N went to Stop & Shop and bought her a litter box. I then set that up, as well as food and water bowls, in the guest-room. Bessie immediately checked out the litter box, more or less disdained the food (her Friskies), and continued to eat from the other cats' own food bowls! The three of them more or less managed their existence during the day, with Bessie being quite blithe, even going almost nose-to-nose (in an absolutely friendly way) with Ginger, who growled but didn't lash out (nor has there been any lashing out). When we left for the Wolfs' lake house yesterday afternoon, we closed Bessie in the guest-room. We let her out immediately on our return and she bounded all around the house very happily. We decided we had to keep her alone for the night in order that we might get some sleep, but she wasn't very happy about that! She was crying, so A/N turned on a lamp for her! I reminded him that cats can see in the dark, but he felt it might comfort her. Around midnight, after hearing more of her crying, I got up and went in and cuddled her. She loved that! I also gave her a very little teddy-bear that we had received as a promotional gift somewhere, thinking she might want to cuddle up with it. She probably cried some more during the night, but I have to tell you that we were able to get 5 straight hours of sleep, so that was good. And Ginger slept on our bed as usual and was very happy about that. Not that she's been deprived at all of her usual cuddling. A/N opened the guestroom door at 5:15 this morning and Bessie raced around in her usual fashion. Ginger was on the bed and growled, but it didn't stop Miss Bessie from prancing in, walking all around our bedroom (prime gang turf, as far as Ginger is concerned), despite being hissed at by Cinnamon from under the bed (he's such a wuss!), following which she pranced back out, sorta giving Ginger the finger on the way! She even goes into the bathroom when Ginger is eating, and sits by the bath watching her. Despite being hissed at, she doesn't move. She's got guts! This morning I gave her the same food they eat, forget about the Friskies! I turned on the tap in our bathroom and she very delicately drank. When A/N cleaned out her little box this morning he said she had pooped, and that she got into the box while he was cleaning it out! This will take time, but we have great hopes that every day will be a little better. I already love her to pieces, and A/N thinks she's very sweet, too, so please don't think of trying to find another residence for her. You can't take her back now, because it will set everything back. She should stay with us until you return from China. Visiting hours are very flexible, and include meals (okay, yours too).
Love and hugs, Mummy/Janice
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