02/18/2022 – Some Questions, Some Answers

Sometimes, we’re asked questions, and sometimes, they are even about cats! We know, shocking! Even more so, sometimes we have answers, and further still, sometimes we share those. Here’s a few gathered in the last few months.

Recently, I discovered your blog and I think I’m in love with Quint. Do you know if he has any siblings and if they are currently adoptable?

This is the sweetest question. Quint is a lovebug and has love for everyone. He will be ten years old this June and though we do know he had siblings, a bunch of brothers we believe, all were adopted out early on from our favorite local shelter. Please do adopt a shelter cat and better still, let a shelter cat adopt you! You just might find another Quint!

You haven’t fostered any cats lately including any expecting mother cat. Will you anytime soon?

*Big sigh* We loved fostering, and we think we were reasonably good at it. The problem is, due to an ever-changing world, we’re not able to be around as much as we once were to give a foster the attention and love he or she deserves. For the time being, that’s best left to those incredibly talented and caring people who foster better than we ever could. That said, never say never!

I don’t have a question. I’m sending thanks for letting me peek into your cats’ lives. I feel as if I know them all. Such personalities! Maybe I do have a question after all. Do any of those personalities get along with one another? Or are they all like Tessa and dislike each other?

Technically, that’s two questions but because you mentioned Tessa, we’ll let it slide. Quint and Olivia love each other completely. Nothing either do could ever irritate the other. On the other end of that scale and probably not surprising is Tessa. She knows she’s the oldest (by mere months) and a Tuxie which in her eyes makes her alpha boss. She loves Mom and Dad and has closed her heart to everyone else. Our Diva Pia, is the same and though she and Tessa tussled regularly as kittens, Pia keeps to herself always. Viola, the youngest and the Baby, is way too independent to be bothered by other cat-like objects and keeps her own company when not draped across Dad’s lap or Mom’s arms at the keyboard.

I have three cats. Every night there’s a cat fight in the middle of the night. You seem to have been doing this for a long time. How do you prevent cat fights?

Sorry to hear your cats don’t seem to get along. We’ve had this problem a time or two and after verifying which is the aggressor cat or cats, we’ve had to keep them separated for a week or more. At night, this meant keeping the aggressive cat in our bedroom behind closed doors and the others out, or reversing the order. Of course, we have claw marks on our doors as a result; we prefer to call them “well loved doors.” Remember to add the cat(s) food bowl, water bowl, clean litter box, and any personal favorite toys to the room to provide comfort and reduce stress. Think of it as a sort of time-out. It doesn’t always work but more often than not, it does. Earlier in her life, Tessa spent a number of times grounded behind closed doors in our main bedroom and it was just the attitude adjustment she needed.

We also feed our cats and give fresh water just before we go to bed ourselves and this gives them something to do besides growl at each other. If your cats all eat out of the same bowl, you might want to give each their own and plenty of space away from the others. Sometimes, the stress of feeling crowded at meal time, or that they won’t get enough to eat themselves is enough to cause a negative reaction. Let them each be their own cat if they want to be and don’t crowd them all together. That’s what has always worked for us. Good luck!

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A Colehaus Cats flashback:

2021 – No post
2020 – No post
2019 – Cats Who Sing
2018 – No post
2017 – No post
2016 – No post
2015 – Wordless Wednesday
2014 – No post
2013 – Mugshots. You know, just in case…
2012 – No post