How Quickly Do Cats Become Friends? Miki and Minnie
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Hi, I’m Dr. Maja! Read my introduction to learn more about me and Miki, the kitten who made me a cat person.
It’s been around a month since Minnie joined our home. And it’s been a bit of a whirlwind. She’s been battling chronic diarrhea and a sore eye, and despite it getting better, it’s obvious that she is not the strongest kitten and needs a lot of extra care. And despite it all, it’s been truly great having her and seeing how well she got used to living with two big dogs and a cat. Still, Miki took quite some time to make up his mind about her.
Tolerance Is the Beginning
Miki is a fairly easygoing cat and is well used to living with dogs. He’s seen other cats from a window when we stayed with my brother, but none for months until Minnie came, and he’s never shared a home with another cat. After their initial introduction, Miki tolerated Minnie but kept his distance. It was a little sad to watch at first, as he would just walk around her or look at her with surprise. He didn’t seem annoyed or unhappy; rather, he was aware of the change in his living situation, as if he was still thinking it through. But I was grateful there was no hissing or swiping.
It’s All New For Me, Too
Having had dogs all my life, I am very familiar with their body language and how they should be introduced to each other. Cats, well, that’s a completely different ball game, and I was learning alongside them. I was anxious to begin with, as I am not as used to picking up on subtle cues cats give, or even more the obvious ones when they dislike each other. So this felt like a new experience, and I was well out of my comfort zone. Luckily, Miki handled it very well; he’s clearly read the rulebook.
Start of a Friendship
In the last week, I started noticing slight changes in Miki and Minnie’s relationship dynamics. Little but consistent indications that Miki may actually like her. Of course, Minnie likes him already and is following him around the house, but with a dose of caution. If he stops and turns around, she is quick on her feet to get away. But now, they actually started playing. It’s short bursts of mostly hide and seek, with Minnie hiding under the cupboard and Miki stalking her, and then swapping roles. It’s obvious that they are both still insecure around each other, as they are still building trust, but there is less and less fear. Most importantly, there is no sign of any aggression.
A Bit Of a Breakthrough
Miki’s food bowls are on a raised shelf to keep them out of the dog’s reach, which isn’t really the case, but recently, there’s been a new development. Although Minnie has been having her food in separate bowls in her crate (where she now goes in and out freely and mostly chooses to be anywhere but inside), she figured out where Miki’s food bowls are. The first time I saw it, I couldn’t quite believe it, as they’re not low enough to the ground for her to reach easily. But she found a way. And there she was, eating food from Miki’s bowl. But the next thing that happened was too cute to not take a picture. Miki and Minnie, each eating from a different bowl, almost next to each other. And no sign of any competition or displeasure from either. Of course, now they both get fed in the same place, and Miki loves it as he gets to steal some of her kitten food, and vice versa.
More Challenges For Miki
As I already mentioned a few weeks ago, we have gained one more little furry feline. This just happened last week, and despite the timing not being ideal, the kitten needed a home urgently, and I couldn’t say no. The little ginger girl is being slowly introduced into our crazy household as I write this. She has spent some time with both Miki and Minnie so far. It seems Minnie is not a fan, but Miki is certainly curious. She is quite a scaredy cat, so it will take longer to get her adjusted to her new home, but she’s already made some nice improvements. However, I do worry about how Miki will respond to all of this. From being an only cat to now having two kittens occupying his usual indoor space. There’s only been one hiss from him so far, and it seems Miki is less worried about all these changes than I am.
Three Is a Good Number
Seeing how easily I became a cat person, it may be hard to stop at three. But it feels right to rescue the ginger female, called Nara. She is a special character and I have a gut feeling she will be a bit wild, but it feels good knowing she now has a cozy home and the company of Miki and Minnie. It remains unclear how Minnie and her will get on, as there is a size difference between them, but I am hopeful.
- Read her previous article: Cats and Windows: The Sacrifices We Make For Our Cats
