posted 02-18-2004 11:19 AM         

I highly doubt this will go well, since Beaker (the cat) has been very sheltered his entire life. He has had no contact with any other animals, except cats through the window (which does not go well - he does that horrid cat growling thing). He is also very shy with new people (new meaning everyone except me and his person).

So. Should I bring Nala to his territory? They say neutral territory is best, but if I take Beaker out of the apartment and bring him somewhere else (where would be neutral??), he is going to be terribly stressed. He panics in a car/crate to the extent of hurting himself if someone is not controlling him. And he has only been out of the apartment twice in his life.

And Nala is going to be going wild to go and sniff him. If I could get her to sit quietly and let him get used to her slowly, that might help. But there's no way she would do that.

Maybe bring her in and crate her, and let him wander around? I guess bring a book and settle in to read for a while and see what they do?

Or should I bring him to my house and do the "confine him to one room and let animals sniff him under the door" thing?

And what (if anything) do I do about his claws? I will trim them first, but should I try to put soft paws on them, just in case? Can a vet apply them better than a regular person? (I may have to wander over to the cat side of things to ask that one.) Nala is not aware that cats come with front claws, so she will not be on guard about this.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

posted 02-18-2004 11:20 AM         

Sheesh. I oughtta be committed.

posted 02-18-2004 01:00 PM         

Does the cat curretnly scratch furniture? MIdas doesn nto scratch our furniute so that has been a blessing