The Megara Chronicles: Meeting Mango

[shannon_a]

So we've decided to adopt Megara.

Ultimately, there were two things that helped us decide.

First, we needed to see that she wouldn't be a problematic cat. But despite being super scared, she hasn't hissed, she hasn't growled, she hasn't swiped at us, and she hasn't used the facilities inappropriately. That sounds like she's a pretty great cat, given how extremely scared she is.

Second, we had to either see her come out of her shell or decide we were OK even if she continues to be hidey. And she does seem to be doing better on a daily basis. She's explored much of the downstairs on supervised visits. She rather joyfully plays with the cat dancer.

But we're also now pretty sure she was abused when she was a wee kitten before she went to the Humane Society. Obviously, she runs to hide under the chair whenever we move (though she's slowly getting better at that, and might not flee if we move very slowly and carefully). But she also actively flinches if we raise up a hand or an iPad or something. 😿 That kind of pushed me over at least. Even if she does keep hiding (and we're hopeful she won't) I'd like her to have a good home.

So after two nights of letting Megara explore the downstairs (including her squeezing through the bins I had setup to block the stairway and getting upstairs, showing she's pretty brave!), we decided today to introduce her to Mango.

Introducing cats to cats is always dicey, and I've been somewhat concerned about Mango. He got along fine with Lucy, but lately we've had a cat visitor coming to our front door in the middle of the night, and Mango starting to yowl and carry on and wake up the whole house and then attack his brother afterward.

(It's actually been at least a few weeks since that happened, thanks to me placing Ozzie the plastic owl, usually used to scare Mynah Birds, near the front door.)

Anyway, we loaded Mango up in his cat carrier and brought him down to Megara's room and put him on the bed (which she only jumps upon if lured with the cat dancer), and then we started playing with Megara with the cat dancer. She jumped all around and up on the ottoman and cat tree and Mango was entirely fascinated. Maybe scared too, hard to say. But it seemed like a good interaction because there was very little obvious negative emotion.

She'd noticed Mango, but was more interested in the cat dancer. But, she eventually decided she wanted to check out Mango, so she walked up to the bed and scooted her front paws up on the mattress so that she could look straight at him(!). He was maybe a foot back.

That tableau held for a moment, and then Mango hissed at her. Which is totally fair. Saying "stay back" to the strange monster who is getting right in your face is totally fair. She dropped back down and her tail was super bushy, which surprisingly has not been the case when she's running from us.

We told them they were both great cats, but a minute or two later, Mango started doing his alien-cat yowl, so we decided that was enough, and pulled him out of the room and then let him out of the cage.

He started searching around the downstairs afterward, clearly looking for Megara.

AND THEN HE RAN UPSTAIRS TO LOOK FOR HER OUT THE FRONT DOOR!

Cats!

Megara debushed her tail almost immediately, even before Mango started yowling. But she's been a bit more hidey since.

Mango was calmed down within several minutes and eating treats, once he determined that he could no longer see the intruder cat.

So, that'll take some more work, but went better than I'd hope. (I'd expected the yowling to start immediately.)