Meezer Musings: January 2019
Happy New Year!

Welcome to January's Meezer Musings!  January has flown past and here we are at the end of it, and it's probably a little late to wish you a happy New Year. But we are still near the beginning of the year, so it's not too late to wish you a happy 2019, and to say that I hope the year has started well for you.

Many of us are in the grip of deeply sub-zero temperatures, so above all I hope you're staying safe, warm, and cosy. Although if you're one of our Australian readers with temperatures at the opposite end of the spectrum, you might just be thinking that some of that icy weather could be quite helpful right about now ...

When Cats Turn Against Their Friends

We'll begin this month's newsletter with a couple of stories about what happens when cats turn on their friends, a phenomenon known as redirected aggression. Back in December, Donna, one of the regular visitors to our Facebook page, dropped by in need of urgent help.

Things all kicked off when Donna's three-year-old seal point, Jazzmin, got her head caught in the handle of a paper bag.

Before Donna could free her, Jazzmin started racing around the house in terror. Younger 'sister' blue point Ziva chased after her, adding to the drama and fear.

By the time Donna caught up with them they were hissing, howling and screaming at each other. As Donna says:

And Then, Up Popped a Similar Question

Coincidentally, a couple of weeks later we received a similar story, this time from Liane, about her cats Shadow and Lily. Here's Shadow ...

This is what Liane told us:

Multi-Cat Households – When Aggression Goes Wrong

This behavior is known as redirected aggression. It occurs when cats get angry, fearful, or upset by something unusual happening in their environment.

For example, it might happen when cats see a passing feline stranger through the window and become angry at this intrusion into their territory (this is apparently quite common), but can also be sparked by any fear-provoking trigger, such as Jazzmin's paper bag incident or the accidental treading on Shadow's foot. 

This provokes an angry reaction which is not necessarily aimed at the 'enemy' that sparked the anger in the first place but redirected towards another cat (or in some cases, dog or human) with whom they normally get along well.

We had lots of helpful answers and suggestions, as well as more stories of similar happenings, on the Facebook page which you can read here and here but in summary, if you ever find yourself in this situation, here's what you need to do.

Last time I heard from Donna, her cats were still hissing at each other occasionally but calmer and settling down. I hope that both sets of cats are now back to their normal happy, friendly selves.

A Busy Month on Facebook

Following hot on the heels of the above and in similar vein, this question also came up on Facebook.

When we're new to cats, and Siamese cats in particular, we often expect that they'll settle in quickly and love us immediately.

Some cats do, in which case, so much the better, but some don't, and cats that hiss at us can be concerning. It's also quite normal. All cats will hiss a warning when they're fearful, and new additions to the family won't be at all certain of their surroundings, or you.

It's very important to remember that their whole world has just been turned upside down, and it will take time for them to settle in.

I've always found that leaving Siamese cats alone to do their own thing will bring them running to you quicker than anything as they don't like being ignored! And very soon you'll find that they're completely at home with you, living a happy and healthy life and probably ruling the roost!

So talk to them gently, feed them, care for them, but give them lots of space and time.

Patience, Space and Time (Rinse and Repeat)

Sometimes it can take an extraordinary amount of time and every ounce of patience you have for new cats to settle in, especially when they're traumatized rescue cats, as this story from one of our readers about their rescued cats, Boo and Nibbles, shows).

So be prepared for the long haul.

Which leads us neatly into ...

A Happy Ever After Story?

Return to Tythecott tells the story of a very special but deeply traumatized cat who came into Sylvia's life after being rescued from a derelict barn.

Sylvia named the cat Rufus. To begin with he was unresponsive and depressed, but with weeks of love and patience from Sylvia, Rufus gradually started to come out of his shell.

Sylvia ... "often wondered how such a beautiful creature could have ended up in such dire circumstances. One day, however, an extraordinary thing happened. She was sitting at her computer with Rufus curled up on her lap. He began purring loudly and suddenly she felt an overwhelming urge to start typing…."

We follow Rufus from his early beginnings in a happy home through a series of fortunate, and not-so-fortunate, incidents. Told in Rufus's own words, there were times when my heart was in my mouth and I was quite terrified for poor Rufus, but rest assured, the story does end well.

As the book description tells us:

"This is a book for cat lovers of all ages who enjoy a good adventure with a happy ending. Rufus is a cherished pet, enjoying a life of love, luxury and companionship - as all Siamese cats should. One day, however, his comfortable existence is shattered by a sequence of unexpected and devastating events, plunging him into a terrifying new world of danger and excitement…."

If it sounds like your kind of book, both Kindle and paperback versions are available on Amazon, but I recommend the paperback (link below) for the lovely cover by Suzanne Le Good as well as other illustrations and photographs from Sylvia.

Our Hearts Go Out To …

Several of you have been in touch this month to say that you've lost much-loved family members recently - it's always heartbreaking at any time and at any age.

It's especially poignant when it happens around the holidays, so heartfelt condolences, love, support, strength and comfort go out to everyone who's lost a member of either their human, or fur, family recently.

Tail End ...

Caroline

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