THE BIG THING: Well, I decided it was time for everyone to meet this afternoon. I'm continuing to write for everyone today; Marley can't and Ayla and Iza are pretty upset. I don't know WHAT they might say!
So, I opened the Mewsroom door. Instead of Marley coming out, Iza ran IN! She stared at him, flattened her ears, and gave him a low growl...
Marley reacted calmly. I guess growing up in a shelter, he was prepared for that sort of thing. More about that tomorrow. After that, Iza jumped up on the old cat platform and glared at him.
Marley sauntered into the bedroom, then into the bathroom where Ayla was at her usual perch on the windowsill. She didn't growl at him, she HISSED angrily! Several times...
He sniffed around a few seconds, then wandered back out into the bedroom, only to come face to face with Iza suddenly. She did a full POOF!
She backed up and decided to play Door Warden, one of her favorite tricks to annoy another cat...
Marley had to wait there patiently for her to leave. I went to the kitchen and rattled the treat jar after a few minutes. Iza came in and I gave her a few. Then I went to the bedroom door and rattled it again. Ayla came out, stared, hissed, then jumped over Marley. That's one of HER favorite tricks...
So Marley was free to explore the rest of the house with me following him around. I don't think Ayla or Iza are going to get physical, but it's good to be careful. Marley DID stay pretty close to me on his own. At least HE is reacting calmly...
Later, I was sitting in the chair and noticed he was under it, grabbing at anything within reach. My shoes got batted a few times. I waited with the camera aimed at a squiggle. He found it. The claws of death dragged it under...
So I dropped another squiggle. He found that one right away...
A few minutes afterwards he was on the move again. He got up into the cat tree for the first time. I was surprised. When he was exploring yesterday, he seemed floorbound, not getting up on anything. I thought maybe he disliked any heights. But he went right up this time. Maybe it was the rattle ball I tied there for him (he lady who had him said those were his favorite toys). He DID go straight for the rattle ball...
He hopped down, wandered the living room, and went back to the tree. This time he played with a toy at the middle level...
The next time he went up on the tree, Iza was there. They both just stared for a while. One low growl from Iza, then they both sat quietly for a few minutes...
Then both hopped off in separate directions. Iza and Marley will get along fine. I just put out dinner and Iza and Marley both ate peacably in the kitchen. Ayla came in, hissed and went back to the bedroom. She will be the one Marley has to win over.
I brought her dinner to her in the bedroom. No sense in giving her anything to feel resentful about.
BTW, Hugo decided to watch everything from the safety of a bookcase shelf. Wise Hippo...
