by Aimee Mendel

Created on: September 10, 2008

I can testify to the fact that bringing a new kitty into the house can be nerve wracking. I adopted Geoffrey (so named because he is orange and has markings on his sides that make him look like a giraffe) from the pound right after I had surgery and was unable to walk without a walker for months....I was a couch potato and only got up occasionally to feed him, fix myself a frozen meal or take a bath....he and I bonded big time. We were inseparable.

Eventually I regained my ability to walk and I went back to work. My job requires that I be gone about 13 hours at a time; I felt bad for Geoffrey and wanted to get him a little friend. One Sunday I saw the pet of the week in the Marietta Daily Journal; she was a Scottish Fold kitten and she was precious. I thought that my Geoffrey would be thrilled to have a little female friend; I went to the shelter and was told she was available that day. She was beautiful, tiny and loving. She would be perfect for Mr. Geoffrey.

After I brought her home I left her in my bathroom for about a week; litter box, food and water were right there for her. I introduced her to Geoffrey through the door, but he was not happy. He hissed and arched his back. Eventually I decided that I had to allow June (new kitty, named for the month I adopted her) the run of the house regardless of Geoffrey's approval.

He hissed and hissed and hissed. He hissed for weeks. One day, though, I saw the two of them kiss. They were nose to nose and actually looked as though they were kissing. Immediately after this Geoffrey hissed at her again. It wasn't long, though, before the two of them were playing. This whole process took about two months. I was very stressed before they became friends; I consulted my veterinarian and talked to friends who had cats; everyone assured me that they would eventually get along.

My little Junie must have been horribly abused before she was rescued. She flinches every time I reach out my hand to her; she was the size of a month old kitten when I adopted her at six months. The veterinarian said that the only way she knew this kitty was six months old was that she had all her teeth. She seems to have been starved before I adopted her; when I feed her she runs away from the food if I come near her when she eats.

The one thing that I can report at this time is that Geoffry is very protective of my precious little Junie; she has a forever friend in him and slowly but surely she is beginning to trust that I won't hurt her.

I cannot imagine getting pets anywhere other than the animal shelter. My two kitties have added so much to my life and they have proven to me that unlike humans, animals can learn to get along regardless of the circumstances from which they came.

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