Both Aspen and Laurel have been spayed now. Currently, we have them in a large cage. Each girl has their own cage. They are very subdued kitties than what we are used to, but quite reserved and timid. We put them in the cages while we begin work, enlarging the introduction cage to accommodate their extended stay. Plus the fact that with the surgeries they can’t jump without it causing pain or discomfort.

Both girls are adapting well to this new situation. I haven’t noticed any type of aggression from them towards the resident kitties. Nor have I noticed any of my five resident kitties challenging them in an all out battle. It’s quite odd to have two kittens who are not feral. They love to be scratched under the chin, it’s amusing actually when I stick my hand into the cage to say hello, they stay inside their little carriers. However, the minute that I withdraw my hand and shut the door, they come out. That’s when we can get to know each other better. I believe that if we kept our hand in there and tried to coax them out or pull them out of where they are, this would not bode well with them. The fact that we withdraw our attempts to pet them, causes them to reconsider that perhaps these humans aren’t really messing with them. They are just trying to be friends.

Yesterday, Nathan and I did a quick rendition of the new changes to the introduction cage. We are going to expand it out and this new addition will also be insulated, so in the winter time they can stay warmer. We will have screened areas in the back, so that resident kitties can investigate the newcomers without anyone going to battle. It also will allow more air circulation within the cage. There will be shutters that can be closed in the winter time to provide additional warmth. I am quite excited about seeing this come about. Nathan will be here early this morning and we will start work as soon as he gets here.

The only one who seems to resent these newcomers is, of course, PITA . She has to maintain her Alpha state with the group. Her trick is she jumps up on top of the cages and growls at them. So we cut a piece of plywood to fit both cages and now she can sit on the roof and growl, but she can’t reach in and claw them should she desire that. We have not seen that part of her aggression show towards these two new ones. But it certainly is showing towards the outside girls that come to the door to say hello. Her and Twist  seem to get into it quite a bit. We are glad that there is wire between them.

This transition between the two groups inside the enclosure may go easier than we anticipate. We just have to take it a day at a time, we take our cues from the cats. Nothing is rushed, there is no time schedule on our end. We want to be perfectly sure that, everyone will be getting along  the first time we “accidentally” leave the door open and step back to see what happens. That may be in a week, perhaps a month or even longer. It’s all up to the kitties.each day is a journey of discovery between all of us.

The upgrade to the introduction cage has begun unless something comes up. It should be completely finished by tomorrow night.