Advice Needed (Bringing Home a Cat)

Awesome!  Welcome home Moki! 

I assume you will rotate in the house?  Since Heidi joined us...that's what we have to do.  Admittedly, it was my own stupid fault for not properly introducing her to the cats when she was a wee thing.  Prior, I had a harmonious house where cats/dogs could co-habitate.

Now, when the dogs are in the house, the cat is locked up.  When the cat has free roam of the house, the dogs are gated.

OR, will you cat train Ari?

I will be cat training Ari. It would be too much and the significant other wouldn't like it to rotate in the house. Ari's come close to outside cats before (when I didn't realize they were there) and showed no prey drive, just curiosity and a desire to make friends. She just needs to learn to scale back her "OMG ARE YOU MY NEWEST BESTEST FRIEND?!?!?!" in your face exuberance. When we're not at home, Ari will need to be either crated in our bedroom (door closed and cat free) or loose in our bedroom with the door closed. I won't chance something happening when we're not at home to supervise.

 Also, gates don't stop Ari, they are just something to plow through or jump over to get where she needs to go lol. 

Darn I was going to suggest Baby gates to. We have a room gated off so the cats can get away from the cat herding Corgis.

My do all get along, But when Cleo just show up one day all my dogs where eager to check her out to.At frist she was not allowed in the house cuase I though she was a stray or some else.

After trying to find the owner and a vet check she came and made herself at home. But I think she was the one to put the paw down so Ari could get a swipping for to much exuberance.

Cleo is a huge cat with extra toes though.

Make sure your kitty has a High place to get away and supervise. Cleo and Pele have a cat house up really high ( and Kobe is tall ) the dogs can look but cant touch.

Lots of supervition and maybe have Ari on a leash at frist.

Wishing you good luck.

 Yeah, I'm going looking into some cat perches for her for the other rooms. If she goes under any of the beds, Ari cannot follow or reach her. There are some places right now in the home she could go where Ari can't - but I want a few more options for her. I'm definitely going to use a leash. I haven't worked it all out - it'll be at least a couple of weeks before I start to make the introductions. I plan on taking Ari for a LOOOONG hike the day I do make introductions. Ari tired is very biddable and will listen to me better lol. Plus her exuberance is cut way down.

Moki has gotten very brave. My Mom spent the night in the guest room with Moki. Moki ventured up on the bed and even snuggled near my Mom for a short while at night! I'm really surprised with how quickly she's coming around. She still hides from me initially, but she now hides under the bed close to me. If reach in and rub her neck she'll come scurrying out for some love and attention. She also apparently likes her belly lightly rubbed, as I found out this morning! 

I did pick up some Pro Plan cat food - she was out of the Iams stuff and she seems to really like it, having gobbled up most of what I put down.

I promise some pictures soon!

the_gopher

Well, this thread should be titled "I am a foster failure and I have the greatest significant other". He's said, as long as he doesn't have to do anything for the cat in terms of care, she can stay. So, she is

 Wow that didn't take long at all. Last foster failure I had was 4 kittens I found in the woods. That was about 4 years ago. I absolutely can not bring anymore fosters into our house. Anyhow, congrats on your new family member and enjoy. We love and really enjoy all 6 of our cats.

the_gopher

 Yeah, I'm going looking into some cat perches for her for the other rooms. If she goes under any of the beds, Ari cannot follow or reach her.

 Like wise, when you start the initial greetings I would not suggest introducing Moki at ground level.  You can get away with that with a very confident cat or kitten, but a skittish adult cat needs the higher ground.  You want her to literally be well out of Ari's reach and know it.  Not because there is a leash, but because Ari plainly wouldn't be able to reach her even if she tried.  It will help give Moki the confidence to stand her ground.  You'll know when it is time for them to meet nose on nose, when Moki decides she is ready to hop down of her own free will.

 I wanted to update on Moki.  Ari and her have come to an understanding.  Moki stays in the guest room (door open but barricaded - she COULD get out but it's harder for Ari to get in) when Ari has reign of the house.  Moki has free reign during the day when we work (Ari in our room with the door shut) and at night (same scenario as during the day).  I make sure to spend one on one time with Moki each day.  Moki has come out of her shell beautifully, even the significant other has had to admit he's fond of her lol.  She's an unobtrusive cat but can be a pest at 2 am if I'm sleeping on the couch.  She plays the "I will kiss your nose, even if I have to crawl under your blanket!" game hehe.  I've never met a cat who gave so many kisses.  She plays now and is an all around love.  Because she's generally quiet, I've admittedly shut her into the linen closet more than once - whoops!  She is a forgiving soul   I wish I had updated pictures to share, but I don't (she head butts and kisses the camera or runs away lol).  I did have to shave her completely when I first got her (she was horribly matted) but her coat is back in now and just lovely.  I might keep getting her professionally groomed.  She likes brushing but not in some hard to access areas - and well, it's just easier to pay someone else (despite the fact I used to groom, professionally lol).

I'm so happy she came to be with us this past summer.  She has even decided that my significant other is A-OK and will solicit attention from him.  Considering she used to not like men that much, that says a lot!   Moki even got him laughing one day with her flopping and rolling around she does, when she's really happy and getting rubs.  Now, that is impressive since my significant other has adamantly said many a time that he does not like cats

Nice to hear the update and that everything has worked out. Cats are a lot of fun and can have a whole lot of love to give....of course some times to the point of being a pest about it 

 I enjoyed reading this thread, and the most recent update on Moki.  What a wonderful thing, for her to have settled.

 I have 10 cats, all indoor only, all rescues.  They love to watch the world out the window, and be up high.   And they are definitely boss, I have video of bichons waiting for a cat to leave the water bowl so they can drink.  She, being "c-a-t" decided to sit there and stare up at the ceiling, scan the living room, do some grooming, dogs started whining and I finally had to go over and move her, ha ha haaaa.  What a TEASE!

Cats need grain free food as they are omnivores.  They also are not known to be great drinkers; in the wild, they get all the fluid they need from their prey.  I feed Taste of the Wild (a grain free kibble) and supplement with canned / moist food. (Mine only eat TOTW Rocky Mountain formula, which is venison and smoked salmon; they refuse to touch the Canyon River formula, go figure!

Hairballs are NOT a normal thing.  Cats do not have hairballs in the wild.  Once I switched mine to TOTW, no more hairballs.   I have had 2 long haired cats, and no hairballs once they are on a proper food.

 Yeah for Moki and yeah for you! Peaches, always head butts me. Its very cute and a little annoying. (Shes persistent.)

 Moki doesn't get hairballs despite being long haired (she's not a Maine Coon; I knew that the instant I got her - she's only 7lbs)!  So, I'm glad about that!  She's not much for grooming herself though  

She loves to burrow, despite having perches.  If there is some dark hole she can crawl into, she's there and quite content.  Weird kitty!  I found her once, on top of one suitcase that I store by my bureau and under the other that was perched on top of the first suitcase - it created a little hole/cave in between the two.  She burrows even when the dog is secure in another room, and she knows she's safe from the crazy mutt (who really just wants to be friends, but is a tad enthusiastic shall we say...).  She LOVES water, and will give me a stink eye if the level is getting low lol.  She's fed a mix of wet and dry food. I'm going to start seeing about getting her on a better diet.  She didn't like a couple of the more premium foods I tried with her - to the point of starving herself. 

This morning she mewed my little ear off; she can be quite chatty in the morning lol, when I go in to check on her food and water before leaving for work.  She has a very quiet meow.  She made sure to rub all over my black pants, before I left for work. How considerate! 

tiffy

 Yeah for Moki and yeah for you! Peaches, always head butts me. Its very cute and a little annoying. (Shes persistent.)

The head butt is great (albeit annoying at times, in an adorable sort of way).  Moki has gone as far to hook my hand with her paw when I go to pull away from scratching her.  Then she looks up at me with these eyes that say, "I did not give you permission to stop." I'm well trained by all four legged creatures in my house! 

 He he heee, both your posts have me smiling!  Good job, Moki!