Hi, everyone. We just heard about a cat rescue organization that needs your help. Creating New Lives: Cats in Crisis boards for free the cats of people who have to go to the hospital or lose their homes through a fire or have some other kind of crisis, until they can be returned to their people. They also take in homeless cats and kittens and, provide them with spaying/neutering, shots, and other medical care, and find homes for them. Creating New Lives is based at the Cat's Pajamas cat-boarding facility and serves Waldo and Knox Counties. They've provided care for more than 200 cats in the last three years. Creating New Lives doesn't have any paid staff, it's all volunteer-run. Now this rescue is in danger of closing because they don't have enough money! They need cash contributions so they can purchase food, supplies, and medical care for their charges, and they'll also take donations of food, litter, toys, and anything else that could be useful for taking care of cats. If you can help in any way, please send donations to Creating New Lives, 152 South Cobbtown Road, Lincolnville ME 04849, or contact them at (207) 789-5139 or catspjs@tidewater.net for more information. Mama says you should know that Creating New Lives is a 501(c)3 non-profit, so your donations are tax-deductible. We hope that you will be able to help this organization continue its good work!

Dear Sinéad and Siouxsie:
I really, really need your help. I have a Siamese cat, Yum-yum who is my baby. She has always slept with me and followed me around and has been my best friend since I got her 7 years ago. Now my husband's cat has come to live with us and he hates Yum-yum. Every time he sees her, he attacks her. She tries to get away, but it only provokes him. Now she has to live downstairs so I can keep her safe. I miss my kitty! What can I do?

Please help!
Missy

Siouxsie: Well, darling, the first thing you have to do is help your husband's cat to realize that he has moved into Yum-Yum's house, not the other way around.

Sinéad: Yeah! Poor Yum-yum is being bullied by this big nasty boy-cat who's appeared in her house without her permission, and now he thinks he's got a right to go and knock her around. That's just mean! And I know how sad Yum-Yum must be about this development, because I've experienced something similar.

Siouxsie: Oh, great. Now you're going to start sniveling about that whole Mifanwi Episode again, aren't you? "Waaah, waaah, Mifanwi came in and she started taking over Mama's lap space and beating me us and waaah waaah waaaah!"

Sinéad: The Mifanwi Episode wouldn't have been so bad if you hadn't joined her and ganged up on me! I couldn't even go to the litterbox room in peace!

Siouxsie: Stop being such a crybaby.

Sinéad: Stop being such a fatso!

JaneA: Ladies, please . . .

Sinéad: The point here is that your husband's cat is obviously very dominant and has a very poor sense of proper behavior when entering another cat's space. I certainly hope your husband has better manners than his cat!

Siouxsie: Introducing another cat into a house already owned by a cat is tricky at best, and should be done gradually. Since a sudden introduction has already happened, with poor results for both cats, you're going to have to go back to the beginning and try re-introducing your husband's cat more gradually.

Sinéad: Ideally, when you introduce a new cat into a house, the new cat is left in one room with a bed, a litter box, and food and water. This room should have a door that closes. That way, the resident cat can smell the newcomer, and vice versa, without being threatened by actually seeing the other cat. I think you're going to need to go back to this stage with Yum-yum and your husband's cat. Put your husband's cat in the room and let Yum-yum have run of the house. When you begin this new introduction process, dose each cat with some Bach Rescue Remedy--this is a flower essence that helps calm people and animals after a trauma. Put a drop of the remedy on the top of each cat's head and stroke it in.

Siouxsie: After several days, if you're not hearing screams and hisses between Yum-yum and your husband's cat, you can try letting them see each other. If aggression starts again, you'll have to return to isolation mode.

Sinéad: This can be a long process, and it requires a lot of patience. But it will be worth it in the long run if Yum-yum and your husband's cat can get along better.

Siouxsie: If you can't go all the way to isolating the new cat, then you definitely neet to make sure that Yum-Yum gets lots of attention! She's feeling very threatened by this new cat, and his aggressiveness is making her situation even worse.

Sinéad: Not only that, but Yum-yum is used to being with you all the time and even sleeping on your bed. Now she feels she can't do that anymore because she won't be safe from your husband's cat. This has got to stop before it affects Yum-yum physically and makes her ill.

Siouxsie: We should point out that some level of chasing and hissing is natural when a new cat comes into a house already owned by a cat. However, if the battles are escalating to the point where injuries happen, that's a problem.

Sinéad: You and your husband both need to work on making Yum-yum feel safe and secure. That means his cat, not Yum-yum, should be isolated at night. His cat, after all, is the outsider, and the new resident in Yum-yum's house. Yum-yum needs a return to some level of normalcy. She's used to being a "people cat"--most Siamese are very people-oriented and very attached to their humans--and needs to know that you still love her just as much as ever.

Siouxsie: So, to put it simply--the house belongs to Yum-yum, and since she's not very assertive with other cats, she needs some help from you in asserting her ownership of the house. Isolate your husband's cat at night, not Yum-yum.

Sinéad: Make sure that Yum-yum gets plenty of attention and love--this is especially important for you to do this, Missy!

Siouxsie: Give both cats a drop of Rescue Remedy, stroked into their head fur, once a day for three days.

Sinéad: You might try contacting an animal communicator, too. The animal communicator might be able to give you some insight into the issues each cat has and may be able to facilitate communication between Yum-yum and her new housemate.

Siouxsie: Mama's an animal communicator. She also knows other people who are animal communicators, too, and she might be able to help you find one in your area.

Dear Sinéad and Siouxsie:
Hi, it's me, Jemima. Thank you for your response to my letter last week. I just want to let you know I'm back in my house, thanks to your Affection Campaign! My mama still doesn't trust me to go into the bedroom, but I'm sure that will change soon enough. I'm glad I'm back indoors. You ladies give great advice. I'll use the Cold Shoulder and Resentful Glare discipline methods from now on--no more Furniture Soiling for me.

Sincerely,
Jemima

Sinéad: We're so glad to hear you're back inside, Jemima. We were very worried about you, and we hoped that your mama would relent.

Siouxsie: Of course, we figured she probably would, if you took our advice. We're glad we could be of help to you.

Got a question? Need some advice? E-mail Sinéad and Siouxsie at advice@paws-and-effect.com. None of the advice in this column is meant to be a substitute for regular veterinary care.