Suzi-OUCH! Healing~ma.

Cat integration..we've had a house guest since September 1 with a non-social cat (Billy). There was hissing and baring of fangs, but Billy and Elpheba were tolerating each other over a shared bowl of kibble this past weekend. So...just over two months of adjustment time.

Condolences, Anne.

One thing that can help when they are in the same room,is that whenever you pet one cat, say the other cat's name in a loving voice.

Also, some jumping-on is to be expected. If it's a sudden jump or a dominating stance (grabbing the other cat by the back of the neck) then W is trying to tell C whose house it is. C may cry piteously and drmatically but it's just them working things out. However, if there is lots of stiff-legged staring and low-throated growling and hissing, then a REAL fight is in the offing and that can be dangerous.

As long as no blood is drawn, I would let them work it out for themselves. If it gets more serious, then a handy water bottle and spray every time anything untoward happens.

Is Toastmasters a cult?

PS I AM SRS

Yay! That is one lucky cat.

My thoughts exactly. Yay for new kitty, FredPete.

I think it's just a club, Allyson. It's like AA, in a tiny way, but for people who want help making presentations and speeches, or just like being in a supportive non-judgmental environment.

IIRC, our own Billytea is a member.

I have no direct knowledge of Toastmaster's, but Do remember that Buffistas falls within the "yes, this is a cult" paramters. I think it's in the FAQ.

I am down with everything but Sesame Street.

I thought I was going to have to get rid of Cosmo when I first brought her home; Gimlet was a bottlebrushed, shrieking thing for about 2-3 weeks. I kept Cosmo in the bedroom with the door closed, so they could sniff under the door. I gave Gimlet a lot of love (when she let me touch her -- she was PISSED, yo!) and then would leave the door open for 15 mins, then 1/2 hour, then an evening.

Whenever I petted one kitty, I made sure I rubbed my hands all over the scent glands by their whiskers, and then went right to the other kitty and did the same, and then back.

Cosmo's a dumb fuzzy bag of cute attention slut, and Gimlet...we got her from the shelter when she was about 2 months, and I don't know what happened to her, but she is the most skittish, easily startled cat I have ever seen. Took about 2 months and then they went from ignoring each other in different rooms, to ignoring each other in the same room, to ignoring each other on the couch.

Hostility went WAY down when I got Cosmo fixed.

They get along fine now. There's occasional hissing, patty-fights, but that's a dominance thing, and no big deal.

I googled. It's kind of like Bitches, but without powerpoint.

They are seriously pushing the line, Allyson. I've been tasked with starting one at my co, which I don't think is going to get off the ground. But if I does, I am dispensing forthwith with all the ritualistic shit.

I've known a number of people who've been involved and gotten a ton out of it and really enjoyed it. But whoo-boy, are they uberserious about some really stupid stuff.

I ended up calling my nurse-friend and describing the burn to her. She said it sounds like a first degree burn and that ice is my best recourse. I'll see her in a bit and she can double check. Then we are going to punch and kick eachother.

I had considered joining Toastmaters at one point, but the uberserious turned me off.