Adding a 2nd Cat
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 1999 13:17:07 -0600 (CST) Subject: FEL-L: Female cougar
My husband and I have an 18 month old female cougar that lives in our home. We have both dedicated all our time, affection, and lives to this magnificent creature. Her name is Sugar and she is sweetest and most affectionate cat. I have a question I need a quick answer too. We have had someone contact us about a male cougar in need of a home. His age is 14 months. We are concerned about how it would affect Sugar. If you have any suggestions, we would be grateful. Thank you . Dennis & Diann Dyke
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 1999 14:17:17 -0600 Subject: Re: FEL-L: Female cougar
You'll have no problems because of the age of the cats. If you do not want them to breed you should consider having the male altered. I would recommend this since we have so many cougars that are in need of a home, this week we have taken in 3, so this should give you an ideal of what is going on.
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 1999 18:52:08 -0800 Subject: Re: FEL-L: cougars
Welcome to the list Diann! I would suggest getting other cats altered if you are not in a breeding program. Brian is correct in saying that there are a great many cougars out there. Our small sanctuary usually turns 6 to 12 a year away. The females if not bred or spayed can have some problems also.
I think adopting the male would be a great thing. It would give sugar somebody another friend to share life with. Good Job! Glenda :)
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 1999 23:55:37 -0800 Subject: FEL-L: Brian - are ya nuts?
> You'll have no problems because of the age of the cats. If you do
Sorry, Bri - it might look like I'm out to get you but I MAJORLY disagree (strangely I almost never do...has somebody hijacked Brian's e-mail - some left wing AR inciting smashed windows and escaped cougars?).
A couple of items to consider:
1) Cougars are solitary by nature
2) This is a cat who has had exclusive attention and affection from its owners indoors (hopefully the house has bars on the windows and double entry doors)
3) They can be very affectionate, which turned around means very jealous.
It's nice that a home is being considered for this boy...however, I don't see a harmonious household when he shows up. My opinion is that the cats will need to be kept separated, or there'll be a lot of posturing and pumelling until the dominance and jealousy is resolved. Take the furniture to the thrift store now.
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1999 07:22:35 -0600 Subject: FEL-L: Re: Introducing cougars
>don't see a harmonious household when he shows up. My opinion is that
I already wrote these nice people. I think it's great that their cougar has such good house manners. I pointed out that the male, having been kept outside, needs an outdoor cage of his own. His house mannaers are probably rusty, and this is a new house - full of interesting items to be investigated or torn apart. I certainly wouldn't introduce him to her in their house. That would be crazy. Hopefully their cougar has an oustide enclosure as well as house priviledges.
If not, then they need to consider constructing one - you just can't expect a cougar to be a 100% of the time housecat. And there are times you need your house for yourself. So I suggested they build something next to her compound outside for him. The cats should get along, after a short introduction, and then, once they are buddies, they will have each other for company when the humans want time for their other interests.
We raised Mercury an only child. Neither of us worked off the property (those were the days. . . ) and he was spoiled like no other cougar. And if he whistled, Mom was there, leash in hand to take him where ever he wanted. But when he was 14 months old, I could tell, I couldn't do enough for him, and it was then that we purchased Tara, then 7 months old and only 35 pounds to his 105 pounds and housed her next to him. Within two weeks she was dertermined to have his side of the cage permanentely (it was the bigger, more interesting side with the three level tower) We would open the connecting door to let her have both cages when we took him for a walk. There were some scuffels and such that first day that she was inside his cage when he returned, but she had the power of the pussy, so to speak, and even though he outweighed her by 70 pounds, she ruled the roost. And they are now a happily bonded, couple who love each other deeply.
And that's my expereince with young introductions.
I have also successfully introduced adult male cougars to each other, (Max was 18 months old when he befriended Cinni, Arjan and Sharu who were 30 months old) and several females to our adult Sammy. But the latest homeless cougar to arrive here, Diamond, who was raised for 6 years as an only cougar, and had never seen one of her kind before, will NEVER be accepted by Sammy - he would kill her if I ever accidently let them together. Strange isn't it? Diamond just didn't show the proper respect to Sammy when she first arrived and he's out to get her.
So, good luck. We had wonderful, manageable "pet" cougars when we only had two. We each leashed up one and walked them everywhere (remember folks we live in a rural area - no housing developments here). But when they reached about 7 years old, and they had produced couple of litters, including their first of three boys that we kept, we noticed a change in the nature of our relationship, and they were not as trustworthy.
And while it wasn't immediate, I now agree with Robert Baudy, of Savage Kingdom in Florida, who told us many years ago "You can have pet cougars, and you can have breeding cougars, but you can't have pet breeding cougars" We did have pet breeding cougars for many years, but eventually, the whole stealing the babies, the control over the sex life the cats, and the constant hormone influence and fluctuations will add a level of danger so that you must be more cautious.
Date: Mon, 25 Jan 1999 12:23:41 -0400 Subject: RE: FEL-L: Brian - are ya nuts?
In my opinion the first introduction should be made in a neutral place, this will limit any territorial disputes. They should also be introduced to each others smells before any face to face contact, this will limit the amount of shock when finally meeting face to face. Also people should be present that both animals trust, this will help calm them down if anything should occur. This is only my opinion though. Mark