Moxi and Lexi made the trip out to my ranch with my family over Memorial Day weekend. We figured it would be great for them to be surrounded by country and get some fresh air. They had lots of fun playing in the great outdoors!
"Miss Priss," Lexi's well earned nickname, was still very attached to the bottle and refused to even try meat. She would still spit it out if I tried to put little bits into her mouth. Boy things changed once we killed a feral hog! After freezing the meat to kill anything bad, we let both kittens try some. They went crazy for fresh killed meat!! I finally breathed a sigh of relief that both kittens had weaned off the bottles. $20 cans of kitten milk that lasted only a couple of days, not to mention supplements, were starting to get a bit expensive!
Everything seemed to be going well once we got home from the ranch. We were able to get Lexi to eat other meats, such as deer, chicken, and fish, without any problems. There was a bit of sisterly competition since whatever the other was eating was always better than what I put in front of them, but it wasn't anything serious. I fed them with some distance between to try and cut down on any competition or disagreements it might start. Last Thursday morning, things took a turn for the worse. About 10 minutes after both had finished their breakfast, I heard them get into a scuffle in the living room. I gave it a couple of minutes because minor scuffles are usually just a result of them playing hard, which hasn't been a cause for concern. After a couple of minutes of it, I went to check. By this time, things were sounding a bit more serious... What I found was both kittens holding on for dear life to the other's throats. It took MUCH effort to finally get them off of each other, and all they wanted was to get back at each other. We gave them a few minutes, brought them both together, and ears immediately flattened. Just the sight of the other made them want to attack each other again. My husband and I made the quick decision that both got to spend the day in different rooms.
That evening, we got home and had two bobkittens crying for each other. We let them out, and they greeted one another as if they hadn't seen each other in ages! We figured whatever had set them off that morning was long gone. They ran around, played, and cuddled for a little while. We fed them again, taking care to make sure they were well away from each other and even let them eat more than usual to make sure they were not fighting over a limited resource. Both left food in their bowls and walked away fat and happy. About 10 minutes later, the morning's festivities began again. At the suggestion of a co-worker, I tried a spray bottle to break them up. When I say spray bottle, what I really mean is a high-powered pump sprayer that can shoot out impressive amounts of water. I pumped it as much as was possible, and I doused the kittens. Half a gallon later I had a wet floor and two drenched kittens still holding each other in death grips by the throats. Between my husband and myself, we managed to finally get the kittens apart (again, NOT an easy task!), and they were separated again for the night.
They next day the kittens were fed separately, immediately went into separate carriers, and both went to work with Dad. We hoped that not seeing each other and going to neutral territory might snap them out of it. Unfortunately, this did not work either. Once out, the kittens were very anxious to get to one another, ears flattened and both growling. At one point Lexi was sleeping, and one of Dad's co-workers brought Moxi back from playing in a different office. Moxi immediately attacked Lexi, even though she was no threat sleeping. Even though Moxi was the culprit in this specific case, Lexi has started things just as often. Neither is innocent!
So, I talked with one of my former co-workers that had said all along she was willing, and very much wanted, to help if need be. I made the decision to let Moxi go to her house this past Friday after making sure it would be legal to do so. I did not want to risk the kittens really hurting one another, nor did I want to put my family (read: kids) at risk of being caught between the middle of the kittens fighting. The selfish part of me did not, and still does not, want anyone else raising "my baby," but I think this is really the best decision in the long run. I have done my crying (yes, I get very attached!), but I know Moxi is in a very good place where she will get care that meets my expectations. I am keeping in close contact, and we plan to try "kitty dates" to see if the girls will be able to get along in the future.
So all of this has made the last couple of days bittersweet. It has been much "quieter" (I use this term very loosely in my household!), and it definitely feels like someone is missing around here. Lexi has had a hard time adjusting and went back to the bottle yesterday after refusing all food Saturday. I was beginning to think separation was not the best idea, but she decided to eat meat with a vengeance tonight. She has been doing well in all other aspects, and it has been nice being able to give her more individual attention. All updates with Moxi have been positive, minus her not eating the first night in her new home. Otherwise, it sounds like Moxi has become the queen bee at her new house! She has another cat, plus 3 dogs to rule over there. :) She has also been much sweeter and less bitey when away from her sister. Miss Lexi has been extremely affectionate, and is currently purring away on my belly while I type.
I'm still very perplexed at what caused such a change in the girls. The only thing I can fathom is the fact that Lexi weaning created competition for food, even though it took 4 days after weaning for this to begin. It makes me wonder how a mama cat would deal with this in the wild! I guess I could have just let them sort it out on their own, but these were some serious fights. Both girls have healing scabs from each other at the moment. It just wasn't worth the risk. I'm just happy that I had someone as passionate and concerned for them as I am to help out!
Without further ado, the part I'm sure everyone wants to see the most.....pictures!! I even finally pulled out the big camera for y'all!
Below are all Lexi from this weekend:
She's being a big helper while Dad is making breakfast!
Cuddle time with Tex
Tex is a very good mama, err, I mean daddy, cat
Lynx, Tex, and Lexi
You didn't think I really wouldn't put any of Moxi, did you?! This is "Queen Moxi" where she has taken over at her new house. I will hopefully continue to have plenty of updates and pictures to share of Moxi, even though she is not living with me any longer.
Thanks for putting up with my taking over this week. I'll let Lexi update everyone from here on!
