When company comes to visit, my cat disappears.
Because we have three cats, I've learned all about allowing room for personalities. Mr. Silverman is the thinker. Brisket is the alpha cat. And poor little Toby is....well...different.
Case in point: We've got houseguests this week and Toby is nowhere to be found. The cats have in and out daytime privileges, but Toby simply disappears when there are "strangers" in the house. Silverman, meanwhile, can’t get enough extra attention. Brisket just likes to be near people.
Do other multi-cat households have a similar problem? Should I worry? How can I make Toby feel more comfortable around company.
Speak please!
ANGIE BRENNAN, a Sun-Sentinel page designer,
lives with four dogs and one boyfriend. And has a lifetime of animal stories to share.
DIANE LADE, a reporter on the Sun-Sentinel's Help Team, has lived with cats, dogs, reptiles, fish, an iguana, and an armadillo.
CYNDI METZGER, editor of the Sun-Sentinel's Outlook section, is smitten with Bella, her poodle who regularly ignores requests to sit, stay and get off the ivory-colored sofa. 
JOHN TANASYCHUK, a Sun-Sentinel lifestyle writer, has lived with cats as long as he can remember. He and his partner currently share their home with three.
Comments
This is so funny, John.
Relatively meek and mild Dolan LOVES it when company comes -- at least company for a party. Workmen and workwomen scare him a little, but he quickly gets over it. He thinks more people in the house equals more food for him.
But Frances Jeanne, the normally ferocious one in the family? The minute strangers show up, she is under our bed and does not emerge until they leave. This is true even if people are in our house for hours -- or days. The amazing thing is she can sense interlopers from the minute their hand is on the doorknob. She disappears before they even are inside. Go figure.
So should you worry? We dont. We figures our cats handle this situation differently because they have very different personalities and different backgrounds (they both are rescues, so we have no idea how they were raised as little kittens). To make Franny more comfortable, I bring her food and a litter box into our bedroom, so she can quickly run out from under the bed to take care of her basic needs. I also will lie down on the floor and talk to her, making sure she can see me. Sometimes she will come out for a few minutes of reassurance, then go back into hiding. The minute the company is gone, she comes out like nothing happened and life goes on.
Posted by: DianeL | April 3, 2008 4:47 PM
when people come over hold onto toby. it is not that hard!
Posted by: gloria | June 1, 2008 2:37 PM