When the first meeting was over, it had happened in a good, respectful, and truly feline manner.
Jesper was the first to greet. When he was done, he stepped aside, and Kasper came to say hello. When he left, Odin was allowed to come in and greet as well.
The entire session was over in just a few minutes.
After they retreated, I let Jonatan stay in the bathroom while I checked in on the other cats to see how they had handled the meeting.
Were they tense, uncertain, stiff-bodied, stressed, hiding – or did they take it all in stride?
Their body language and behavior determined the next steps.
Either this would be enough for today, and we would continue the next day, or, if they seemed comfortable, we could carry on a little longer.
Jesper had gone straight to the food bowl and eaten a little more – a clear sign that he wasn’t stressed. Not that I had expected him to be. He also wanted some cuddles.
I hoped Kasper was satisfied, but he is a stubborn territory ruler, so you can never be 100% sure what mood he’s in. He sniffed around in the hallway, checking out the other things that had come home with us, perhaps just making sure there weren’t more furry intruders hiding in the bag.
Still, he came to greet as usual, relaxed and content, with his tail held high.
We took a little break – or rather, a few treats on the table and some cuddles.
Both ate the treats straight from my hand, even though they probably smelled more like Jonatan than the treats themselves at that moment. A good sign.
Jonatan remained in the bathroom – and he was definitely not happy. He couldn’t understand the purpose of a barrier keeping him away from everything happening in this big, new world.
No need to rush. We have all the time in the world for the introduction – it may take hours, days, or weeks. They will be living together for many years, so there is no need to hurry.
Now, the big red boys can take some time to process, while Odin and Jonatan get to meet again – and, most importantly, play a bit with the feather wand. Who enjoys it the most is hard to say … but one thing is certain: if Odin gets the chance, he will shred that wand in an instant!
