It has been a busy month for our new kitten, four-month-old Olwyn, aka “Punkin.”

She’s doubled in size, licked her fur into shape, weathered an ear infection, is getting manners at mealtime, and learned to ask to be lifted up into our laps, instead of climbing our legs like a tree.

Her humans find her an absolute joy, even with the leg climbing. But she’s still a trial to the two other cats; though in ways I didn’t expect.

The old guy. Mr. Bond, always very dignified, found Olwyn’s growing confidence to be a source of horror. Would his head get tackled? Would he be ritually disemboweled? Would he wake up to find his tail had turned into a cat toy?

This made him hide for his naps, and we had to go to the extra effort of seeking him out (when we could!) for reassurance. But Olwyn has the diplomatic skills to grasp that Mr. Bond would hate to be treated that way. So when it’s mealtime, she bounces up to him and tries to touch noses. When she realizes she is about to pounce on The Wrong Cat, she corrects her course and gives him some room.

Our help in this situation is pointing out to Mr. Bond how nicely she treats him, seeking him out to say he doesn’t have to hide, and grabbing him and hugging him at every opportunity. He isn’t being replaced; he’s being enhanced!

A breakthrough came the other night, when Mr. Bond and I were having one of our pre-bedtime cuddle sessions. I asked him if he was being ignored by RJ. He gave me a long stare, and has since perked up.

Letting him know I understand his feelings means a lot to Mr. Bond.

The young guy. RJ is chasing and being chased now, though he’s still distressed that his favorite toy, the Kitty Tease, is monopolized by Olwyn. He’s used to charging from one end of the room to another in pursuit of it. Now there’s a kitten on the track.

But no cat can resist being adored… and Olwyn does adore RJ. When she gets a little bigger, I’m sure we’ll have some wrestling going on. RJ hasn’t had enough wrestling. Soon, he’ll have plenty.

What do her people think? Well, just look at her. Who can resist?

Mr WayofCats has a cuddly companion who has to be right on top of the computer desk. We’ve put a washcloth on the desk to mark out where she can stay. These “boundary reminders” are a great help in showing the cat where they are allowed to be. And without it, they will find their own spots.

Last night, Mr WayofCats’s computer project was interrupted by the room going dark. He thought the distant thunderstorm had come closer. But it was Olwyn, exploring the power strips under the desk. She’s since been discouraged any time she goes under the desk, by our fishing her out, gently scolding with noises of distress, and reminding her that her washcloth will keep her out of trouble.

I can’t take a ton of credit for how social, affectionate, and intelligent Olwyn has turned out to be… I chose her for these qualities.

Our task is to show her she’s loved, how to stay out of trouble, and, keeping pace with her age and abilities, what we expect from her.

But I admit we didn’t have to do a thing to get Olwyn to treat each of the other cats with such delicate respect.

That’s the Beta in her. It’s also something quite special for her age and circumstances.

That would be the Olwyn in her.

This post was about how our new kitten is fitting into a family of two humans, and two Beta boys of widely varying age. See all my Olwyn posts.

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