Hello All!  I am happy to find this place!  Read many of the threads--
interesting.

I would like to jump in and discuss the acclimation issues that we are
having.  Sorry if this will end up being so long--but we have a lot going
on.

I adopted three cats a little over a month ago from the local humane
society.  I had been a previous cat owner with no problems--but had gotten
them as kittens from individuals.  Humane society cats are considerably
differed.

First off--George and Girly were at the pound for 99 days.  They came in
with a large group of cats--50 cats.  An older woman was hoarding them.
But, they didn't have any of the health or social issues as usually happens
with a colony of cats.

Ok, now to the individual cats.

The first cat--George.  They said he was around four years old--but the vet
said he isn't even two as of yet.  I was looking to adopt cats around four
years old as I have a pretty busy work schedule and not home during the
nights.  George--I call him Mr. Characterman.  He is quite active and had
no adjustment issues--was like he was always here.  He is a smoky gray
color, short-haired, and weighs 11 lbs.  He has a funny shaped head--looks
exactly like E.T.'s. ;-P~~  He is quite aggressive in being petted and all
over me.  Generally, I am tripping over him as I am walking and doing
household chores.  Finally I had to start putting him down because the more
I petted him the more desperate he became.  Seems to be mellowing out some.
He is a quick learner, absolutely loves to play and to be surprised, and
quite smart and persistent.

George is taunting and teasing the other two cats.  He pounces and pesters
even if the other ones don't want to play.  I think because he is younger
and with me being gone so much--that he gets bored.  Sometimes I come home
and there are large patches of fur on the floor--I think that this means
cat fights--by the looks of the fur--looks fierce.  His pestering is
especially hard on Girly.  Any suggestions--or will they all work it out?
Someone suggested that I put vanilla on the brush when I brush them all--
that this will take away most of the scent and thus the territorial
behaviors--do you all have experience with this?

Girly--is a beautiful and delicate cat.  Quite unusual (or, so I think) in
her coloring.  She is similar to the coloring of a prindal (spelling--
sounds like) short haired cat.  Even her nose is three different colors.
She is quite a long cat.  

Some of the issues that she is having:

1.  She took to under the bed for the first month.  I have a modular bed--
so it wasn't easy to get to her--and this was the first place that she went
to.  When she first ventured out and was acting like she wanted to get to
me but couldn't--George swatted her hard when she finally did make it to me
and back under the bed she went--then the next time she ventured out she
knocked over a picture frame and candle and back under the bed she went--
then I got her out from under the bed and tried to enclose it with towels.
She was completely traumatized and was throwing herself wildly against
walls and such.  Then, somehow she got back under the bed.  I couldn't tell
if she was eating and such--so finally I enclosed under the bed with bricks-
-and to help facilitate her being about the apt. and other cats.  She took
to the top of the kitchen cabinets and I would climb up there (being a BBW--
this was quite a task and sight! ;-P~~) and talking with her and letting
her smell my hand.  Finally I was able to pick her up.  Now she will sit in
my lap and let me pet her--but runs and hides from me if I walk around and
has a terror look on her face if she sees me or if I talk with her--but
completely melts into me once I start petting and scratching her.  I bought
her a 'cat box', but she doesn't seem to like it--none of the cats do--grrr
lol.  She likes to hide between the bed and blanket.  During the day--I
will bring her out, love on her, and settle her with the other two cats on
the napping pads in front of the patio door.  She will stay there and sleep-
-but if she wants to walk away and sees me--then she stays where she is at--
grrr I would like her to be comfortable and eat and use the litter at her
leisure and not be terrified of me.

Last night I was home for the first time in a long time for the night.  To
my surprise--out comes Girly.  She was quite inquisitive and playful.
Quite submissive with the other two cats--making herself small and rubbing
up against them.  The foster mom said that she needed a cat to shadow--but
neither of the two cats seem interested in her.  They will occasionally
sniff her--but that is it.  If Girly could--she would crawl right on top of
them.

2.  I don't think she is eating well--she feels quite thin to me.  I am not
sure if this is her natural build or if she is too shy and timid to eat at
the central location with the other cats.  I put some food other places--
but don't see that it was eaten.  Her foster mom says that she was a
healthy eater and a healthy cat--so not sure if this is a part of the
process.  She won't eat the tuna that I sit out either.

None of the cats like cat treats or cat nip--they look at me like I am
weird when I offer it to them and completely snub the offering.  If I leave
it on the floor and walk away--they still show no interests.  

Someone suggested that the food may be too hard for Girly--I only feed them
dry cat food--a good natural kind--and occasionally canned tuna.  I put
some food on a plate and poured a little water over it--but still wasn't
eaten.

3  The humane society said that they only accept indoor or indoor/outdoor
cats.  Come to find out Girly had never been an indoor cat and was fostered
for two months to be more social.  This was not disclosed to me prior to
adopting her--grrrrrr.  Any suggestions?  

4.  Because she has been so skittish--I haven't taken her to the vet for
her wellness check.  The foster mom said to not take her--that any
disruption would put us back to square one.  God love the cats, because of
necessity--been many disruptions.  Even if I take one cat to the vet all
the cats get skittish.

The humane society said all the shots were current--well come to find out
they only give them one kind of shot--and come to find out all the shots
are due on all the cats!!!!!!!!!!!!!  With the cost of adopting them and
getting all the supplies--this is getting to be quite costly.  I figured
that they all would be staggered and I could do them one at a time.  All of
the cats had ear mites and the vet costs and medications was around $120
for all of them.  

5.  I trimmed George and Spot's nails--not able to do Girly's yet.  I
bought a cardboard scratching pad and a carpet post--none of the cats are
interested in this and George kneads the carpet quite often--haven't been
able to get him to use the scratching posts--I show them to him often and
scratch them and even tried catnip on the cardboard one.  I rent an apt--so
this could be an issue.  And, it is somewhat difficult to love on Girly
because of her nails--you should see the scratch and puncture marks all
over my body--grrrrrr.

Now to Spot.

Spot is a very tall and long cat.  Quite the gentleman.  He is somewhat
indifferent in attitude.  Occasionally likes to be scratched under the chin
and rarely petted.  He sleeps quite a bit.  

Because he is so tall and long I had to buy an extra-large additional cat
litter box because he was going over the side and George was throwing
litter around like it was a party!  I also bought one of those little mats
to help catch the litter--these two things seemed to have helped.  The
litter says 'no tracking'--dear lord!

None of the cats would use the new litter box until I took off the swinging
door--grrrr Spot would come in front of me like he was getting ready to go--
so I relented, lol ;-P~~

Two pretty major issues with Spot!!!!!  First, the humane society said he
was 7--come to find out he is maybe five--that is why he wasn't adopted
out.  Spot was at the pound for over a year.  Well, when I took him to his
wellness check he has very bad teeth.  The initial dental and tooth
extractions will be around $250--and then we will know after that the long-
term needs/care.  I am haggling with the humane society over this cost(s).
It is unacceptable that they had him for over a year with teeth like that
and then adopted him out.  The vet said that there is some infection in his
mouth and that the condition of the teeth are causing him pain and
discomfort.  The humane society acts like it is no big deal and that it is
my problem!!!!!!!!!  I disagree strongly.  They have been very rude and dis-
respectful to me about this.  I am trying to work out a solution with them--
but it is three weeks later and still nothing from them.  Adding in the
costs and the non-treatment--to make a point I may pursue this legally.
Any suggestions?  The vet doesn't know if this is genetic or bacterial
related.  If bacterial--could go into his blood stream.  Also, if bacterial-
-can this be introduced to the other cats?

Also, they didn't tell me that when Spot goes through a change in
environmental or food--or stress that he will have spots of blood anally!!!!
!!  When I first noticed this I thought one of the cats had a claw that
they caught on something, but, then when I was scooping the litter out
there was a b.m. with a large blood clot!!!  I about fell over.  The vet
thought it may be a parasite and since I have a small open apartment and
couldn't quarantine the cats to get stool samples was going to have to pay
to have them all boarded and tested--so happen the humane society called to
see how Spot is doing--and I was pretty upset about the teeth and then this-
-I was certain it was Spot--they then informed me that this was common with
Spot--grrrrrrr.  Is this common in cats?  Does this indicate a further
lying issue with him that I should be aware of?  I haven't seen any blood
or droplets since the b.m.

I didn't know that they had a one-time dose for ear mites and was
prescribed the 14-day treatment.  Spot hated this and I would have to chase
him down and hold him down to do the treatment--now he is quite skittish of
me and freaks if I step close to him.  I can snuggle up with him on the bed-
-but that is the only place.  Will he get out of this skittishness with me
now that we are done with the treatment?

Spot is rarely interested in play or stimulus--quite happy to only eat,
sleep, and use the litter.  He has about three spots that he goes back and
forth to sleep.  I have tried several things to play with him--but nadda.
I am concerned that he doesn't get enough physical activity.  Spots weights
13-14 lbs--but is a big cat by nature.  Any suggestions?

This morning I was petting and loving on Spot and he was unusually warm,
open, and receptive.  Was a wonderful time.  He started licking my hands
and holding my hands in his mouth--but not biting--does this mean that we
have bonded?  What does it mean when they lick and hold your hand in their
teeth.  For the first time he purred--awwww! ;-P~~

Ok, there, I rambled!  It seems that everything to not do with cats I have
done, grrrrr.  Gotten quite the training in this month.  For the most part--
it seems like we are over the worst part--except now to finance all the
shots and Spots teeth.

Oh, Spot had a cold about a week ago and lasted for a week--about the time
I was going to take him to the vet--he got better.  Is this common?  What
are indicators of when it is absolutely necessary to take them to the vet?

Thank you everyone for your patience and any suggestions.

Sincerely,
Jen