Roxy has been in the house for eight days.  She’s off her best behavior now, and we’re seeing what we think is the real Roxy, but it may be too early to tell.  I’m comparing her integration into the household to the Five Stages of Teambuilding.  Remember those?  Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Transforming.  Yep, we’re in the Storming phase, and there are two problems which have emerged.

First, and this problem has been evident since we put the crate away and allowed Roxy the run of the house.  For some reason we cannot yet fathom, once per day, usually overnight, she poops on the rug in front of one of the two doors from the kitchen to outside.  Usually in the evening, we can find her staring intently at the back door as if she wants to go out.  The staring behavior is lessening over time (but I am reminded of the “cat” with the blog that posted updates on its days in captivity).  The pooping is not.  She knows how to use a litter box.  She does use a litter box, but something is not right for her, and we’re not getting the message.  We’ve removed the lids from the litter boxes.  I scoop the boxes several times per day — whenever I notice it’s been used.  I need to fight my way into the upstairs garage and find the third litter box — it’s entirely possible she wants her own box, which I totally understand.  It’s also entirely possible she doesn’t care for the clumping litter I prefer to use.  I’ve picked up another type of litter to try when I get the other box.  If neither of those things work, I’m stumped on this problem.  Which brings us to problem two.

She stalks and attacks Ajax.  Ajax is decidedly jumpy.  Hubby says Ajax doesn’t talk to him anymore the way he used to, and Ajax is very unhappy.  Ajax is unhappy enough that he’s started to fight back.  Ajax has always been a talker, but he doesn’t talk unless he has something to say.  And lately, I’ve heard curse words from this cat that I didn’t know he knew, and I’m absolutely certain they’d make the saltiest sailor blush.  The conflict between Roxy and Ajax has been escalating.  We monitor it and will intervene if necessary, but we want them to work through the problem for themselves.  We make an effort to give all three cats individualized attention.  We also enforce that we’re the “big” cats in the house by holding Roxy in a submissive position.  Ajax is and has always been fine with being held on his back — hubby raises all his kittens in such a way that they have total trust in their humans.  Roxy is pretty good about it, too.  She’s not fond of it, but she tolerates it. We don’t do that often with Natasha, she hates it, but will, sometimes, tolerate it well.

Strangely, Roxy seems to respect Natasha.  They’ve had minor discussions, and Roxy will engage in minor staring contests but won’t press her luck with Natasha.  I think Natasha, in some way only cats know, has communicated her street cred to Roxy (remember, Natasha was found on the street with a kitten at about two years of age, so she knows a thing or two about that life).  Ajax, being a pampered house cat from birth, doesn’t seem to speak this language, so he and Natasha have never really achieved a relationship, and he’s having trouble with Roxy as well, but Roxy fights back.  Natasha expresses her displeasure with Ajax and retreats.

To be able to keep her, we have to figure out what’s going on with this soiling, and all three cats need to achieve some kind of detente.  On a brighter note, Roxy seems to be responding to her name more regularly.