It may take longer than 2 weeks for Merlin to get adjusted to his new home.

When I moved in with Mom and we were bringing Maddie and Dean into her cat's territory we did it rather gradually.

First Maddie and Dean were based in the bedroom and Vien (her cat) got the run of the house as normal. He was an indoor/outdoor cat, so when he was outside we'd let Dean and Maddie out. And when before he came inside they'd go back in my bedroom. That way they could smell all the different cat smells without seeing each other.

Then we let either Maddie or Dean out for brier periods of time with Vien to see how they went together. Then we let them loose to be together.

But when I brought Penny into the household with Dean I shortened the introduction time. But Penny had been in the apartment before and she and Dean hadn't hissed at each other.

We kept Gracie inside four a good three weeks when my dad moved, while she yowled and scratched at the door. And that was just a new locale, not different people or new animals.

Seska, good luck with the new cat. I hope that the former owner's son can understand that these things can take time.

We have done so much unpacking this weekend! I'm exhausted. We may actually be in good enough shape by Father's Day that we won't be mortified to have people over the house. Next weekend we won't be doing any unpacking because we'll be at our friends' wedding at the Cape, so we really had to push ourselves this weekend.

Seska - you may, if you can capture Merlin, want to sequester him in a small room for a few days. The fact that he's hiding behind the couch would indicate to me that he needs a small cozy space - maybe even the bathroom with a blanket-lined cardboard box to hide/sleep in. If you can fit that and a litter box in the bathroom, of course. Too much space can be scary for cats, if it's unfamiliar.

Do y'all have Feliway or a similar product over there? It's happy cat pheromone spray. I've used it and I know others have, too.

As for this dude? No offense, but if I were you I'd say firmly and authoritatively that it takes at least a few weeks for a cat to recalibrate to a sense of home, assure him you've got it under control, and then proceed as you feel best once he leaves. Definitely get the cat chipped and maybe a breakaway collar, too.

All IMHO.

Sorry I grossed everyone out!! In retrospect, should have whitefonted.

Tired. Dropped friends at airport. Successful FQ expedition. C tried to convince me that the bartender at Felipe's might be a good match for me. Think laconic John Lennon, with a labret piercing - I wasn't feeling it.

I am carrying an umbrella with me at all times from now on. And I'm going to start acquiring parasols. Oh! Was it here we were talking straw cloches? We stopped in Payless because C needed better walking shoes, but they only had it in black. It fit well, though, so maybe I'll order it online.

Eh, I'll say no need for white-font, at least on my part.

My reaction was more OMG OUCH SYMPATHY-GROSS than "Need brain bleach."

ETA: Also, Seska, when I was integrating Cosmo, I made sure to pet each cat several times a day, making sure I rubbed hands over the marking glands in the cheeks and scratching lightly around the buttocks area, and then going straight to the other cat and letting them sniff, then rubbing the other cat's scent on that cat, and vice versa.

I don't know if that's an actual valid technique, but it seemed logical to me -- mix up their scents, get that association going in their heads. I also did it several times with catnip on my hands, so the association would be mixed with pleasure.

Well, a lot of people have eye-injury squick. I kind of do, now, but I'm inured to my own.

Sorry I grossed everyone out!! In retrospect, should have whitefonted.

I would have read the whitefont anyway.

oh, family member. Not on. Race-related jokes passed off as evidence of your awareness of the tribulations of others? Not on. SMASH. SEETHE.

Sox, may I recommend Yo, Is This Racist?

Email done and sent. BOOM.