Mayhem

Mayhem is the newest cat at this little place here.  Technically, she belongs to DD1 and Honorary Son, and will be moving out next Spring when they get married.  But, for now, she's making herself at home and earning her official nickname of Mayhem.

Curious about the Yarn Thief's food dish

(this did NOT go over well).

DH's sandals apparently double as a kitten trap.

She's learned (the hard way) that the other side of the shower curtain is very wet, 

but she still can't stay away.

Almost jumped in the washing machine while I was loading blue jeans.

The Yarn Thief doesn't really care for her.  I didn't expect a new kitten to go over well with our nearly 3 year old cat who lacks feline social skills and has managed to run off all my barn cats.  When DD1 informed me she was moving in and bringing a kitten, I was afraid that the Yarn Thief would eat Mayhem alive the very first day.  To everyone's surprise, Mayhem has way more grit than we thought a six week old kitten would have, and she has not once tucked tail and run from the Yarn Thief's growls and hisses.  Even when she gets batted upside the head, Mayhem doesn't run.  Nope, she stands up on her hind legs and bats the Yarn Thief back.  Which, as you can imagine, doesn't endear her to the Yarn Thief any.

They had made a truce last week. Although the Yarn Thief tried to deny it when I snapped this picture.

"I don't like her, don't think that I do.  I'm not playing.  Nope."

 I even caught them napping on the same piece of furniture. But I wasn't fast enough with the camera.

This week, however, Mayhem has decided that her 'friend' should play and wrestle with her.  The Yarn Thief is not taking the pouncing and head-lock position as "hey friend, let's wrestle!"  The Yarn Thief is taking it as total aggression and disrespect by the small, immature cat and is once again sulking around looking pissed.

Maybe they'll eventually learn to co-exist.  For now, though, we have to be on alert for the Yarn Thief trying to coax Mayhem outside and then luring her into the soybean field.  A kitten could easily get lost out there.  Which seems to be the Yarn Thief's intention the two times we've caught her at it so far.