Quick easy and warm shelter for this poor kitty - get a styrofoam cooler, cut an opening in it just big enough for a kitty to get in. Duct tape the edges of the opening (so kitty won't accidentally take off bits when entering/exiting) & duct tape the lid to the cooler. Put it in a place that is as sheltered as possible (we have one under our porch (the porch is elevated about 3 feet off the ground), backed up to the house. Put a bit straw in it (hardware stores have small bales - if you store the rest in a dry place, it can last for years). I put some bricks on the "roof"/top so that it won't tip over. Do not use blankets, etc. for lining - they can get moist and turn cold. You are not the person that dumped this poor cat, you can only do the best you can. Our kitty hates other cats (and dogs), and is aggressive towards them (as much as a 14 yr old cat w/4 teeth can be). 2 semi-feral young cats showed up in our yard a few years ago - we trapped them, fixed them and let them back in the yard - they have stayed and are fairly tame. I couldn't try to bring them in, wouldn't be fair to Puddin, and I didn't want to bring them to the pound (they would have been put down). I felt we could give them a decent life in our yard - we feed them dry and canned twice a day. Even this week, in the early morning when it has been very cold (well below normal), in the teens, they seem to be happy and content - they do stay in their "hut" for most of the day though - you can see by the way they carry themselves, they aren't miserable. (The girl kitty can't understand why I won't stay outside to visit with her though!). Its been about 3 years, and our kitty Puddin, still hates them both as much as the first time she saw them (they still try and make friends w/her through the porch door). (I also checked w/our neighbors to see if they minded us having the 2 kitties around, and they like them.)

camarogirl219, I am so very sorry for your loss. That's a lot of years for you to pack into a single goodbye, I know. My heart aches for you and Daisy, who must be traumatized and disoriented by the loss of her bud. I suspect that the addition of a new feline might be a difficult adjustment for her, but I do think it would be best for her in the long run. I would NOT, however, recommend adopting a male feline UNLESS you find an older adult who is known to be laid back and to live peacefully with other cats. Male kittens and young adults tend to be VERY rowdy, demanding, and rough and relentless in their play. I think that might be completely overwhelming for Daisy. But an older, mellow, well socialized boy might make a wonderful companion for her after the initial adjustment period. A young female kitten might also be a good choice of companion, as they don't tend to be nearly as overwhelming as males. And Daisy might find it easier to accept a young kitten, since she will not see the kitten as either a territorial or physical threat. An adult female probably isn't the best choice, though, as they tend not to bond with other adult females with whom they have not been raised. That's my experience after having integrated many felines of both genders and all ages into my household over the decades. I wish you a peaceful grief and happy future with Daisy et al. Laurie

You can encourage or discourage certain behaviors in cats, but they aren't trainable the way dogs are. Dogs are pack animals with an innate desire to please their pack members. Cats are solitary beasts with no particular desire to please anyone but themselves. "Letting a cat have his own way" isn't generally an option; it's a given. That said, there are certain tricks and tools one can use to modify even feline behavior. For instance, if your cat gets on tables and counters where you don't want him, line the edges with wide, double-sided tape (like carpet tape). Cats HATE getting sticky stuff on their feet, so they'll stay away from the tape. Double-sided tape works, too, to discourage cats from clawing furniture. Some cats just love to play with their water, and your boy sounds like one of them. He may outgrow it; he may not. Just put a waterproof mat (like a dish drainer) under his water bowl to prevent the splashed water from ruining the floor. Climbing your porch screen? Don't let him out on the porch unless you're there to supervise. Waking you up in the middle of the night to be fed? Stop feeding him first thing in the morning, or leave food out for him all night. It sounds like Jasper and Jayden are already friends, so the only real issue here is whether or not you can afford two cats. Please, please, please remember that there is a LOT more involved in being financially responsible for an animal than just providing food, housing, and occasional vaccinations. Cats CAN and DO sometimes become ill and/or injured and require very costly veterinary care. You need to be willing to put money into a vet emergency fund for such situations - saving twice as much money for two cats. Be aware that an emergency, after-hours trip to the vet can easily cost several hundred dollars - much more if the emergency requires more than routine diagnostics, surgical intervention, or overnight care. I think Jasper would probably love having a sister, but only if you can afford to provide for two cats under all circumstances. When you move, put Jasper into a large crate (borrow a large dog crate, if possible) with a litterbox, food, and water, and leave him in it until you have finished moving everything from your old apartment into your new one. He will likely be rather freaked out by the move, and you want him in a safe, secure place from which he can not accidentally escape during all the moving confusion. Once you and your possessions are safely in the new apartment and things are quiet, let Jasper out of the crate and allow him to explore his new digs. Put the litterbox in an obvious place so that he'll be able to find it easily. You can gradually move it to a more discreet location once he has become acquainted with your new home and is feeling comfortable and relaxed moving around it. It sounds like a very exciting time in your life, and I'm glad you have Jasper, and perhaps Jayden with whom to share it. Laurie

Thanks for all your good wishes and suggestions. I have had lots of dogs and cats and given them all pills with not too much trouble. I think one of the problems is that she is new to me and doesn't completely trust me yet. Secondly, she's a little wild as well. I'm hoping that eventually she'll trust me more. I called the vet to see if we can give her a shot instead so I think I'll take her in tomorrow for that. He said the shot isn't as effective but may still do the trick. Thanks again everyone!