Your cat, your loving and lovable family pet is not usually what you would call a bundle of energy. In fact she spends a good deal of the day taking a siesta. When she moves she does so at her own pace and in her own time.

But should your sedate kitty have a whiff of catnip . . . well, wop bop a lula blim bam boom! The party is on baby. Suddenly your cat is rollicking and rolling around, frisky, excited and running about as if the clock had been turned back and she is a kitten once again.

You know that cats should always have a supply of water, especially if you are feeding them dried food. There on your nice clean kitchen floor is a bowl of nice clean fresh water, in a nice clean bowl.

What does your cat do? Maybe gives the bowl a sniff and walks away from it, or just ignores the bowl completely, as if water were the last thing a self respecting cat would consider drinking.

Question How can I introduce a new cat to my household of one very, very spoiled cat, who has "ruled the roost" alone for the past four years?

Answer First, be sure that your new kitty is tested for Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). If she is negative for both of these diseases, then she should be pretty safe around your cat. Still, quarantine her for one week (two to three weeks is even better); then put her in her own room in your house to start the introduction process.