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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / May 2005

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NewCat can't stay here

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kitty cat - 08 May 2005 15:56 GMT
CatOne = 2-yr-old spayed female, lives indoors, claws intact, sweet girl
NewCat = 1-yr-old neutered male, claws intact, affectionate but rowdy

NewCat joined our household three weeks ago today. We introduced the two
slowly (7 - 10 days before opening a door between them), as all the books
say to. Every time we allow them to be without a door between, CatOne
hisses, runs, and hides. NewCat chases her, we think in play, but when he
catches up to her there's lots of hissing, snarling, growling. That always
happens under a bed or sofa so we can't tell who's doing it but we think
CatOne. Then CatOne takes off again. We separate them when it starts to
sound really ugly. Oddly, within 15 minutes or so of separating them,
CatOne is back to happily being herself. No sulking.

We've tried:
Treats when they are calm with each other (happened only once, erupted into
a yowling chase),
Separate carriers next to each other,
NewCat in a carrier but CatOne not,
Feliway spray,
Bach's flower Rescue Remedy.

I spoke to an animal behaviorist, recommended by our vet. She said that it
sounds like CatOne is a quiet demure girl (she is) and NewCat's
rambunctious, teen-age boy energy is too much for her. She was surprised
that CatOne has not urinated inappropriately to show her displeasure. When
I told her we were considering finding a new home for NewCat, she said that
would be one appropriate course of action.

We are heartbroken, but feel it's unfair to CatOne to continue to force
this NewCat on her, and we don't want CatOne to be miserable. When we
adopted NewCat 3 weeks ago, they thought he was younger than he is (he's
small) and he was getting over a respiratory infection, so he was not as
rambunctious as he is now.

Suggestions for anything we haven't tried?

K.C.
blueberries79 - 08 May 2005 19:15 GMT
> CatOne = 2-yr-old spayed female, lives indoors, claws intact, sweet girl
> NewCat = 1-yr-old neutered male, claws intact, affectionate but rowdy
[quoted text clipped - 33 lines]
>
> K.C.

We had the same problem when we brought Gabe home to be friends with Oreo.
For us, the solution was time.  When the play fighting turned into real
fighting, we broke them up and they would just ignore each other for half
the day and stay away from each other.  After about 3 months they started to
be friends and now they will cuddle up and Oreo will lick Gabe sometimes.
Their play fighting still becomes too rough from time to time, but for the
most part they are good friends.  We were a bit concerned because when Oreo
was turned in at the shelter, the reason was that she did not get along with
other cats... however, she was hardly a year old at the time, so we felt she
would grow out of it if we introduced a new friend.  Luckily for us, it did.
Good luck!
Betsy - 08 May 2005 20:26 GMT
Three weeks is not long enough.  It will take more time, but it will most
likely work out fine.

> CatOne = 2-yr-old spayed female, lives indoors, claws intact, sweet girl
> NewCat = 1-yr-old neutered male, claws intact, affectionate but rowdy
[quoted text clipped - 35 lines]
>
> K.C.
Gail - 08 May 2005 23:00 GMT
Yes. Three weeks is not long enough for them to adjust to each other.
Gail
> Three weeks is not long enough.  It will take more time, but it will most
> likely work out fine.
[quoted text clipped - 41 lines]
>>
>> K.C.
Diane L. Schirf - 08 May 2005 23:09 GMT
> Yes. Three weeks is not long enough for them to adjust to each other.
> Gail

It could take months, I would guess. Maybe even longer.

Signature

http://www.slywy.com/

blkcatgal - 08 May 2005 23:35 GMT
I've heard that it could take as long as 8 mos. to a year before cats will
get use to one another.  More than likely, they will learn to get along or
at least tolerate one another.

Sue

> Yes. Three weeks is not long enough for them to adjust to each other.
> Gail
[quoted text clipped - 45 lines]
>>>
>>> K.C.
Brian Link - 09 May 2005 06:24 GMT
>CatOne = 2-yr-old spayed female, lives indoors, claws intact, sweet girl
>NewCat = 1-yr-old neutered male, claws intact, affectionate but rowdy
[quoted text clipped - 33 lines]
>
>K.C.

Not incredibly helpful, but my experience has been that girl-cats are
somewhat more resistant to new tenants than boy-cats.

Nonetheless, any introduction can be managed with knowledge. The
question is how willing are you to do the hard work to make it happen?

Megan's got 25 happy, healthy cats, all shapes, sizes, sexes, ages and
provenances. She makes it all work. Hopefully she'll weigh in on this
thread.

Don't worry - there's a way to bring this nice new kitty into your
house, though it may take a bit of patience and some work.

BLink
IBen Getiner - 09 May 2005 09:00 GMT
> CatOne = 2-yr-old spayed female, lives indoors, claws intact, sweet girl
> NewCat = 1-yr-old neutered male, claws intact, affectionate but rowdy
[quoted text clipped - 33 lines]
>
> K.C.

It would be highly unfair to newcat if you were to deprive him of the
chance at indoor happiness. Cat-one has had her privileged life looked
after tooth and nail every day oh her spoiled little life. Can newcat
help it if he resents her for it? Newcat should be given every chance,
no matter how badly others may protest. It is HE who needs care now. It
is HE who was and still is underprivileged... You should be thinking
about HIM. Bring HIM up, and if he won't rise, then bring cat-one down
to his level. High time these privileged few should taste the lash as
well.
No ... really... Just kidding! Boot the newcomer out the door. No
mercy. He'z the troublemaker here. This much is plain to see. Hiz
presence has brought calamity to your otherwise peaceful household..
Get RID of him.. Get rid of him before he ruins everything.

IBen Getiner
Loose Cannon - 10 May 2005 15:56 GMT
> Boot the newcomer out the door. No
> mercy. He'z the troublemaker here. This much is plain to see. Hiz
> presence has brought calamity to your otherwise peaceful household..
> Get RID of him.. Get rid of him before he ruins everything.

Excellent call, IBen. After all, you *do* have quite a bit of experience in
"calamity" and "troublemaking", no?

LC~ "Get RID of him.. Get rid of him before he ruins everything" serves as
good advice *for* dealing with the troll "IBen".

"At any rate, a quick search using the person's web address should tell
you much about them. It's fun. I do it to almost everyone I debate
with. And it proves that there are cowardly liars out there.... some
right in here in this very room... who will do almost anything to
avoid a fight." ~ Big talking bigot and coward "IBen".
Subject: Re: AOL Troll (Please Read)
Message-ID: <bc123a34.0306240329.2f775098@posting.google.com>
 
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