Here I thought all was going well with Marvin and Jake, but now there is definite tension.
Marvin has been inside in his safe room since late May. For the first few weeks we allowed no contact at all. Jake couldn't even get to the door. We moved to scent swapping and all went well. Next we moved to sight swapping with a screen door and gate and then moved to nose to nose sniffing through the screen door. We did feedings at the screen door too. There was no growling, hissing , posturing...nothing, but sniffing and each laying on one side of the screen. In mid July we started allowing Marvin to come out of his room for short periods with Jake put away. We then allowed Marvin to come out while putting Jake on a harness. They would sniff and then ignore each other. We offered yummy treats or chicken. We did this for almost a week and then decided to take Jake off the harness. Once again no issues. Marvin would be out of his room for 3-4 hours, then increasing to 6-8, but always going in his room at night. Last Saturday we allowed Marvin to be out of his room at night. We put Jake away. Marvin mostly stayed outside of my bedroom door all night. The next day, Marvin stayed out, but the tension started. We heard hissing, growling, yowling and saw posturing. It happens when they pass by each other. Jake also may be lounging in a sunny spot on the floor and Marvin sneaks up on him. Not in an aggressive way, just passing by or coming over for a sniff. This scares Jake, which scares Marvin which starts posturing and growling. Yesterday we kept a close eye on the boys and even put Jake away for awhile. Yet once or twice when I thought Marvin was sleeping, out of no where the hissing, yowling, fisting started. We put Marvin away and he stayed in his room the rest of the evening and all night. Now today when Marvin came out, we decided to not let them out of sight. Of course this gets difficult. All at once, there was this very strange sound and the two were posturing and growling again. We brought out some chicken and had some positive interaction time and then played with each of the boys at the same time. They did just fine. As soon as play time was over, Jake got up to leave and walked very cautiously by Marvin into another room. All at once, Marvin took off after him. Nothing happened, but there is this constant need to know where the other cat is and then go after him. There has not been an all out fight, but way too much growling, yowling and posturing. From what I have read this can happen with a new cat in the house and can last for awhile. I am unsure how much to control the situation. Do I try to stop it or let it happen and break it up? Should Marvin go back to his room more and not be allowed so much freedom? I had so hopped this would go smoothly.
Marvin was the one with the awful territorial issues when he lived outside. He could not get along with Shadow. Yet, Shadow is a baby, nonfighter and basic wimp! Jake my inside boy, is not a wimp at all. He stands up for himself and knows this has been his house and his house alone (except for the dog!) for 5 years. Maybe this is all to be expected. I just do not want Marvin to be doing what he did outside. Any tips, tricks, advice?
Thanks for any help.
Marvin has been inside in his safe room since late May. For the first few weeks we allowed no contact at all. Jake couldn't even get to the door. We moved to scent swapping and all went well. Next we moved to sight swapping with a screen door and gate and then moved to nose to nose sniffing through the screen door. We did feedings at the screen door too. There was no growling, hissing , posturing...nothing, but sniffing and each laying on one side of the screen. In mid July we started allowing Marvin to come out of his room for short periods with Jake put away. We then allowed Marvin to come out while putting Jake on a harness. They would sniff and then ignore each other. We offered yummy treats or chicken. We did this for almost a week and then decided to take Jake off the harness. Once again no issues. Marvin would be out of his room for 3-4 hours, then increasing to 6-8, but always going in his room at night. Last Saturday we allowed Marvin to be out of his room at night. We put Jake away. Marvin mostly stayed outside of my bedroom door all night. The next day, Marvin stayed out, but the tension started. We heard hissing, growling, yowling and saw posturing. It happens when they pass by each other. Jake also may be lounging in a sunny spot on the floor and Marvin sneaks up on him. Not in an aggressive way, just passing by or coming over for a sniff. This scares Jake, which scares Marvin which starts posturing and growling. Yesterday we kept a close eye on the boys and even put Jake away for awhile. Yet once or twice when I thought Marvin was sleeping, out of no where the hissing, yowling, fisting started. We put Marvin away and he stayed in his room the rest of the evening and all night. Now today when Marvin came out, we decided to not let them out of sight. Of course this gets difficult. All at once, there was this very strange sound and the two were posturing and growling again. We brought out some chicken and had some positive interaction time and then played with each of the boys at the same time. They did just fine. As soon as play time was over, Jake got up to leave and walked very cautiously by Marvin into another room. All at once, Marvin took off after him. Nothing happened, but there is this constant need to know where the other cat is and then go after him. There has not been an all out fight, but way too much growling, yowling and posturing. From what I have read this can happen with a new cat in the house and can last for awhile. I am unsure how much to control the situation. Do I try to stop it or let it happen and break it up? Should Marvin go back to his room more and not be allowed so much freedom? I had so hopped this would go smoothly.
Marvin was the one with the awful territorial issues when he lived outside. He could not get along with Shadow. Yet, Shadow is a baby, nonfighter and basic wimp! Jake my inside boy, is not a wimp at all. He stands up for himself and knows this has been his house and his house alone (except for the dog!) for 5 years. Maybe this is all to be expected. I just do not want Marvin to be doing what he did outside. Any tips, tricks, advice?
Thanks for any help.