About 8 months ago I moved in with my BF and brought my cat, Stella, 5 year old spayed female that previously lived with other cats. He had a cat already, Q, 11 year old spayed female that also lived with other cats. We did a slow 2 month introduction and it seemed to go well, but then territorial aggression started.
We have been having a gate separate their respected areas during the day, and Stella gets put in the laundry room at night. However, we are now talking about adding a puppy to the mix (both previously lived with dogs as well), so that gate would have to come down.
They can be in the same room together and be fine. If Stella gets too close, Q hisses and Stella backs up. They'll play, eat treats, and lounge 4-5 feet from each other with no issues. However, Q controls the back bedrooms, which are down a long hallway. Stella has never been allowed back there, but will sit at the end of the hallway and stalk Q. She will then chase her and they will growl and swat at each other until one runs away. They've never bitten each other, mostly just sat close and swatted/growled/hissed.
I'm trying to figure out if there is a way to break Q of thinking that area is completely hers, or break Stella of chasing. I'm wondering if adding the dog may break that up at all? They cats have completely separated food/litter boxes on different floors. Neither of them are "up high" cats, and prefer to be under furniture when they get nervous.
Q and Stella have different schedules. Q is basically nocturnal and spends the day sleeping in the closet, while Stella prefers to be out during the day. Stella is on medication so we are still planning on locking her in the laundry room at night, so that she can be fed.
We just need to be able to take that gate down, and I know Stella will immediately check out Q's areas, which then causes the scuffles. They never last very long, not even long enough for me to get back there and break anything up.
What about supervised times where I bring Stella into the bedroom? Lock them both in there so Stella can check it out, and it won't seem as tempting?
We have been having a gate separate their respected areas during the day, and Stella gets put in the laundry room at night. However, we are now talking about adding a puppy to the mix (both previously lived with dogs as well), so that gate would have to come down.
They can be in the same room together and be fine. If Stella gets too close, Q hisses and Stella backs up. They'll play, eat treats, and lounge 4-5 feet from each other with no issues. However, Q controls the back bedrooms, which are down a long hallway. Stella has never been allowed back there, but will sit at the end of the hallway and stalk Q. She will then chase her and they will growl and swat at each other until one runs away. They've never bitten each other, mostly just sat close and swatted/growled/hissed.
I'm trying to figure out if there is a way to break Q of thinking that area is completely hers, or break Stella of chasing. I'm wondering if adding the dog may break that up at all? They cats have completely separated food/litter boxes on different floors. Neither of them are "up high" cats, and prefer to be under furniture when they get nervous.
Q and Stella have different schedules. Q is basically nocturnal and spends the day sleeping in the closet, while Stella prefers to be out during the day. Stella is on medication so we are still planning on locking her in the laundry room at night, so that she can be fed.
We just need to be able to take that gate down, and I know Stella will immediately check out Q's areas, which then causes the scuffles. They never last very long, not even long enough for me to get back there and break anything up.
What about supervised times where I bring Stella into the bedroom? Lock them both in there so Stella can check it out, and it won't seem as tempting?