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- Oct 16, 2018
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I know it sounds counterintuitive to add a third cat to a mix of two cats who already don't get along... But I somehow think it just might work.
Coffee: original resident, 2.5 y/o, gamma-type personality (shy, enjoys routine, does not handle change all that well). She would have been much happier as an only child forever (hindsight is 20/20) but we tried to get her a friend to keep her company during our long work days.
Maui: new-ish (had her for 9 months now), 4 y/o, mostly beta-type personality but is taking on alpha traits when it comes to Coffee. She was advertised at the shelter as timid, not overly friendly with people, and unconfident: these things could not be further from the truth. She loves people and gets very lonely and acts out (pees on the floor) when left by herself.
Both cats are female, spayed, and indoor-only.
We did the usual, slow introductions over the course of a few months and now we are somewhat at a stalemate. Maui is constantly bugging Coffee for attention, and Coffee wants none of it. They never FIGHT fight, but it's just a lot of grumbling/hissing coming from Coffee whenever Maui approaches, and then Maui thinks it's a game and keeps annoying her. I truly don't think Maui is being malicious, but that she wants to play (but she is also being a huge brat in the process). Coffee thinks it's the end of the world whenever Maui makes any sort of movement towards her, and Maui thinks Coffee is her toy when she suddenly darts away from her and hides which then turns into a lot of theatrical yowling from Coffee that would make you think she was dying when in reality Maui has never even touched her.
Now, when they both have access to each other Coffee generally just stays on top of the dresser while Maui roams. It makes me sad because I know that if Maui weren't around she would be exploring, playing, etc. but she is just too afraid to leave her perch. At night they both sleep in our bedroom (Coffee on top of the dresser, and Maui either on the bed or on the chair), and when we are at work they are separated. Maui is either in one room with Coffee roaming the house, or Coffee is in our large bedroom with Maui out in the house. Coffee has begun taking it upon herself to pee on our bed about once a week (regardless of whether it's her turn in the house or not - because she always has access to our bedroom).
I've just started them both on Clomicalm yesterday to see if that helps in the next month or so but I am seriously considering... getting a third cat. I have been joking about this for months as a solution but I am beginning to think it just might work. If I got another beta-type kitten, to be Maui's new best friend, perhaps this could solve my problems. Maui and the kitten could keep each other company, solving Maui's intermittent peeing-on-the-floor issues and they could sleep in the spare room together. Maui would have a new friend to play with, leaving Coffee alone to rebuild her confidence and roam the house once again. Coffee could sleep in our room still, back on the bed with me which she always does if Maui isn't around and stop peeing on it. I realize this is an "in a perfect world" scenario, but... thoughts?!
Coffee: original resident, 2.5 y/o, gamma-type personality (shy, enjoys routine, does not handle change all that well). She would have been much happier as an only child forever (hindsight is 20/20) but we tried to get her a friend to keep her company during our long work days.
Maui: new-ish (had her for 9 months now), 4 y/o, mostly beta-type personality but is taking on alpha traits when it comes to Coffee. She was advertised at the shelter as timid, not overly friendly with people, and unconfident: these things could not be further from the truth. She loves people and gets very lonely and acts out (pees on the floor) when left by herself.
Both cats are female, spayed, and indoor-only.
We did the usual, slow introductions over the course of a few months and now we are somewhat at a stalemate. Maui is constantly bugging Coffee for attention, and Coffee wants none of it. They never FIGHT fight, but it's just a lot of grumbling/hissing coming from Coffee whenever Maui approaches, and then Maui thinks it's a game and keeps annoying her. I truly don't think Maui is being malicious, but that she wants to play (but she is also being a huge brat in the process). Coffee thinks it's the end of the world whenever Maui makes any sort of movement towards her, and Maui thinks Coffee is her toy when she suddenly darts away from her and hides which then turns into a lot of theatrical yowling from Coffee that would make you think she was dying when in reality Maui has never even touched her.
Now, when they both have access to each other Coffee generally just stays on top of the dresser while Maui roams. It makes me sad because I know that if Maui weren't around she would be exploring, playing, etc. but she is just too afraid to leave her perch. At night they both sleep in our bedroom (Coffee on top of the dresser, and Maui either on the bed or on the chair), and when we are at work they are separated. Maui is either in one room with Coffee roaming the house, or Coffee is in our large bedroom with Maui out in the house. Coffee has begun taking it upon herself to pee on our bed about once a week (regardless of whether it's her turn in the house or not - because she always has access to our bedroom).
I've just started them both on Clomicalm yesterday to see if that helps in the next month or so but I am seriously considering... getting a third cat. I have been joking about this for months as a solution but I am beginning to think it just might work. If I got another beta-type kitten, to be Maui's new best friend, perhaps this could solve my problems. Maui and the kitten could keep each other company, solving Maui's intermittent peeing-on-the-floor issues and they could sleep in the spare room together. Maui would have a new friend to play with, leaving Coffee alone to rebuild her confidence and roam the house once again. Coffee could sleep in our room still, back on the bed with me which she always does if Maui isn't around and stop peeing on it. I realize this is an "in a perfect world" scenario, but... thoughts?!