Introducing Cats - Logistics Questions.

[pearl99]

Hooper and Twyla are continuing to make good forward progress. They are now up to about 5 or 6 hours out together per day, with separate nap times, play times ranging from respectful to rambunctious, and one or two little displays of affection! I am letting them be together without me in the same room (as long as I am not hearing any screaming or lots of hisses and growls). Today Twyla let Hooper wash her head for a short bit and then just got up and walked away (as opposed to hissing). She also pushed him away from his wet food and he let her finish it without incident. At one point he was nibbling dry food and she sat right next to him and licked his head, just once! And when I went outside to fill the bird feeder I looked over and there were two cat faces looking out of the two patio doors.

I do separate them if he is in play mode and she wants to sleep in her bed. At one point I found her sleeping in the cat scratcher in Hooper's room!

My goal is for Twyla to feel a bit more comfortable hanging out in the living room when Hooper is out there. She will come out but usually doesn't stay. But I think we will get there!

Yay for you!!!!!

 

[calicosrspecial]

Wow, what an update!! I didn't get an alert and was going to ask if everything is going well. Guess I found out and I expected things to be going well but even this exceeded my expectations. .

"They are now up to about 5 or 6 hours out together per day, with separate nap times, play times ranging from respectful to rambunctious, and one or two little displays of affection! I am letting them be together without me in the same room (as long as I am not hearing any screaming or lots of hisses and growls)." - Terrific. Perfect in letting them be together as long as things are going well. GREAT job with them!!

"Twyla let Hooper wash her head for a short bit and then just got up and walked away (as opposed to hissing). She also pushed him away from his wet food and he let her finish it without incident. At one point he was nibbling dry food and she sat right next to him and licked his head, just once! And when I went outside to fill the bird feeder I looked over and there were two cat faces looking out of the two patio doors." - How good is this?!?!?!?!

"I do separate them if he is in play mode and she wants to sleep in her bed." - That is good, just to give some space.

" At one point I found her sleeping in the cat scratcher in Hooper's room!" - Fantastic!!!

"My goal is for Twyla to feel a bit more comfortable hanging out in the living room when Hooper is out there. She will come out but usually doesn't stay. But I think we will get there!" - Great goal. Just keep building her confidence in there and making those positive associations and encounters in there. Since they get along so well I am guessing it is not him as the cause of her maybe staying away more but the previous advice should help if it is.

I love the tone of you post as well. Really great to see you in a more confident place. That will help them as well.

I am SO PROUD of you, Twyla and Hooper!!! Textbook case of effort and love to get a successful intro!! WELL DONE!!!

 

[Twylasmom]

Wow, what an update!! I didn't get an alert and was going to ask if everything is going well. Guess I found out and I expected things to be going well but even this exceeded my expectations. .

"They are now up to about 5 or 6 hours out together per day, with separate nap times, play times ranging from respectful to rambunctious, and one or two little displays of affection! I am letting them be together without me in the same room (as long as I am not hearing any screaming or lots of hisses and growls)." - Terrific. Perfect in letting them be together as long as things are going well. GREAT job with them!!

"Twyla let Hooper wash her head for a short bit and then just got up and walked away (as opposed to hissing). She also pushed him away from his wet food and he let her finish it without incident. At one point he was nibbling dry food and she sat right next to him and licked his head, just once! And when I went outside to fill the bird feeder I looked over and there were two cat faces looking out of the two patio doors." - How good is this?!?!?!?!

"I do separate them if he is in play mode and she wants to sleep in her bed." - That is good, just to give some space.

" At one point I found her sleeping in the cat scratcher in Hooper's room!" - Fantastic!!!

"My goal is for Twyla to feel a bit more comfortable hanging out in the living room when Hooper is out there. She will come out but usually doesn't stay. But I think we will get there!" - Great goal. Just keep building her confidence in there and making those positive associations and encounters in there. Since they get along so well I am guessing it is not him as the cause of her maybe staying away more but the previous advice should help if it is.

I love the tone of you post as well. Really great to see you in a more confident place. That will help them as well.

I am SO PROUD of you, Twyla and Hooper!!! Textbook case of effort and love to get a successful intro!! WELL DONE!!!

Well, of course they haven't been quite so well behaved today! Work week is a little harder because I am gone longer and those energy levels ramp up but we are still managing about 3 or 4 hours together on those days. They always start out really well behaved, though. Twyla actively involves herself in the play, but wants to quit when he goes crazy. Once I shut her in her room she usually gets in her bed and sleeps and after a few minutes Hooper passes out on the couch with me. And she is ready to get her lap time as soon as I put him to bed. I feel like a time share. I have left them alone in the house together for twenty minutes or so, so taking baby steps in that direction. So overall we are taking more steps forward then back.

 

[Furballsmom]

I feel like a time share

This is hilarious!

 

[calicosrspecial]

Well, of course they haven't been quite so well behaved today! Work week is a little harder because I am gone longer and those energy levels ramp up but we are still managing about 3 or 4 hours together on those days. They always start out really well behaved, though. Twyla actively involves herself in the play, but wants to quit when he goes crazy. Once I shut her in her room she usually gets in her bed and sleeps and after a few minutes Hooper passes out on the couch with me. And she is ready to get her lap time as soon as I put him to bed. I feel like a time share. I have left them alone in the house together for twenty minutes or so, so taking baby steps in that direction. So overall we are taking more steps forward then back.

There are always ups and downs. But fundamentally they are fine. Though I know it is frustrating it isn't always the best.

Yes, change can cause some pent up "stuff". So the differing energy levels can be an issue. But overall you are handling it very well and have done a great job. Don't worry, they are going to be fine. Just keep doing what you are doing. You have a great handle on it.

 

[Twylasmom]

I was home today because my exterior water line was being repaired and the cats managed 8 consecutive hours together without needing a timeout. There were still a couple of rolling around screaming fights, but also lots of just heavy duty play, peaceful walking around each other, and civil greetings and each slept for several hours (Twyla upstairs and Hooper on my lap). I was in and out of the house a lot dealing with the plumber and that kept Hooper distracted for quite some time. Twyla isn't comfortable sleeping downstairs when Hooper is out and either sleeps on the guest bed upstairs or on the scratcher in his room. And she doesn't stay long in the living room because he bugs her, but will come out to use the scratching post, drink from the fountain and look out the patio doors. I'm hoping that will change over time, but for now she gets a couple of hours to roam in the evening and then overnight.

Here's what mealtimes look like!

 

[Furballsmom]

WOW!!

 

[pearl99]

Wonderful!!!!

 

[calicosrspecial]

FANTASTIC!!! 8 hours!!!

"were still a couple of rolling around screaming fights" - What happens after is so important. Sounds like it was just them ebing them. No negative reactions after.

"also lots of just heavy duty play, peaceful walking around each other, and civil greetings and each slept for several hours (Twyla upstairs and Hooper on my lap)." - This is ABSOLUTELY fantastic.

"I was in and out of the house a lot dealing with the plumber and that kept Hooper distracted for quite some time." - I think this is really important and tells us a lot. Any change is stressful for cats but having people (especially workers) coming in and out is really stressful. The fact they handled it well tells me that they are very confident (which is extremely important) and their relationship is very strong to handle the uptick in change/stress. I can't say how great it is they did so well with this.

"Twyla isn't comfortable sleeping downstairs when Hooper is out and either sleeps on the guest bed upstairs or on the scratcher in his room. And she doesn't stay long in the living room because he bugs her, but will come out to use the scratching post, drink from the fountain and look out the patio doors." - But it sounds like she is enjoying being upstairs. And she does feel like she can come downstairs to drink, look out, etc.

"I'm hoping that will change over time, but for now she gets a couple of hours to roam in the evening and then overnight." - It will. I think she will absolutely go wherever she desires.

The pictures at mealtime are PERFECT!!! Total trust. Seriously,, how cute are they?!?!?!?! My goodness they are ADORABLE!!!!

I think you have done a prefect job!! Really fantastic. And Twyla and Hooper deserve praise as well.

 

[Twylasmom]

I went upstairs because I heard some hissing. I walked into the guest bedroom to find the two of them sitting face to face on the bed, swatting at each other. Once they saw me they stopped, with Twyla's paw on Hooper's chest as if to say "it's his fault, mom!"

She was quite the instigator this morning as well. I tell her she shouldn't start something that she will get irritated with later but she doesn't listen!

I left them alone together for 45 minutes while I got groceries. I'm not sure they even interacted at all. And right now Twyla is sleeping in my room with the door open and Hooper is on my lap in the living room. So two more baby steps today!

 

[calicosrspecial]

That is HILARIOUS!!!!

Twyla, too funny. She knows how to do it. She knows that boys are always at fault!!

I had a feeling she might be instigating at times. NO, she wont listen, she has to much fun with what happens.

That is fantastic. I am sure they knew you left but they were just into whatever they were doing (sleeping, resting). I love that he chooses your lap over bothering Twyla.

I think those are pretty big baby steps!! GREAT work!!

 

[Twylasmom]

So much progress this weekend. Ten hours of shared time yesterday and headed that way today. Played about 45 minutes this morning until Twyla went up to sleep, then for about two hours this afternoon, at which point Twyla escaped upstairs. Twyla is definitely trying to be downstairs more and will put up with Hooper to a point, but mostly escapes upstairs to sleep. If food is being prepared, she magically appears.

I am close, but not quite ready, to let them have free run when I'm at work. I feel like I need to do a few shorter trial runs before going to eight or more hours alone. But I am amazed that I am even at the point of thinking about it!

I also still put him in his room at night. I have enough trouble getting uninterrupted sleep with just Twyla, who wakes me up once or twice every night. But he is good and doesn't fuss at the door until it is time to be let out in the morning. So that is something that may have to wait quite a while.

 

[calicosrspecial]

GREAT job!!! I think you mentioned Twyla did spend a lot of time upstairs before Hooper so I am not surprised. As long as she is happy that is the main thing.

I think that is fine to do some trial runs. Watch they body language and how they react after those trials. That will tell us how it was.

"But I am amazed that I am even at the point of thinking about it!" - I am not surprised at all!!! You have done an AMAZING job with them!!

"I also still put him in his room at night. I have enough trouble getting uninterrupted sleep with just Twyla, who wakes me up once or twice every night. But he is good and doesn't fuss at the door until it is time to be let out in the morning. So that is something that may have to wait quite a while." - That is fine. As long as he is doing well in his bedroom that is totally fine. He'll let you know when he needs more territory during the night.

What is uninterrupted sleep??? I haven't had that for a looooooooonnnnnnngggggg time. Cats do like to get active during the night and get up early.........

Really fantastic job with them!!! I can't say enough about how proud I am with you and all your efforts!!

 

[Twylasmom]

Twyla and Hooper are birdwatching buddies! I wish I had gotten a picture. I went upstairs because there was a loud wrestling match going on. Once it stopped Hooper was immediately distracted by a bird in the crepe myrtle right outside the office window. He ran over and jumped on the step stool I keep there so he could look out. Twyla then walked over, gave his backside a thorough sniff and then got on the stool right next to him! That stool is only about 14 inches wide so they barely fit on it together. They spent a good two minutes sitting there, tails twitching in unison, watching birds together! Sometimes one would put their paws on the sill and stand up to get a better look. I could not believe my eyes! Eventually Twyla got bored and left.

They were right back to loud wrestling about five minutes later, of course.

 

[Furballsmom]

This is such a marvelous story of patience and perseverance

 

[pearl99]

This is such a marvelous story of patience and perseverance

And of inspiration for others! Including me!

 

[calicosrspecial]

Awesome!!! Hunting together!!! SO cool!!

That tells me their wrestling is all play. They just love it.

I'll admit, I wish you got a picture as well. As it sounds REALLY ADORABLE!!! But I have a feeling there will be many more opportunities to get one in the future.

 

[cat nap]

Twyla and Hooper are birdwatching buddies! I wish I had gotten a picture. I went upstairs because there was a loud wrestling match going on. Once it stopped Hooper was immediately distracted by a bird in the crepe myrtle right outside the office window. He ran over and jumped on the step stool I keep there so he could look out. Twyla then walked over, gave his backside a thorough sniff and then got on the stool right next to him! That stool is only about 14 inches wide so they barely fit on it together. They spent a good two minutes sitting there, tails twitching in unison, watching birds together! Sometimes one would put their paws on the sill and stand up to get a better look. I could not believe my eyes! Eventually Twyla got bored and left.

They were right back to loud wrestling about five minutes later, of course.

Haha. I wonder if the Bird was watching the cats from that tree outside the office, and then told his other bird friends that "there were two cats having a wrestling match" and that his other bird friends should come over to watch, too.

Bird: "Hey guys, you gotta see this, these two cats are like MMA fighting, in through that window.
Oh, now, they look like they're just squeezing onto that step stool, and taking a break. I think they're looking at us."
Bird 2: "You shouldn't really be staring, but they are a couple of cute looking cats. Is that one trying to stand up, and make themselves look bigger?....Don't take your eyes off that one."
Bird 1: "When are those cats going to wrestle again. This is better than Vegas."

Well, it is cute that both Twyla and Hooper stopped to birdwatch.
"Birdwatching buddies, indeed."

 

[Twylasmom]

They have both been brats today. After being separated and sleeping all day while I am at work they have way too much energy to burn off. Looking forward to the weekend to get them back on track and hope to see a few more sweet moments!

 

[calicosrspecial]

Yep, that does happen. :/ The good news is they have no intent of hurting each other so that reduces the risks.

You will do a great job with them this weekend and drain some of the energy.

There will be a lot more sweet moments and times for a long, long time to come.