- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #41
It's hard to know just from your descriptions, if it's aggression or just play fighting. If you haven't already, do check out this TCS article Are My Cats Fighting Or Playing? | TheCatSiteI wonder if them both being fairly young (11 and 7 months) is influencing this behaviour? They are both young cats that love to run and pounce during playtime.
Thank you! What you say makes sense. Obviously I am not a cat expert at all, but my sense is that even if I was to keep the gate up for another week, I’d get the same reaction from Lola, I would get the same response... so that’s why I’m leaning towards just letting them in a room to work it out as you say. And obviously separating them if anything was to go badly or Snowy seemed very scared.Well, it sounds like the gate wasn't doing a ton of work anymore, since they were playing through the gate. So I'm not sure how much value backing up really has. Thats an unclear point, whether there is value to that. They might just need to work it out.
Just to explain a little more, I subscribe the desensitization model, where you gradually get them used to each other in progressively more challenging circumstances. Once a particular circumstance stops stressing them out at all, you move on, and don't get further value from staying at that stage. Its like if you are afraid fo spiders, and go to the therapist, and he starts out by playing Charlottes Web. Once that no longer bothers you, playing it another 10 times won't do much, you need to move to something more challenging. Since the gate step is no longer challenging, there isn't more desensitization to be done there.
However, at least some folks (like Jackson Galaxy) seem to also value building links to positive experiences. It makes some sense. I just think its very hard to do in the early stages, and you typically don't need it late. But maybe playing through the gate is a positive experience. So maybe there is some value there? Thats my thinking, if it helps.
Personally, I'd probably continue to let them work it out, but backing up a bit wouldn't be unreasonable. I just dont know it would help.
That's a good sign, I think. We always say, if there's no fur flying or blood, or one cat not seeming scared, that things are probably ok. As long as Snowy runs off, but but keeps coming back for more "fun", you probably don't need to worry.rubysmama thank you for some resources! snowy does seem a bit scared and will hide a bit, but not for long then she is back at it!!
You might still want to separate when no humans are around to supervise, just until you're confident they are getting along ok. However, I suspect before too long you'll be telling us they're cuddled together sleeping. And when that happens, I hope you'll post a pic.so that’s why I’m leaning towards just letting them in a room to work it out as you say. And obviously separating them if anything was to go badly or Snowy seemed very scared.