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"Thanks as always for your continued positivity!" - You are welcome. Remember, if I see negativity I will tell you.Thanks as always for your continued positivity! I was worrying again that because of the fight on Saturday (and I suppose it was more of a chase/attack than an actual fight) it meant they won't be successfully intro'd and will always dislike each other. Every new phase comes with its little challenges, I guess.
I don't know if he would play. I'm game to try it. He can be difficult to engage in play regardless, and I'm not sure how he would do with her there. But always worth a try!
And when she growls he doesn't seem to react, exactly. When he ran at her on Saturday it was more like the same way he chase a bird out the window or a toy - low to the ground running over and then a pounce/jump. He didn't hiss or anything. He's never really hissed at her. He just stares with big eyes. I wouldn't say it was play though. It had a kind of stalking/chasing element.
Out of curiousity, why is it that he can be distracted to a point and then (as per Saturday) he decides he wants to take a run at her. Is it that the longer he looks at her the more agitated he gets?
We will try next time (probably later today) to distract him after she jumps down and see what happens. I know I tend to get more nervous then because they're at the same level. And the only way out of that main room is basically the hallway back to the bedrooms, so it becomes a little dance to try to get them to switch spots and get her to go back to her room. I think she does get scared. Scared, but also kind of at the same time she doesn't want to go back to her room, hahaha. She also gets, as the visit goes on and her growling increases, a bit more of an aggressive face - ears flattened against her head and whiskers back and eyes a little more squished up. Like the same face cats make before hissing. I guess that's more of a scared/defensive face, maybe.
Anyways, moral of the story is we just keep this up for now? Short visits around a meal or snacks and see how it is. We'll keep trying x1 per day for the rest of the week and see how we do.
" I was worrying again that because of the fight on Saturday (and I suppose it was more of a chase/attack than an actual fight) it meant they won't be successfully intro'd and will always dislike each other." - It is always a worry but given how they acted after it seemed like a low risk. And now with the additional information it tells me it was a non-issue. So they passed the test. I have no worry about them not being successfully intro'd.
"Every new phase comes with its little challenges, I guess. " - So true though I could tell you some challenges. This one is nothing compared to many.
"I don't know if he would play. I'm game to try it." - Sounds good. If e cna get him to focus on the toy that oculd be helpful. The one thing is that he doesn't then view her as someone to hunt.
" He can be difficult to engage in play regardless," - I feared I remembered that. :/
" and I'm not sure how he would do with her there." - Yes, that is always the issue. We don't want a cat to get into a hunting mode then hunt the other cat.
"But always worth a try!" - Just think about the above and if you deem the risk greater then the reward then we can not do it. It is not necessary.
"And when she growls he doesn't seem to react, exactly." - THAT is FANTASTIC!!! He knows she does not have bad intent.
"When he ran at her on Saturday it was more like the same way he chase a bird out the window or a toy - low to the ground running over and then a pounce/jump. He didn't hiss or anything." - Hmmmmmmm, could it have been play? To get her to play? I wish I could have seen it.
"He's never really hissed at her. He just stares with big eyes." - That is good. And he doesn't seem aggressive really wither, right? I keep going back to seeing him be on his back by the french doors (which is a huge sign of trust).
"I wouldn't say it was play though." Oh, you answered my question. Are you sure?
" It had a kind of stalking/chasing element." - Yes, but that is how they can play as well. When he got to her did he hesitate at all? Or was it full on pounce on her?
"Out of curiousity, why is it that he can be distracted to a point and then (as per Saturday) he decides he wants to take a run at her." - Usually because they want to play. It also can be a superiority or dominant thing as well. It is not a 'I want to eliminate you" thing at that point.
"Is it that the longer he looks at her the more agitated he gets?" - I am not sure agitated is the exact word but basically it can be. It is just part of the acceptance. Territory is really important to cats and sharing can be difficult depending on their confidence.
"We will try next time (probably later today) to distract him after she jumps down and see what happens." - Sounds good. Part of me wants to try with her on the floor rather than up high to eliminate the fast jump down which can trigger his instinct.
" I know I tend to get more nervous then because they're at the same level." - Agreed, we all do.
" And the only way out of that main room is basically the hallway back to the bedrooms, so it becomes a little dance to try to get them to switch spots and get her to go back to her room." - Yes, it is tricky. And when we get stressed they pick up on it and get more on edge. Just do your best.
Did you sense he had any intent to actually hurt her the other day?
"I think she does get scared." - Or unsettled?
" Scared, but also kind of at the same time she doesn't want to go back to her room, hahaha." - Exactly, she can't be that scared.........
"She also gets, as the visit goes on and her growling increases, a bit more of an aggressive face - ears flattened against her head and whiskers back and eyes a little more squished up. " - Really? I am really surprised. Is he at that point going after her or about to?
"Like the same face cats make before hissing. I guess that's more of a scared/defensive face, maybe." - Hmmmmmm.
"Anyways, moral of the story is we just keep this up for now?" - Absolutely. And distract, distract, reassure, etc. If you can diffuse a tense situation it is a huge win.
Is there any chance of videotaping it? I know it is hard too though. :/
"Short visits around a meal or snacks and see how it is." - Yes, morning gate/door sessions. Maybe even think of not have the gate (to the office so Florie in the office with him out) for a session (with maybe you at the threshold of the room.
"We'll keep trying x1 per day for the rest of the week and see how we do. " - Yes, for face to face. And just maximize positives. Distract as needed.
When you have one in their room and one out play with them where they do the face to face if possible.
Most likely it will be like a lightswitch, one day they will be like "ok, you're cool" and we'll get that breakthrough. Then there will be some ups and downs after that but they will be intro'd. I honestly get a sense they are really close to that..............................
Keep up the great work, you are almost there.