Is It Time To Come Together?

MeganLLB

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I have been keeping my two cats separated for a long time now. I did the slow introduction with exchanging sights and smells, Kitty had her own safe room. However, when I let them see each other face to face for the first few times they got stuck in a tight space together (and Kitty likes her personal space) and I think Kitty attacked Luna and they started fighting. It was bad, fur was shed. They did not like each other and only wanted to fight after that.

I put a screen door on Kitty's room and for the last month or so, they have been looking at each other through the door, eating in front of each other, and now they are interacting again and it seems ok. Luna likes to tease her and always wants to instigate something, by grabbing her tail or sneaking behind her and bopping her on the head or pawing at her as she walks by. I think she just wants to play but idk. Kitty hisses or they end up having a one armed fight with just one arm out swatting at each other.

I feel like I don't want to keep them separated forever, but at some point do I have to just let them deal with it? I'm afraid to leave them all alone together (the dog and both cats) Bosco likes to be referee and any time Kitty hisses he will come over and check her out, which usually escalates the situation, and I don't want a huge animal fight to break loose while I'm not home.

But when is it time to just bring Kitty into the pack and let them sort it out? Will there ever be a time? Or will I have to continue keeping them separated?
 

dahli6

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I don't know Bosco's size. I have a border collie and she is the same way. She has been known to bite a cat or pick them up and throw them in trying to police the fight.
It is probably best to let Luna and Kitty one arm swat it out while Bosco is somewhere napping.
Maybe you should give the cats the opportunity to invade each other's territory, leave the door open so they can interact.
But when the dog is put up.
 
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MeganLLB

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Bosco would never hurt the cats. He is small, a cavalier king Charles. Him and Luna are best buddies, and when Kitty hisses I think he is coming to defend Luna, but he just barks and "dry barks" almost like a whisper bark.

But Bosco is....well...kinda not the sharpest crayon in the box. He doesn't understand when Kitty doesn't like him. He just loves everybody so much that he thinks she wants to play (which Kitty doesn't, and she gets more angry, which makes Bosco want to play and chase and bark, which makes Kitty angry which scares Luna..) I would be more worried about Bosco getting his eye scratched than any of the cats being hurt by Bosco. He doesn't know animal body language well. Even with other dogs. He would willingly put his head into a lions roaring mouth given the chance and still think they are friends.

I could crate Bosco when I leave. And let the cats out. Or just put Kitty away and let everyone loose when I'm home
 

dahli6

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I think crating Bosco for short periods of supervised kitty time until the felines sort out their differences would be good.
If you crate him and leave the cats unsupervised you might return to overturned furniture, scattered fur, ripped down curtains....
 
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MeganLLB

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That's what I'm pretty much doing now though. Is giving them supervised time together when I'm home. I usually just hold on to Bosco and keep him away. But when can I just let then sort it out, move Kitty out of her room, and have everyone living together?
 

dahli6

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If they aren't actually hurting each other right now I would just leave them alone. Only separate them if things are getting destroyed when you leave or if they aren't letting you sleep.
I am really careful about how I answer because in my house I am the boss. The cats live like cats and I don't get involved in their catness unless there are fights or someone being bullied. Some people here might find me too casual.
I probably would have had the new kitty in my bedroom for a few days of strict socializing with me and acclimating to the dog. If the new one had followed me out of the bedroom I would have allowed it and I would have held the door open so the kitty could run back into the bedroom and safety when the house kitty made their acquaintance.
I am afraid to give that kind of advice on a cat oriented website though because people might be really mean to me.
 
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MeganLLB

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I moved Little Kitty's tower and scratching post into the main living space. I also took a blanket with her fur and smell on it and rubbed it all over the house. I'm letting them work it out right now. They seem to be fighting for territory and chasing each other off of the tower and chasing away the other when she gets too close.

It seems like there's a lot of fighting and chasing. Maybe I need to just keep them separate. I don't know what to do....Luna seems so territorial around Kitty.
 

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I have been keeping my two cats separated for a long time now. I did the slow introduction with exchanging sights and smells, Kitty had her own safe room. However, when I let them see each other face to face for the first few times they got stuck in a tight space together (and Kitty likes her personal space) and I think Kitty attacked Luna and they started fighting. It was bad, fur was shed. They did not like each other and only wanted to fight after that.

I put a screen door on Kitty's room and for the last month or so, they have been looking at each other through the door, eating in front of each other, and now they are interacting again and it seems ok. Luna likes to tease her and always wants to instigate something, by grabbing her tail or sneaking behind her and bopping her on the head or pawing at her as she walks by. I think she just wants to play but idk. Kitty hisses or they end up having a one armed fight with just one arm out swatting at each other.

I feel like I don't want to keep them separated forever, but at some point do I have to just let them deal with it? I'm afraid to leave them all alone together (the dog and both cats) Bosco likes to be referee and any time Kitty hisses he will come over and check her out, which usually escalates the situation, and I don't want a huge animal fight to break loose while I'm not home.

But when is it time to just bring Kitty into the pack and let them sort it out? Will there ever be a time? Or will I have to continue keeping them separated?
 

lhoncharik

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I am looking for help/ideas with introduction my feral, Henry, who's been inside in a bedroom/bathroom for 6 monhs now; he wants to come out into the rest of my home; my housecat, Izzy (female) has gone into the room with Henry a few times now; sometimes she scratches at the door and will go in on her own, other times I carry her in and sit with both of them. Henry is very friendly, adopts a submissive posture, lying on his side, meowing, or just sitting and watching, no aggression. Izzy is VERY tense and tight, makes odd scratchy meows. If she walks around, Henry will follow her and try to sniff noses, at which Izzy will then hiss. Don't seem to be making much progress. I want to let Henry come out, but not sure what will happen; don't want any fighting. Don't know if I should keep Izzy contained while Henry explores, or what. Will not be able to pick Henry up to put him back in the bedroom, he'll have to go back on his own (his litter box and food are in the bedroom/bathroom). ANY SUGGESTIONS, ETC.? THANKS TO ALL.
 
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MeganLLB

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I am looking for help/ideas with introduction my feral, Henry, who's been inside in a bedroom/bathroom for 6 monhs now; he wants to come out into the rest of my home; my housecat, Izzy (female) has gone into the room with Henry a few times now; sometimes she scratches at the door and will go in on her own, other times I carry her in and sit with both of them. Henry is very friendly, adopts a submissive posture, lying on his side, meowing, or just sitting and watching, no aggression. Izzy is VERY tense and tight, makes odd scratchy meows. If she walks around, Henry will follow her and try to sniff noses, at which Izzy will then hiss. Don't seem to be making much progress. I want to let Henry come out, but not sure what will happen; don't want any fighting. Don't know if I should keep Izzy contained while Henry explores, or what. Will not be able to pick Henry up to put him back in the bedroom, he'll have to go back on his own (his litter box and food are in the bedroom/bathroom). ANY SUGGESTIONS, ETC.? THANKS TO ALL.
How To Successfully Introduce Cats: The Ultimate Guide

Why don't you take a look at this article. It s all about introducing cats.
 

dahli6

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I moved Little Kitty's tower and scratching post into the main living space. I also took a blanket with her fur and smell on it and rubbed it all over the house. I'm letting them work it out right now. They seem to be fighting for territory and chasing each other off of the tower and chasing away the other when she gets too close.

It seems like there's a lot of fighting and chasing. Maybe I need to just keep them separate. I don't know what to do....Luna seems so territorial around Kitty.
Schedule time for them every day and they will get used to each other. There is a problem with giving them too much space for too long.
When their activity becomes too stressful then split them up.
 

danteshuman

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I think supervised visits minus the dog for now are a step in the right direction. I would add some obedience training for Bosco. A proper stay when he starts chasing/wanting to play with kitty could be priceless :) Also playing with your dog to distract him from kitty might help. My guys get a long but still bug each other. Just an hour ago they were batting at each other with one paw each. Since their claws weren't extended I didn't fret. I never said they had to love each other ... I just said they couldn't beat each other up ;)
 

dahli6

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I think supervised visits minus the dog for now are a step in the right direction. I would add some obedience training for Bosco. A proper stay when he starts chasing/wanting to play with kitty could be priceless :) Also playing with your dog to distract him from kitty might help. My guys get a long but still bug each other. Just an hour ago they were batting at each other with one paw each. Since their claws weren't extended I didn't fret. I never said they had to love each other ... I just said they couldn't beat each other up ;)
I used to police my cats every time they would try to start fighting and then I realized I was not letting them work things out on their own(I realized the same thing about my kids when they were little, as long as no one bleeds or breaks sometimes they need to fight).
I only interfere if it is getting too rowdy or if the one causing the trouble is Blind Petie.
Actual fights are fewer since all the males are neutered and I have trained Petie not to react to growling.
 
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MeganLLB

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Idk though. One of the cats just like screamed and both came running around the corner all fluffed up. Kitty chasing Luna, and Bosco stopped her. I can't intervene as fast as Bosco can. At least he stopped her.

Ugh...great, now they're fighting and mad again. I don't know what to do. Should I still just let them go?
I put Kitty away to let them settle down. I'll keep letting them see each other and just put them away if they get to rough. I guess they have to work things out. They've been separated long enough. I don't know what else I could possibly do to "introduce" them. They've been introduced. They are either going to live peacefully or not.
 

dahli6

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Idk though. One of the cats just like screamed and both came running around the corner all fluffed up. Kitty chasing Luna, and Bosco stopped her. I can't intervene as fast as Bosco can. At least he stopped her.

Ugh...great, now they're fighting and mad again. I don't know what to do. Should I still just let them go?
I put Kitty away to let them settle down. I'll keep letting them see each other and just put them away if they get to rough. I guess they have to work things out. They've been separated long enough. I don't know what else I could possibly do to "introduce" them. They've been introduced. They are either going to live peacefully or not.
Give a time out to the cat who starts the trouble.
When I know there is a problem I watch them, literally stand in the room and watch their every move. Looking at each other is fine, posturing is fine, a few swats even and then shoo the trouble maker away and show that you will support the one being bullied. You are the alpha cat.
If they are fighting then put the old kitty in the new kitty's space to calm down. At bedtime, put the new kitty in her own space so you can sleep.
I am sorry I am really bad with remembering what names belong to what people.
 

duncanmac

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Are the cats still mostly separated?

You need to get some supervised togetherness time for the cats. It will depend on the cats, but start at 10 or 20 minutes with toys and treats to keep them slightly distracted. They will swat, box and wrestle. It is mostly OK if it is mostly quiet. Once you see they start getting annoyed with each other, split them up again and call it a night. Once my guys could be together in relative peace for an hour or so, I could let them be unsupervised (just keep an ear out).

It also sounds like one cat might be cornering the other in her safe room - try to do the meet-and-greets in a different place.
 
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