Hello! I'm new to the kitty forum, but have read articles on the site. I have a resident kitty who is 4 1/2. My boyfriend found her in a storm and ended up keeping her. He had her declawed in the front and also had played with her like a dog rather than a cat (as did his roommate), so there are two disadvantages to her behavior. Three years ago we moved in together and her behavior improved. She could turn at any moment and bite, etc. but has improved even more so since I gave him the choice or marry or move on. We moved on, now I have her. She is very dependant, would cry when I left for work and be at the door crying when I got home. If I left for even an hour during the weekend you would have thought she had been left alone for a month. I'm sure part of this is my doing given I spoil her rotten. I spoke with several people including the vet, co-workers, friends, and a foster mom for our Friends Of the County Animal Shelters. Everyone thought that she was lonely and would vent her frustration on me. She doesn't like it when my full attention isn't on her. So, after months of internal debate, I decided that since everyone advised a second kitty was needed to keep her company, I would bite the bullet and adopt a second kitty. I met with the foster mom and picked out a wonderful little fellow that is quite a love bug.
I brought him home late Friday afternoon. He had no problems adjusting. I placed him in the bedroom with his food, litter box, toys, and a blanket. He never hid, just purred and loved, and didn't mind the scent of the resident kitty one bit. The resident kitty on the other hand....is mad at the world, including me. She's still hissing at his smell, even at me. We've made some progress and I know that the key is patience and attention. They are still in different rooms and I am following the plan from the website for kitty introduction. I had brought the blanket out on Saturday night, my cat lost it, hissing and jumping at the blanket. Yesterday morning I tried it again, this time she just had a growl and slapped at it. So I left it out with treats on it hoping that would help with the positive association. She had nothing to do with the treats and continues to hiss at the blanket. As long as I wash my hands, she doesn't hiss or slap at me. Now it is Tuesday morning and she's still hissing at me like crazy when I come from the other kitty's room. Although I can continue to pet her without her biting me or attacking. I have been trying to talk soothingly to her while his scent is on me trying to show her it is okay.
I'm just really getting worried about this introduction, my kitty just won't stop with the hissing and slapping and I feel so sorry for the other kitty. Returning the kitty just isn't an option for me. I cannot give a poor kitty a home, love him, and then return him as if her were some object.
My question???? Is there still hope? The article said that if she's hissing, then I'm in for a rough introduction. Is there even hope that they'll become friends? Has anyone had this much of a problem? Any advice? Should I switch them out, leaving the resident kitty in the bedroom? I'm afraid that if I do that she won't come out and will have so much stress it will really affect her. I'm just trying to be a good mom. Any advice would be much appreciated! Thanks for listening!
I brought him home late Friday afternoon. He had no problems adjusting. I placed him in the bedroom with his food, litter box, toys, and a blanket. He never hid, just purred and loved, and didn't mind the scent of the resident kitty one bit. The resident kitty on the other hand....is mad at the world, including me. She's still hissing at his smell, even at me. We've made some progress and I know that the key is patience and attention. They are still in different rooms and I am following the plan from the website for kitty introduction. I had brought the blanket out on Saturday night, my cat lost it, hissing and jumping at the blanket. Yesterday morning I tried it again, this time she just had a growl and slapped at it. So I left it out with treats on it hoping that would help with the positive association. She had nothing to do with the treats and continues to hiss at the blanket. As long as I wash my hands, she doesn't hiss or slap at me. Now it is Tuesday morning and she's still hissing at me like crazy when I come from the other kitty's room. Although I can continue to pet her without her biting me or attacking. I have been trying to talk soothingly to her while his scent is on me trying to show her it is okay.
I'm just really getting worried about this introduction, my kitty just won't stop with the hissing and slapping and I feel so sorry for the other kitty. Returning the kitty just isn't an option for me. I cannot give a poor kitty a home, love him, and then return him as if her were some object.
My question???? Is there still hope? The article said that if she's hissing, then I'm in for a rough introduction. Is there even hope that they'll become friends? Has anyone had this much of a problem? Any advice? Should I switch them out, leaving the resident kitty in the bedroom? I'm afraid that if I do that she won't come out and will have so much stress it will really affect her. I'm just trying to be a good mom. Any advice would be much appreciated! Thanks for listening!