Hello again, oh wise and sage cat-people.
I saw something this morning that absolutely baffled me, and thought maybe one of you have encountered this before. Google is turning up nothing useful.
The scenario:
- 8yr old spayed female (Petunia) intro to 2 yr old neutered male (tentatively Cricket).
- 13 days into intro
- only protest coming from Petunia. Cricket's friendly and eager to play.
- eating on either side of baby gate in full view. very little hissing.
- regular playtime/treat-time of up to 30min at a time in same room, separate toys. Some hissing and growling and walking away, no fights yet.
- both will lay 18"+ away from each other in same room and chill for up to 5min.
- Cricket locks onto her to play, usually when I have to separate as her ears go flat and she starts growling, hissing, spitting, lashing out long before he gets to her.
The baffling part this morning:
They're on either side of the gate, able to see each other. Cricket desperately wants to play with her so I have him playing with his favorite toy near the gate and her. I have her favorite toy on the other side of the gate at the same time so she can play too.
Only she doesn't play.
She rolls over onto her back, her side pressed up against the gate.
Cricket can touch her, and does gently. She's hissing and growling at him unenthusiastically, but not moving away.
She claws at the carpet and the gate to get through it, pushing her head down into the floor so she's looking at him upside down, and then starts purring.
While hissing and growling.
And taking swipes at him under the gate.
I am so confused.
I ended up letting her into the living room with Cricket and I, and though there were treats again and attempted distraction through play, the growling and hissing continued at a low level whenever he gets too close.
To his credit, as long as I tire him out before an encounter, he'll back off and lay down a few feet from her, or head into the bedroom. He routinely rolls over close to her and offers up his belly. He's very friendly with her, though he desperately wants to play and starts 'stalking' her. When she keeps growling, his tail starts swishing and I'll separate them before he pounces.
Why is ms Petunia showing her belly and purring and hissing and growling, while trying to get through the gate but at the same time avoiding him when she does?
Is it still a defensive move? Does she actually want his company or just mine and is getting tired of not being in the same room all the time with me 24/7?
Is this her begrudgingly getting used to him and is a step in the right direction, or is she gearing up for a full on war from her back?
The purring while hissing on her back made me laugh out loud this morning but absolutely confused me. I know basically how to read kitty body language but it seemed like she was having an existential crisis this morning throwing all of them out at once. Her pupils were relaxed, not huge or constricted, ears weren't flat while behind the gate and her tail wasn't flicking around either.
Color me 8 shades of baffled by this girl.
(the pic is from 4 days ago at mealtime)
I saw something this morning that absolutely baffled me, and thought maybe one of you have encountered this before. Google is turning up nothing useful.
The scenario:
- 8yr old spayed female (Petunia) intro to 2 yr old neutered male (tentatively Cricket).
- 13 days into intro
- only protest coming from Petunia. Cricket's friendly and eager to play.
- eating on either side of baby gate in full view. very little hissing.
- regular playtime/treat-time of up to 30min at a time in same room, separate toys. Some hissing and growling and walking away, no fights yet.
- both will lay 18"+ away from each other in same room and chill for up to 5min.
- Cricket locks onto her to play, usually when I have to separate as her ears go flat and she starts growling, hissing, spitting, lashing out long before he gets to her.
The baffling part this morning:
They're on either side of the gate, able to see each other. Cricket desperately wants to play with her so I have him playing with his favorite toy near the gate and her. I have her favorite toy on the other side of the gate at the same time so she can play too.
Only she doesn't play.
She rolls over onto her back, her side pressed up against the gate.
Cricket can touch her, and does gently. She's hissing and growling at him unenthusiastically, but not moving away.
She claws at the carpet and the gate to get through it, pushing her head down into the floor so she's looking at him upside down, and then starts purring.
While hissing and growling.
And taking swipes at him under the gate.
I am so confused.
I ended up letting her into the living room with Cricket and I, and though there were treats again and attempted distraction through play, the growling and hissing continued at a low level whenever he gets too close.
To his credit, as long as I tire him out before an encounter, he'll back off and lay down a few feet from her, or head into the bedroom. He routinely rolls over close to her and offers up his belly. He's very friendly with her, though he desperately wants to play and starts 'stalking' her. When she keeps growling, his tail starts swishing and I'll separate them before he pounces.
Why is ms Petunia showing her belly and purring and hissing and growling, while trying to get through the gate but at the same time avoiding him when she does?
Is it still a defensive move? Does she actually want his company or just mine and is getting tired of not being in the same room all the time with me 24/7?
Is this her begrudgingly getting used to him and is a step in the right direction, or is she gearing up for a full on war from her back?
The purring while hissing on her back made me laugh out loud this morning but absolutely confused me. I know basically how to read kitty body language but it seemed like she was having an existential crisis this morning throwing all of them out at once. Her pupils were relaxed, not huge or constricted, ears weren't flat while behind the gate and her tail wasn't flicking around either.
Color me 8 shades of baffled by this girl.
(the pic is from 4 days ago at mealtime)
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