- Joined
- Feb 8, 2013
- Messages
- 8
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Hi cat people. I've been reading through the boards - and am beginning to feel reassured from other stories that me and my cat family are actually doing better than I give us credit for. But - I'm going to reach out to you experts anyway. Because I'm a crazy overprotective cat lady!
In early February I lost Kiki who is 9 year old Lulu's littermate. The two were never BFFs. Kiki was the alpha and Lulu deferred to her for lap time and food. Between February and April, Lulu very much enjoyed being queen of the castle. But - because I travel for work and because I wanted to open my home to a new rescue, in early May I brought Bobo home - a 3 month old neutered male. I followed all the recommendations for new introductions - kept Bobo in his own room for the first week and a half, installed Feliway diffusers, scent swapped, interactive play with “da bird” etc. The original plan was to introduce them through baby gates, but Bobo was having none of that. He scaled two stacked on top of each other in no time flat. He was very eager to explore the rest of the house. It went relatively well for the first few weeks – lots of hissing/growling from Lulu, but no all out fights. Lulu was stressed at first, but after a week or so she relaxed and they would even nap near each other.
This past week, however Bobo has gotten bigger and bolder. Of course he chases her – but until this week he’d back down when she hissed/growled. Now he just pounces on her relentlessly. I’ve tried “time out”, squirting him with a water bottle, a loud whistle, reprimanding with a loud “NO” – and he just won’t quit. The little fool is fearless! (but so darn cute!). And any time I give her attention – he appears out of nowhere and starts to antagonize her. I’d like to think he just wants to play – but it seems more like jealousy. So I separate them, sometimes all night, so that I can give her some undivided attention.
Lulu seems to recover from their scraps quickly and will stay in the same room with him and even lie down in what I would consider a very non-defensive pose (stretched out flat with hind legs extended like a cartoon kitty). The fights only last 5-10 seconds. And when he’s not pouncing on her, she seems entertained by his antics.
So my question(s) is – are we on the right track, despite the escalated scrapping/pouncing by Bobo the demon kitten? Will he grow out of it and mellow – at least a little? Considering Lulu’s rapid recovery from his terrorism, are we doing okay and I do I just need to let them figure out the hierarchy? Should I consider getting Bobo a playmate closer to his age? (I’d rather not – two cats is enough for me! Financially and otherwise.)
Any insight, wisdom, advice would be very much appreciated.
In early February I lost Kiki who is 9 year old Lulu's littermate. The two were never BFFs. Kiki was the alpha and Lulu deferred to her for lap time and food. Between February and April, Lulu very much enjoyed being queen of the castle. But - because I travel for work and because I wanted to open my home to a new rescue, in early May I brought Bobo home - a 3 month old neutered male. I followed all the recommendations for new introductions - kept Bobo in his own room for the first week and a half, installed Feliway diffusers, scent swapped, interactive play with “da bird” etc. The original plan was to introduce them through baby gates, but Bobo was having none of that. He scaled two stacked on top of each other in no time flat. He was very eager to explore the rest of the house. It went relatively well for the first few weeks – lots of hissing/growling from Lulu, but no all out fights. Lulu was stressed at first, but after a week or so she relaxed and they would even nap near each other.
This past week, however Bobo has gotten bigger and bolder. Of course he chases her – but until this week he’d back down when she hissed/growled. Now he just pounces on her relentlessly. I’ve tried “time out”, squirting him with a water bottle, a loud whistle, reprimanding with a loud “NO” – and he just won’t quit. The little fool is fearless! (but so darn cute!). And any time I give her attention – he appears out of nowhere and starts to antagonize her. I’d like to think he just wants to play – but it seems more like jealousy. So I separate them, sometimes all night, so that I can give her some undivided attention.
Lulu seems to recover from their scraps quickly and will stay in the same room with him and even lie down in what I would consider a very non-defensive pose (stretched out flat with hind legs extended like a cartoon kitty). The fights only last 5-10 seconds. And when he’s not pouncing on her, she seems entertained by his antics.
So my question(s) is – are we on the right track, despite the escalated scrapping/pouncing by Bobo the demon kitten? Will he grow out of it and mellow – at least a little? Considering Lulu’s rapid recovery from his terrorism, are we doing okay and I do I just need to let them figure out the hierarchy? Should I consider getting Bobo a playmate closer to his age? (I’d rather not – two cats is enough for me! Financially and otherwise.)
Any insight, wisdom, advice would be very much appreciated.
