- Joined
- Aug 29, 2016
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Ollie and Gary are two neutered male tabby brothers, approximately two years old. They are indoor/outdoor and generally get along well with each other, although they are independent and not especially cuddly. I was visiting a family member whose cat became pregnant with four kittens before they could have her spayed. The kittens are weaned and homes have yet to be found for them, so they were facing the possibility of having to send them to a pet store. I agreed to adopt one of them, and my family members were thrilled to know that the kitten would be going to a familiar home.
Kitten is set up in the office with her own litter box so that the big cats can get used to her scent first. The doors to the office are glass, so they can see her through it, and their first response is that they hate her. They hiss at the door, growl, swat at it with full force... I can get them to eat out of their bowls about four feet away from the door, and I give them treats when they are close to it to try to get them to calm down, but this is accompanied by hateful glaring and vocalizing. What's more concerning is that my more dominant cat, Gary, will hiss at the door and then go slap Ollie and behave aggressively towards him. I am now terrified that I have ruined everything by bringing this little girl into our home, that they will never accept her, and that - even worse, the dynamic between my two previously peaceful boys will have been ruined.
I have covered the bottom portion of the door with paper so they can smell kitten but not see her. I have spread toys around the house to help provide positive distractions. I have ordered a Feliway diffuser - the ones that help calm cats by diffusing "happy" cat pheromones throughout the home - to help reduce the big cats' rage. I cuddle kitten and then pet big cats later on to give them positive associations with her scent. And kitten is allowed to wander the house for a bit in the evening to get a little bit of her scent into the home. It has literally only been 24 hours, but I'm anxious and sad and worried and could use any helpful information from any cat owners who have been through this before.
Kitten is set up in the office with her own litter box so that the big cats can get used to her scent first. The doors to the office are glass, so they can see her through it, and their first response is that they hate her. They hiss at the door, growl, swat at it with full force... I can get them to eat out of their bowls about four feet away from the door, and I give them treats when they are close to it to try to get them to calm down, but this is accompanied by hateful glaring and vocalizing. What's more concerning is that my more dominant cat, Gary, will hiss at the door and then go slap Ollie and behave aggressively towards him. I am now terrified that I have ruined everything by bringing this little girl into our home, that they will never accept her, and that - even worse, the dynamic between my two previously peaceful boys will have been ruined.
I have covered the bottom portion of the door with paper so they can smell kitten but not see her. I have spread toys around the house to help provide positive distractions. I have ordered a Feliway diffuser - the ones that help calm cats by diffusing "happy" cat pheromones throughout the home - to help reduce the big cats' rage. I cuddle kitten and then pet big cats later on to give them positive associations with her scent. And kitten is allowed to wander the house for a bit in the evening to get a little bit of her scent into the home. It has literally only been 24 hours, but I'm anxious and sad and worried and could use any helpful information from any cat owners who have been through this before.