If you are having some trouble introducing you cats. See if one of them is having a confidence issue. If you do notice this- then its time to work on building it.
How to tell if a cat lacks confidence?
A couple of things are:
Slinking close to the ground, making their bodies very small.
Running away at the slightest noise / movement.
Allow another cat to bully them - or treat them like prey - because - frankly they are acting like prey.
Being a shy wallflower - hiding.
Not jumping, or going up on cat trees.
A couple of ways that can help build confidence:
One way is to play - building confidence though play is important. A confident hunting kitty!
Another way is to convince to try to get the kitty to go higher - getting them higher up helps to build confidence.
Anyone else have ideas, experience with confidence issues? How did you help the kitty become a more confident kitty? What would you recommend?
Do you have issues with a kitty with a lack of confidence? How are you coping?
My experience so far with a cat that has no confidence, and those that do - what a difference:
I have four cats now. 1 very territorial Resident (Charlie) and three ferals, Mia (missing in Action), W.L (White Label) and Braveheart. Each of the feral cats have been brought in over a 6 months period for various issues.
One particular Feral (Mia) is having issue with Charlie (the resident kitty). Over the past few days I've finally been able to start introducing White label and Braveheart to him. FYI Mia was the first to be introduced to him. On Sunday there was a gate jump and an accidental meeting with Braveheart and W.L. - and it went just fine. I was shocked that it did based on his reactions to Mia.
I had been terrified to introduce W.L and Braveheart to him since 1. He's not feeling up to snuff right now and 2. Things have gone so very,very poorly with Mia.
Did I follow how to introduce cats with Mia - yup. Did I do that with Braveheart and W.L - yes and no - I wasn't finished - apparently they were.
Here's what I've witnessed:
Mia is a wallflower, she rarely leaves her safe room - unless there is food involved and then she is the bravest cat in the world. Don't try to get in the way of her and her food. She will find her brave boots!
Mia walks lower, slinks, runs low to the ground. She runs - Charlie chases and back in the safe room she goes. She hides.
W.L is a confident cat. He hits her, she'll and hit him back. She doesn't run from him - even when shes looking a bit nervous about him.
Braveheart is a bit weary and a nervous cat - but she also doesn't run from Charlie. He'll even walk right by her like she's not even there. Braveheart has little to no reaction to him and Charlie reciprocates. (Braveheart was the one I thought most likely to actually be a danger to Charlie so I was extremely cautious.)
The one with zero confidence is Mia - and that's the kitty he has issues with.
For Mia I've been slowing moving her food out of her safe room and then trying to keep her there for some time afterwards. Even by a few minutes of play. Each day I've moved her food dish a foot or two outside her room.
I bought her a cat tree months ago - it took her at least a month to get half way up it. Now she will go up and down at will - though never to the top - we are still working on that - at least a bit of progress.
She's gotten a bit chunky due to her sedentary lifestyle. AKA scared - so more playtime is in order.
Edit to add: Yup another epic long post from me. What - you expected a one liner?
I need to learn how to write shorter posts. In my defense I think writing it - it's short - posting it actually adds 20 pounds! *nods*
How to tell if a cat lacks confidence?
A couple of things are:
Slinking close to the ground, making their bodies very small.
Running away at the slightest noise / movement.
Allow another cat to bully them - or treat them like prey - because - frankly they are acting like prey.
Being a shy wallflower - hiding.
Not jumping, or going up on cat trees.
A couple of ways that can help build confidence:
One way is to play - building confidence though play is important. A confident hunting kitty!
Another way is to convince to try to get the kitty to go higher - getting them higher up helps to build confidence.
Anyone else have ideas, experience with confidence issues? How did you help the kitty become a more confident kitty? What would you recommend?
Do you have issues with a kitty with a lack of confidence? How are you coping?
My experience so far with a cat that has no confidence, and those that do - what a difference:
I have four cats now. 1 very territorial Resident (Charlie) and three ferals, Mia (missing in Action), W.L (White Label) and Braveheart. Each of the feral cats have been brought in over a 6 months period for various issues.
One particular Feral (Mia) is having issue with Charlie (the resident kitty). Over the past few days I've finally been able to start introducing White label and Braveheart to him. FYI Mia was the first to be introduced to him. On Sunday there was a gate jump and an accidental meeting with Braveheart and W.L. - and it went just fine. I was shocked that it did based on his reactions to Mia.
I had been terrified to introduce W.L and Braveheart to him since 1. He's not feeling up to snuff right now and 2. Things have gone so very,very poorly with Mia.
Did I follow how to introduce cats with Mia - yup. Did I do that with Braveheart and W.L - yes and no - I wasn't finished - apparently they were.
Here's what I've witnessed:
Mia is a wallflower, she rarely leaves her safe room - unless there is food involved and then she is the bravest cat in the world. Don't try to get in the way of her and her food. She will find her brave boots!
Mia walks lower, slinks, runs low to the ground. She runs - Charlie chases and back in the safe room she goes. She hides.
W.L is a confident cat. He hits her, she'll and hit him back. She doesn't run from him - even when shes looking a bit nervous about him.
Braveheart is a bit weary and a nervous cat - but she also doesn't run from Charlie. He'll even walk right by her like she's not even there. Braveheart has little to no reaction to him and Charlie reciprocates. (Braveheart was the one I thought most likely to actually be a danger to Charlie so I was extremely cautious.)
The one with zero confidence is Mia - and that's the kitty he has issues with.
For Mia I've been slowing moving her food out of her safe room and then trying to keep her there for some time afterwards. Even by a few minutes of play. Each day I've moved her food dish a foot or two outside her room.
I bought her a cat tree months ago - it took her at least a month to get half way up it. Now she will go up and down at will - though never to the top - we are still working on that - at least a bit of progress.
She's gotten a bit chunky due to her sedentary lifestyle. AKA scared - so more playtime is in order.
Edit to add: Yup another epic long post from me. What - you expected a one liner?
I need to learn how to write shorter posts. In my defense I think writing it - it's short - posting it actually adds 20 pounds! *nods*
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