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- Sep 23, 2014
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Hi, I'm at my wits end at the moment and really wish someone will give me some advise and encouragment on this issue.
We have a three year old short haired male named Felix. Felix was abandoned as a kitten with his siblings in a busy road and cat carers managed to save and foster them. We adopted him at 10 weeks old and it seems he was the most feral of the lot as it took time for the fosterer to have him get used to being cuddled by humans. He is lovely and a good boy. He loves our youngest daughter the most and interacts alot with her and she s the one that can hold him for a long period of time.
We wished for a new kitten because we felt sorry for him when we are not at home and he is left alone. The vet and cat carers I know encouraged me to get a female kitten and after some hissing and growling which might take some time they will eventually start getting along.
We go Sandy at 7 weeks old last August and kept them apart for almost four weeks since we were treating her for ear mites and we vaccinated Felix agains Feline Leukemia just in case. She is very out going while he is more reserved. After I read quite a few articles and posts I realise that maybe I should have got a kitten similar in temperament as Felix is. But now its too late since we love Sandy and it will break our children's heart if we return her.
Anyway. I did the introductions as I have read on numerous sites, very gradually. Rubbing cloth over their faces. Letting them seeing each other through a screen etc etc he hissed and growled as expected. One fine day I thought I should give it a shot and let them meet with supervision. And he sniffed at her and swatted her and she was submissive but after three days she started playing hide and seek with her and he seemed to play along. Until one day I think he must have got fed up and turned to run away from her, she ran after him as she must have thought he was still playing, and while he was running from her he looked back and when he looked front again he knocked himself in the wall. He went ballistic from that moment on. He started hissing and growling at her. tried to calm him down with words and removed her from the scene. Now about three days later when I try to introduce her again to him he looks hisses and growls seems to call for murder. On the other hand most of the time when she sees him she makes a go at him most probably because she thinks she still can play with him though sometimes she goes submissively. When she runs up to him he runs away and most of the day he tries to spend it away from her. I don't want her to become territorial and I would love to see them getting along. Yesterday I've put her in the cat carrier and let him sniff at her but he was hissing at her and swatting the cage. He never enjoyed eating from behind the door when she was eating as well. Tried giving them both treats when she was in the cat carrier and I praise him all the time.
I feel I have to start from the begining but on the other hand he already knows her smell. He just seems to not want her near him anymore.
I'm sorry I have written so much but I hope to have explained myself and maybe get some advice as well as words of encouragment that they wii not always be like this. They are both indoor cats and Sandy now is 13 weeks old. Thinking of spaying her soon.
Thank you
We have a three year old short haired male named Felix. Felix was abandoned as a kitten with his siblings in a busy road and cat carers managed to save and foster them. We adopted him at 10 weeks old and it seems he was the most feral of the lot as it took time for the fosterer to have him get used to being cuddled by humans. He is lovely and a good boy. He loves our youngest daughter the most and interacts alot with her and she s the one that can hold him for a long period of time.
We wished for a new kitten because we felt sorry for him when we are not at home and he is left alone. The vet and cat carers I know encouraged me to get a female kitten and after some hissing and growling which might take some time they will eventually start getting along.
We go Sandy at 7 weeks old last August and kept them apart for almost four weeks since we were treating her for ear mites and we vaccinated Felix agains Feline Leukemia just in case. She is very out going while he is more reserved. After I read quite a few articles and posts I realise that maybe I should have got a kitten similar in temperament as Felix is. But now its too late since we love Sandy and it will break our children's heart if we return her.
Anyway. I did the introductions as I have read on numerous sites, very gradually. Rubbing cloth over their faces. Letting them seeing each other through a screen etc etc he hissed and growled as expected. One fine day I thought I should give it a shot and let them meet with supervision. And he sniffed at her and swatted her and she was submissive but after three days she started playing hide and seek with her and he seemed to play along. Until one day I think he must have got fed up and turned to run away from her, she ran after him as she must have thought he was still playing, and while he was running from her he looked back and when he looked front again he knocked himself in the wall. He went ballistic from that moment on. He started hissing and growling at her. tried to calm him down with words and removed her from the scene. Now about three days later when I try to introduce her again to him he looks hisses and growls seems to call for murder. On the other hand most of the time when she sees him she makes a go at him most probably because she thinks she still can play with him though sometimes she goes submissively. When she runs up to him he runs away and most of the day he tries to spend it away from her. I don't want her to become territorial and I would love to see them getting along. Yesterday I've put her in the cat carrier and let him sniff at her but he was hissing at her and swatting the cage. He never enjoyed eating from behind the door when she was eating as well. Tried giving them both treats when she was in the cat carrier and I praise him all the time.
I feel I have to start from the begining but on the other hand he already knows her smell. He just seems to not want her near him anymore.
I'm sorry I have written so much but I hope to have explained myself and maybe get some advice as well as words of encouragment that they wii not always be like this. They are both indoor cats and Sandy now is 13 weeks old. Thinking of spaying her soon.
Thank you