- Joined
- Apr 4, 2018
- Messages
- 68
- Purraise
- 121
Hi all,
I recently got a new cat to keep my other cat company (she loves other cats). We got the new kitty from a private owner that was rehoming as they were moving away who 'said' he was used to other animals and was not aggressive to other cats even when they were unknown and in his territory. Great! So we picked him up 4 weeks(ish) ago, did scent swapping, eating on either side of the door, allowing to see after 2 weeks through a glass door and all seemed good. He didn't hiss and was very interested in our resident cat. He would look at her with no hissing and would walk around with his tail up.We did room swapping and he would use her litter tray with no issue and seemed very relaxed with her scent everywhere.
After a week of seeing each other we decided to allow a controlled meeting using treats and it started well, both ignored the other and ate their treats and then BAM - new cat with no warning ran at the resident cat and was incredibly aggressive. We separated them immediately and for the last week we are trying again with food on either side and also allowing them to see each other through a glass door and whilst this happens playing with them - all the usual stuff.
Now, my issue is the new cat just does not have usual cat behaviour and I can't work out his 'signals'. He doesn't scent rub on furniture and is very relaxed other than when he sees the resident where he immediately crouches down into an attack mode but his ears are forward and he doesn't display the usual fluffing up etc. I would have said it was play if I hadn't seen the original attack.
So this is the background (apologies for the long post already!) and I just wondered if anyone had any advice or any other steps I could take? I know it can take time but has anyone tried anything like the pheromones and could this help? I just wish he had behaviour I recognised, I have introduced many a cat and this is the first time that I can't get a good read on what is going on in the cats head. Luckily resident kitty is not stressed even after the attack which is my priority.
I recently got a new cat to keep my other cat company (she loves other cats). We got the new kitty from a private owner that was rehoming as they were moving away who 'said' he was used to other animals and was not aggressive to other cats even when they were unknown and in his territory. Great! So we picked him up 4 weeks(ish) ago, did scent swapping, eating on either side of the door, allowing to see after 2 weeks through a glass door and all seemed good. He didn't hiss and was very interested in our resident cat. He would look at her with no hissing and would walk around with his tail up.We did room swapping and he would use her litter tray with no issue and seemed very relaxed with her scent everywhere.
After a week of seeing each other we decided to allow a controlled meeting using treats and it started well, both ignored the other and ate their treats and then BAM - new cat with no warning ran at the resident cat and was incredibly aggressive. We separated them immediately and for the last week we are trying again with food on either side and also allowing them to see each other through a glass door and whilst this happens playing with them - all the usual stuff.
Now, my issue is the new cat just does not have usual cat behaviour and I can't work out his 'signals'. He doesn't scent rub on furniture and is very relaxed other than when he sees the resident where he immediately crouches down into an attack mode but his ears are forward and he doesn't display the usual fluffing up etc. I would have said it was play if I hadn't seen the original attack.
So this is the background (apologies for the long post already!) and I just wondered if anyone had any advice or any other steps I could take? I know it can take time but has anyone tried anything like the pheromones and could this help? I just wish he had behaviour I recognised, I have introduced many a cat and this is the first time that I can't get a good read on what is going on in the cats head. Luckily resident kitty is not stressed even after the attack which is my priority.