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- Jul 29, 2013
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It's been almost two weeks since we adopted our youngest cat, Beaker. He's improved in leaps and bounds and getting to know him has been a treat. About a week ago we started integrating him into the rest of the household. He is playful and inquisitive, to a fault. Our oldest cat, Doodle has come to tolerate him and they were even playing once, and sleeping on the couch together. My beloved, Mo, however is not happy.
This is somewhat surprising as Mo was raised with several other cats (and possibly dogs), and at the shelter was said to do quite well with others, but it's not the case this time. He is ok with eating a few feet from Beak but gets upset if Beak walks past him. He doesn't like if Beak is too close. We're pleased to see that Mo generally sleeps through things in his cat bed undisturbed, but the problem is that Beak wants Mo to interact with him so he deliberately seeks him out and will wake him up. Beak will approach him, try to play fight him (I say this because it's not aggressive and Beaker rolls belly up, trilling at Mo, so I believe it is just play), he just wants to be near Mo for whatever reason. Mo has given him howls, hisses, and rarely if provoked enough will swipe at Beak if Beak is stupid enough to sit right beside Mo on his favorite chair. It's like he doesn't understand that Mo doesn't like him even though Mo has made it pretty clear.
There's been no cat fighting, yet, but we keep Beaker up in the office overnight because I'm not ready to leave him out with Mo unattended. My hope is that things will simmer down, that Beak gives up on befriending Mo and that Mo no longer sees him as a threat. We've tried playing with them at the same time and giving them treats, I think this is what allowed Doodle and Beak to bond, but Mo doesn't play or eat treats. I don't think there's a way we can wear down the barrier between them and it might only take time. Has anyone had a similar experience?
Thanks in advance!
*** Also I just want to add that we did do the gradual intro ("positive association" feeding between a door into increased exposure) which had gone smoothly, Mo gradually became comfortable eating with him and didn't care too much about Beaker having full range of the house, it's when Beak started seeking him out that Mo's confidence faltered.
This is somewhat surprising as Mo was raised with several other cats (and possibly dogs), and at the shelter was said to do quite well with others, but it's not the case this time. He is ok with eating a few feet from Beak but gets upset if Beak walks past him. He doesn't like if Beak is too close. We're pleased to see that Mo generally sleeps through things in his cat bed undisturbed, but the problem is that Beak wants Mo to interact with him so he deliberately seeks him out and will wake him up. Beak will approach him, try to play fight him (I say this because it's not aggressive and Beaker rolls belly up, trilling at Mo, so I believe it is just play), he just wants to be near Mo for whatever reason. Mo has given him howls, hisses, and rarely if provoked enough will swipe at Beak if Beak is stupid enough to sit right beside Mo on his favorite chair. It's like he doesn't understand that Mo doesn't like him even though Mo has made it pretty clear.
There's been no cat fighting, yet, but we keep Beaker up in the office overnight because I'm not ready to leave him out with Mo unattended. My hope is that things will simmer down, that Beak gives up on befriending Mo and that Mo no longer sees him as a threat. We've tried playing with them at the same time and giving them treats, I think this is what allowed Doodle and Beak to bond, but Mo doesn't play or eat treats. I don't think there's a way we can wear down the barrier between them and it might only take time. Has anyone had a similar experience?
Thanks in advance!
*** Also I just want to add that we did do the gradual intro ("positive association" feeding between a door into increased exposure) which had gone smoothly, Mo gradually became comfortable eating with him and didn't care too much about Beaker having full range of the house, it's when Beak started seeking him out that Mo's confidence faltered.
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