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- Jul 17, 2017
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Hi all, I am new to the forum and seeking some help. About three weeks ago I adopted a three year old cat from the shelter, Nymeria. She is a spunky little girl who has been living in my bedroom thus far. My older cat, Pandora, is having a very hard time adjusting to her presence. I've been trying the textbook slow introduction but it is going slooow and Pandora's reactions also seem overly extreme.
For the first week or so I just inched Pandora's food bowl over to the door, because she refused to eat if the bowl moved suddenly. Finally I got her to the door, and even got the door cracked open and propped with doorstops after a few days so the cats could see each other while they ate. There was some hissing but it wasn't too bad, but then Pandora became sick. She had diarrhea, then vomiting and constipation. I took her to the vet, they gave her fluids and prescribed pepcid, which I'm still giving her at home. We're not sure of the cause but her vomiting has stopped and I'm continuing to monitor her. During that week or so I ceased cat introductions to reduce Pandora's stress and allow her to recover.
Fast forward to this week, we started over again with the food bowl outside the door, cracking the door open a bit so they can see each other, and now I've tried to push it a little and let them interact a little with the door open at mealtimes. This is where I am now. We've done this a few times, and each time Nymeria darts for Pandora's food and I redirect Nymeria to her own. Nymeria eats some more, Pandora walks away without eating, and Nymeria darts after her. A chase and a fight erupts and I have to separate them. Pandora sits huddled and growling for at least a half hour after separation.
The bigger problem now, Pandora is simply refusing to eat. I may be wrong but it feels like rather than associating Nymeria with "good things" like food she's started to associate food with "bad things" like a cat running at her full throttle. She's also creeping around the house looking for Nymeria around every corner even though Nymeria is currently locked in the bedroom.
Is this normal behavior? Am I doing this right? Pandora has a history of some anxiety, she is an overgroomer which I'm told is an OCD behavior for cats. I do use a feliway diffuser, and recently started giving her a treat called Solliquin which is supposed to be calming (though she's not always eating it these days). I myself have anxiety and this introduction, as well as having to have Nymeria live in my bedroom, are also taking their toll on me. Any thoughts or advice are much appreciated...
For the first week or so I just inched Pandora's food bowl over to the door, because she refused to eat if the bowl moved suddenly. Finally I got her to the door, and even got the door cracked open and propped with doorstops after a few days so the cats could see each other while they ate. There was some hissing but it wasn't too bad, but then Pandora became sick. She had diarrhea, then vomiting and constipation. I took her to the vet, they gave her fluids and prescribed pepcid, which I'm still giving her at home. We're not sure of the cause but her vomiting has stopped and I'm continuing to monitor her. During that week or so I ceased cat introductions to reduce Pandora's stress and allow her to recover.
Fast forward to this week, we started over again with the food bowl outside the door, cracking the door open a bit so they can see each other, and now I've tried to push it a little and let them interact a little with the door open at mealtimes. This is where I am now. We've done this a few times, and each time Nymeria darts for Pandora's food and I redirect Nymeria to her own. Nymeria eats some more, Pandora walks away without eating, and Nymeria darts after her. A chase and a fight erupts and I have to separate them. Pandora sits huddled and growling for at least a half hour after separation.
The bigger problem now, Pandora is simply refusing to eat. I may be wrong but it feels like rather than associating Nymeria with "good things" like food she's started to associate food with "bad things" like a cat running at her full throttle. She's also creeping around the house looking for Nymeria around every corner even though Nymeria is currently locked in the bedroom.
Is this normal behavior? Am I doing this right? Pandora has a history of some anxiety, she is an overgroomer which I'm told is an OCD behavior for cats. I do use a feliway diffuser, and recently started giving her a treat called Solliquin which is supposed to be calming (though she's not always eating it these days). I myself have anxiety and this introduction, as well as having to have Nymeria live in my bedroom, are also taking their toll on me. Any thoughts or advice are much appreciated...