- Joined
- Mar 15, 2024
- Messages
- 2
- Purraise
- 4
Hi, folks! I joined this forum because I honestly didn't want to face all the nastiness that's all too common on the Facebook ragdoll groups.
Anyway, we have three ragdolls. Our first and oldest, Zuli (7), who got in 2019, came from a not ideal situation where her owner tried and failed to breed her. As such, she was very scared when we brought her home and it took her a month to stop hiding under our dining room table and many months for her to show signs of affection. Our second, Sapphire, we got in 2020 as a 7-month old kitchen. Sapphi is very well adjusted and friendly and took to us immediately. Zuli hated her at first and when Sapphi got too close Zuli would hiss and growl and they'd occasionally get into fights. It took about six months for Zuli to accept her, and for a year they'd both sleep on our bed (one of the best things about owning cats!).
Then, In December 2023, we got Vivi, a retired 4-year old breeder. We got her mainly to be a companion to Sapphi. Vivi is the most affectionate of our three, but she's also very assertive. And Zuli absolutely hates her and fears her. To the point where Zuli basically doesn't move from her "safe" space on top of a floor heating duct in our kitchen. She'll leave only to use a litter box in another room, and only when Vivi isn't around. She is okay if Vivi doesn't get closer than 3-4 feet. But then Vivi gets in her face, trying to play, and Zuli growls and howls and runs away, with Vivi chasing her, until she finds a hiding space under a couch.
This can happen many times a day.
I feel very heartbroken about this, since Zuli seems to be imprisoning herself and not enjoying the run of the house like she once did. We used Feliway in the kitchen to see if this would ease tensions but it didn't do much good. She doesn't meow at all, and other than watching Vivi when she comes into the kitchen, she doesn't get very upset until Vivi gets too close.
Zuli seems to be eating okay (when Vivi isn't eating her food) and she still lets up pet her and will play with me in her spot. But I'm worried that she might end up spending the rest of her life in that little corner. I would hate to have to rehome her, since she really loves us and, I'm not sure having to get used to another home--even as a solo cat--would be the best thing for her. Should I just wait to see if this situation improves?
Anyway, we have three ragdolls. Our first and oldest, Zuli (7), who got in 2019, came from a not ideal situation where her owner tried and failed to breed her. As such, she was very scared when we brought her home and it took her a month to stop hiding under our dining room table and many months for her to show signs of affection. Our second, Sapphire, we got in 2020 as a 7-month old kitchen. Sapphi is very well adjusted and friendly and took to us immediately. Zuli hated her at first and when Sapphi got too close Zuli would hiss and growl and they'd occasionally get into fights. It took about six months for Zuli to accept her, and for a year they'd both sleep on our bed (one of the best things about owning cats!).
Then, In December 2023, we got Vivi, a retired 4-year old breeder. We got her mainly to be a companion to Sapphi. Vivi is the most affectionate of our three, but she's also very assertive. And Zuli absolutely hates her and fears her. To the point where Zuli basically doesn't move from her "safe" space on top of a floor heating duct in our kitchen. She'll leave only to use a litter box in another room, and only when Vivi isn't around. She is okay if Vivi doesn't get closer than 3-4 feet. But then Vivi gets in her face, trying to play, and Zuli growls and howls and runs away, with Vivi chasing her, until she finds a hiding space under a couch.
This can happen many times a day.
I feel very heartbroken about this, since Zuli seems to be imprisoning herself and not enjoying the run of the house like she once did. We used Feliway in the kitchen to see if this would ease tensions but it didn't do much good. She doesn't meow at all, and other than watching Vivi when she comes into the kitchen, she doesn't get very upset until Vivi gets too close.
Zuli seems to be eating okay (when Vivi isn't eating her food) and she still lets up pet her and will play with me in her spot. But I'm worried that she might end up spending the rest of her life in that little corner. I would hate to have to rehome her, since she really loves us and, I'm not sure having to get used to another home--even as a solo cat--would be the best thing for her. Should I just wait to see if this situation improves?
