About 6 months ago, I found an abandoned kitten and adopted her. Named her Honey. The vet estimated she was a month old putting her at 7 months now. She grew up to begin with in a house with two yellow labs, but I brought her with me when I moved a few months ago, so she became a single pet. I started noticing behavior issues after the move which I know is a common reaction to stress. I purchased a Feliway diffuser and had her spayed and those in combination with time for her to get used to her surroundings seemed to correct the issues.
Then, about a month ago, I adopted a new cat, Fudgey, from the Humane Society. He's a 9 year old fixed male. When I first brought him home, we went through the initial introduction steps. I kept them separated for about a week, switching their rooms so they could adjust to each other's scents and feeding them near the door so they would associate the other cat with good things. Fudgey had no reaction to the scent of Honey. He had been at the shelter for an extended period of time so he probably was used to the smell of other cats. Honey however initially had pretty violent reactions. Every time she would smell him or see him under the door she would hiss like crazy. I kept them separated until she no longer hissed at him from under the door and things seemed to go okay. I had surgery just a few days after integrating them so I was off work for a week and was able to monitor their behavior. No issues.
No issues until about 3 days ago, that is. Now, any time they are within proximity of each other, Honey pounces on Fudgey. She typically goes for his neck/head and bites his ears. Fudgey most of the time has no reaction but sometimes he (understandably) kinda snaps and goes after her. He'll start a high speed chase through the apartment until he corners her, causing her to freak out and hiss and growl and attack his face. This is happening once every couple of hours. I'm still using the Feliway diffuser but it doesn't seem to be helping. It also seems to be exacerbated at night, which is keeping me awake. And me being exhausted is certainly not helping the situation. I have separated them, but that's causing just as many issues. They meow and cry for each other at the door relentlessly and Honey even rips up the carpet trying to get under it to see her brother.
I just really don't know what to do. Fudgey has some health problems and I hate that he's having to deal with a kitten bullying the crap out of him constantly. They initially weren't having any trouble getting along so this is a bit confusing. At the same time, I'm worried that Honey is really being traumatized when he corners her off. The hissing and growling and crying noises she makes whenever he finally catches her are horrible. Is there anything I can do to make this behavior stop? I'm afraid Honey is going to seriously hurt Fudgey every time he catches her, and obviously cat fights are not something anyone wants to have in their house all day and night.
info:
850 sq ft apartment, 1 bedroom apt
2 litter boxes
Fed in two different areas, twice per day
Honey: 7 mos, American shorthair, tortoiseshell coloring
Fudgey: 9 yrs 7 mos, Himalayan mix
Several cat perches and hiding spots available
They're typically alone 4-8 hours per day
Thanks in advance everyone!
Then, about a month ago, I adopted a new cat, Fudgey, from the Humane Society. He's a 9 year old fixed male. When I first brought him home, we went through the initial introduction steps. I kept them separated for about a week, switching their rooms so they could adjust to each other's scents and feeding them near the door so they would associate the other cat with good things. Fudgey had no reaction to the scent of Honey. He had been at the shelter for an extended period of time so he probably was used to the smell of other cats. Honey however initially had pretty violent reactions. Every time she would smell him or see him under the door she would hiss like crazy. I kept them separated until she no longer hissed at him from under the door and things seemed to go okay. I had surgery just a few days after integrating them so I was off work for a week and was able to monitor their behavior. No issues.
No issues until about 3 days ago, that is. Now, any time they are within proximity of each other, Honey pounces on Fudgey. She typically goes for his neck/head and bites his ears. Fudgey most of the time has no reaction but sometimes he (understandably) kinda snaps and goes after her. He'll start a high speed chase through the apartment until he corners her, causing her to freak out and hiss and growl and attack his face. This is happening once every couple of hours. I'm still using the Feliway diffuser but it doesn't seem to be helping. It also seems to be exacerbated at night, which is keeping me awake. And me being exhausted is certainly not helping the situation. I have separated them, but that's causing just as many issues. They meow and cry for each other at the door relentlessly and Honey even rips up the carpet trying to get under it to see her brother.
I just really don't know what to do. Fudgey has some health problems and I hate that he's having to deal with a kitten bullying the crap out of him constantly. They initially weren't having any trouble getting along so this is a bit confusing. At the same time, I'm worried that Honey is really being traumatized when he corners her off. The hissing and growling and crying noises she makes whenever he finally catches her are horrible. Is there anything I can do to make this behavior stop? I'm afraid Honey is going to seriously hurt Fudgey every time he catches her, and obviously cat fights are not something anyone wants to have in their house all day and night.
info:
850 sq ft apartment, 1 bedroom apt
2 litter boxes
Fed in two different areas, twice per day
Honey: 7 mos, American shorthair, tortoiseshell coloring
Fudgey: 9 yrs 7 mos, Himalayan mix
Several cat perches and hiding spots available
They're typically alone 4-8 hours per day
Thanks in advance everyone!
