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Hi, I know this question gets asked ALOT, and I’ve read through all the “new cat” posts, and still am not finding any new ideas to help with our cat integration. Here’s the scoop on our situation.
THE RESIDENT: Our resident cat is a super affectionate two year old tripawd boy. (If you follow Jackson Galaxy, he is a total mojito). He has no off switch and just wants to be petted and cuddle all day. He’s energetic, curious, vocal, and makes a loud thumping noise when he walks.
THE NEWB: Our new cat is a four year old tortie female that we rescued from the shelter a few weeks before Christmas. She’s a nineteen pound obese wallflower who was dumped out in the country, trapped, brought to the shelter, and then adopted by us a month later. She loves being petted and brushed, and patiently allows me to wash/groom the areas she can’t reach because of her obesity. She flinches at every noise, and is on constant hyper vigilant alert. She’s not food driven (ironically), and dislikes wet food.
ENVIRONMENT: New cat was set up in our office and she clearly feels very happy and safe in there. Our barrier is a tall baby gate with a draped blanket, so she can see us, but not the resident cat. She’s been in there six weeks and has zero interest in leaving her safe room.
HISSUES!! Resident wants to meet new cat so badly - he sits at the baby gate all day, pawing at it, hitting it, poking through it, and meowing loudly. This freaks out the new girl beyond measure. She hisses nonstop at the resident cat and takes an aggressive body posture. It’s been six weeks and she still hasn’t stopped hissing at him. I’m terrified to take down the gate because I don’t want my resident tripawd sustaining a bite or losing an eye.
WHAT WE’VE TRIED: Scent swapping has had zero effect, there is no hissing or growling. Feeding on opposite sides of the door has no effect, because the new cat doesn’t rush to her bowl when I put it down. She will let it sit for hours, and only eat when she’s comfortable. (She’s on a prescription weight loss kibble diet, and is not yet interested in wet food at all). Site swapping has failed, as the new cat gets so stressed out that she just claws at her door trying to get back in. We’ve tried locking up the resident cat and taking down the gate, but the new cat still refuses to come out and explore. Feliway Diffusers are plugged in, and we are also giving new cat CBD drops orally and putting Rescue Remedy in her drinking water.
IDEAS? What’s left? I feel like we’ve tried every trick in the book. My friends say to let the new cat set the pace, that she’s just scared, and it could take months of separation. Other say that the new cat may always hate all other cats. My husband is over the segregation and wants to take down the barrier baby gate and let them work it out. Everything I’ve read says that cats don’t just “work it out”, and that violence will ensue. I’m stressed and open to any suggestions. I want both cats, and I want them both to be happy. Thank you!
THE RESIDENT: Our resident cat is a super affectionate two year old tripawd boy. (If you follow Jackson Galaxy, he is a total mojito). He has no off switch and just wants to be petted and cuddle all day. He’s energetic, curious, vocal, and makes a loud thumping noise when he walks.
THE NEWB: Our new cat is a four year old tortie female that we rescued from the shelter a few weeks before Christmas. She’s a nineteen pound obese wallflower who was dumped out in the country, trapped, brought to the shelter, and then adopted by us a month later. She loves being petted and brushed, and patiently allows me to wash/groom the areas she can’t reach because of her obesity. She flinches at every noise, and is on constant hyper vigilant alert. She’s not food driven (ironically), and dislikes wet food.
ENVIRONMENT: New cat was set up in our office and she clearly feels very happy and safe in there. Our barrier is a tall baby gate with a draped blanket, so she can see us, but not the resident cat. She’s been in there six weeks and has zero interest in leaving her safe room.
HISSUES!! Resident wants to meet new cat so badly - he sits at the baby gate all day, pawing at it, hitting it, poking through it, and meowing loudly. This freaks out the new girl beyond measure. She hisses nonstop at the resident cat and takes an aggressive body posture. It’s been six weeks and she still hasn’t stopped hissing at him. I’m terrified to take down the gate because I don’t want my resident tripawd sustaining a bite or losing an eye.
WHAT WE’VE TRIED: Scent swapping has had zero effect, there is no hissing or growling. Feeding on opposite sides of the door has no effect, because the new cat doesn’t rush to her bowl when I put it down. She will let it sit for hours, and only eat when she’s comfortable. (She’s on a prescription weight loss kibble diet, and is not yet interested in wet food at all). Site swapping has failed, as the new cat gets so stressed out that she just claws at her door trying to get back in. We’ve tried locking up the resident cat and taking down the gate, but the new cat still refuses to come out and explore. Feliway Diffusers are plugged in, and we are also giving new cat CBD drops orally and putting Rescue Remedy in her drinking water.
IDEAS? What’s left? I feel like we’ve tried every trick in the book. My friends say to let the new cat set the pace, that she’s just scared, and it could take months of separation. Other say that the new cat may always hate all other cats. My husband is over the segregation and wants to take down the barrier baby gate and let them work it out. Everything I’ve read says that cats don’t just “work it out”, and that violence will ensue. I’m stressed and open to any suggestions. I want both cats, and I want them both to be happy. Thank you!
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