We ended up with another cat and it was a bit unexpected. To clarify, we had no time to prepare between knowing we'd be getting this cat and bringing him home. As a result, we don't have the room set up that we would have let him stay in for the first week or so while we introduce him to our other cats and dogs.
I've NEVER been in this situation before. I've always been able to introduce slowly and properly. I pretty much had to let him stay out with the other animals.
Now, we do have a gate in the kitchen that keeps the dogs out so for the most part, they don't bother him. He does seem afraid of them, but that's understandable.
Mia (surprisingly) just wants to be friends. She's tried to love him a few times and he's hissed/whacked at her. She seems to back up when he does though.
Jasper's a lil more stubborn and I think was offended that the new cat hissed at him, because he started hissing at him shortly after.
So far the only situations I've had are hisses and a few whacks. There are times that the new cat (Milo) will run up to them and hiss, and I'm afraid they might fight but I'm also afraid of stopping them to early.
Milo (the new cat) for the most part has been laying in the bed under my desk. He likes to curl under things and stay near people.
The shelter says he's a year but he's REALLY small and I feel like he may be closer to 5 months possibly.
He doesn't -seem- aggressive though he does initiate going up to the other cats from time to time and retreats shortly after.
He ate a little bit, but not a lot. He FINALLY peed a lot about 20 minutes ago in his litter box - I had to show him where it was though.
Has anyone been in this situation? Is there any advice for handling introductions when I'm pretty much forced to just introduce them right off the bat?
The other cats stalk near him but I think they're just trying to see him.
Mia and Sammy are interested in him, but haven't hissed or smacked at him. Jasper HAS hissed and smacked at him, though I think in retaliation.
When Milo gets scared, he hides. He watches them intently from his bed under my desk
When Jasper goes near the new litter box, Milo JUMPS up to rush over. I've kind of intervened before anything could happen - should I stop doing that and let them play it out?
SLIGHT update: Sammy did hiss, but Milo hissed first
This IS all normal right?
Whenever I get a new animal I go through sleepless periods like this wondering if it will all be okay but this is the first time I'm forced to do something a different and inaccurate way and I could use some hope here =( we want to really try and work with him.
It took us MONTHS with Mia when we got her but now she's super friendly, so I'm trying to keep that in mind
I've NEVER been in this situation before. I've always been able to introduce slowly and properly. I pretty much had to let him stay out with the other animals.
Now, we do have a gate in the kitchen that keeps the dogs out so for the most part, they don't bother him. He does seem afraid of them, but that's understandable.
Mia (surprisingly) just wants to be friends. She's tried to love him a few times and he's hissed/whacked at her. She seems to back up when he does though.
Jasper's a lil more stubborn and I think was offended that the new cat hissed at him, because he started hissing at him shortly after.
So far the only situations I've had are hisses and a few whacks. There are times that the new cat (Milo) will run up to them and hiss, and I'm afraid they might fight but I'm also afraid of stopping them to early.
Milo (the new cat) for the most part has been laying in the bed under my desk. He likes to curl under things and stay near people.
The shelter says he's a year but he's REALLY small and I feel like he may be closer to 5 months possibly.
He doesn't -seem- aggressive though he does initiate going up to the other cats from time to time and retreats shortly after.
He ate a little bit, but not a lot. He FINALLY peed a lot about 20 minutes ago in his litter box - I had to show him where it was though.
Has anyone been in this situation? Is there any advice for handling introductions when I'm pretty much forced to just introduce them right off the bat?
The other cats stalk near him but I think they're just trying to see him.
Mia and Sammy are interested in him, but haven't hissed or smacked at him. Jasper HAS hissed and smacked at him, though I think in retaliation.
When Milo gets scared, he hides. He watches them intently from his bed under my desk
When Jasper goes near the new litter box, Milo JUMPS up to rush over. I've kind of intervened before anything could happen - should I stop doing that and let them play it out?
SLIGHT update: Sammy did hiss, but Milo hissed first
This IS all normal right?
Whenever I get a new animal I go through sleepless periods like this wondering if it will all be okay but this is the first time I'm forced to do something a different and inaccurate way and I could use some hope here =( we want to really try and work with him.
It took us MONTHS with Mia when we got her but now she's super friendly, so I'm trying to keep that in mind
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