Hi everyone, new here, looking for advice on a cat intro. I have done these before, several times, but this one is a bit difficult.
Looking for tips.
Quick history. Me, have two cats, one is 4 (Milo, male) and the other almost 2 (Abby, female). I had the a 16 yr old when I got Milo, Milo was a kitten at the time. When Milo was 2, my older guy passed away. A few months later Abby found me. So I brought Abby in and introduced her to Milo, after a while, fell into place. They are best friends now, cuddle together, play together, like they have been together their whole lives. Milo is shy around people and very clingy to me, Abby is crazy, she listens to no one, and does what she dang well pleases and however she pleases lol. She is crazy with a personality that would make anyone laugh 24/7, she loves everyone but me....deep down inside she secretly likes me tho and I know it. haha.
So it has just been us three.
Recently my partner moved in with me, and has a cat who adopted from a pound about 5 years ago, his age is unknown, guessing approximately 8 or 9 I would say. Name is Harley (male). Harley has had a few problems. When he was first taken home, they put a color on him and he went crazy, self mutilated himself around his neck to the point where he dug all the hair off around his neck even after they took away the color and never put it back on, he did it so bad his hair has not and will not fully grow back. This went on for a while and the vet eventually said the only solution was to declaw all four of his paws or put him on anxiety/depression meds. So he was declawed on all four paws. He is kind of shy and withdrawn around people, we think he was abused before he was taken to the animal shelter. He is very clingy to his owner as well. He does like me. He is just an odd little guy. He likes to lick plastic ALOT and didnt really know how to play until about a year ago.
So we did normal intros, Harley and his owner stayed in the spare bedroom, kept him alone in there for a bit, I even got feliway calming plug ins in Harley's room and the room outside his room. Did the whole scent thing, slow eating at the same time, slow see each other through door, let them see each others room etc. Abby, my 2 yr old female took right to Harley, Harley is ok with her too, they hang out alot in Harley's room and she visits him all the time and plays with him. (we leave the doors all open when we are at home so all cats can come and go as they wish, and Abby hangs with both cats equally) So Milo, my 4 yr old Male, he seems to try and bully Harley alot. Harley will try and wander out of his room and into the living room if we are all sitting out there, Milo will run towards him and Harley will freak out and run back into his room and onto the bed and stay there. It is like Milo is daring him to come out and when he does he bullies him back into his room and onto the bed. Milo has chased him to the point where it would have been a cat fight had we not caught them before it happened, Harley will not fight back, just run. He doesn't have claws either to defend himself.
When we go and get Harley and walk around with him in main areas where all the cats can go, Harley huffs and hisses and growls (while we are holding him because he gets stressed). I can take Milo and sit with him and pet him next to Harley in Harleys room on the bed, they just sit there and stare at each other but when I let Milo go he slinks off like he is gonna get in trouble. If I take Harley into Milos bedroom, he (Harley) freaks out and huffs and growls and gets upset
Harley also has seizures so we try and not stress to much.
Any suggestions? I on occasoin will take both Milo and Harley into the bathroom and sit with them for 10-15 min, I sit between them and just let them "be" in the same room together. They are both relaxed and just kind of watch each other. If we are in the living room and Milo is asleep in "his chair" and Harley comes walking out, as long as we say Milooooo Miloooo be good as Harley walks by, he wont chase after him or try anything.
It just seems hopeless at this point. Its like they will never be able to be peaceful. It has been about 9 weeks since Harley moved in with us.
Any advice?
Quick history. Me, have two cats, one is 4 (Milo, male) and the other almost 2 (Abby, female). I had the a 16 yr old when I got Milo, Milo was a kitten at the time. When Milo was 2, my older guy passed away. A few months later Abby found me. So I brought Abby in and introduced her to Milo, after a while, fell into place. They are best friends now, cuddle together, play together, like they have been together their whole lives. Milo is shy around people and very clingy to me, Abby is crazy, she listens to no one, and does what she dang well pleases and however she pleases lol. She is crazy with a personality that would make anyone laugh 24/7, she loves everyone but me....deep down inside she secretly likes me tho and I know it. haha.
So it has just been us three.
Recently my partner moved in with me, and has a cat who adopted from a pound about 5 years ago, his age is unknown, guessing approximately 8 or 9 I would say. Name is Harley (male). Harley has had a few problems. When he was first taken home, they put a color on him and he went crazy, self mutilated himself around his neck to the point where he dug all the hair off around his neck even after they took away the color and never put it back on, he did it so bad his hair has not and will not fully grow back. This went on for a while and the vet eventually said the only solution was to declaw all four of his paws or put him on anxiety/depression meds. So he was declawed on all four paws. He is kind of shy and withdrawn around people, we think he was abused before he was taken to the animal shelter. He is very clingy to his owner as well. He does like me. He is just an odd little guy. He likes to lick plastic ALOT and didnt really know how to play until about a year ago.
So we did normal intros, Harley and his owner stayed in the spare bedroom, kept him alone in there for a bit, I even got feliway calming plug ins in Harley's room and the room outside his room. Did the whole scent thing, slow eating at the same time, slow see each other through door, let them see each others room etc. Abby, my 2 yr old female took right to Harley, Harley is ok with her too, they hang out alot in Harley's room and she visits him all the time and plays with him. (we leave the doors all open when we are at home so all cats can come and go as they wish, and Abby hangs with both cats equally) So Milo, my 4 yr old Male, he seems to try and bully Harley alot. Harley will try and wander out of his room and into the living room if we are all sitting out there, Milo will run towards him and Harley will freak out and run back into his room and onto the bed and stay there. It is like Milo is daring him to come out and when he does he bullies him back into his room and onto the bed. Milo has chased him to the point where it would have been a cat fight had we not caught them before it happened, Harley will not fight back, just run. He doesn't have claws either to defend himself.
When we go and get Harley and walk around with him in main areas where all the cats can go, Harley huffs and hisses and growls (while we are holding him because he gets stressed). I can take Milo and sit with him and pet him next to Harley in Harleys room on the bed, they just sit there and stare at each other but when I let Milo go he slinks off like he is gonna get in trouble. If I take Harley into Milos bedroom, he (Harley) freaks out and huffs and growls and gets upset
Harley also has seizures so we try and not stress to much.
Any suggestions? I on occasoin will take both Milo and Harley into the bathroom and sit with them for 10-15 min, I sit between them and just let them "be" in the same room together. They are both relaxed and just kind of watch each other. If we are in the living room and Milo is asleep in "his chair" and Harley comes walking out, as long as we say Milooooo Miloooo be good as Harley walks by, he wont chase after him or try anything.
It just seems hopeless at this point. Its like they will never be able to be peaceful. It has been about 9 weeks since Harley moved in with us.
Any advice?
