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- Jan 9, 2006
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We got a Himalayan kitten 3 weeks ago, Smokey. We already have a 2 year Persian old cat, Austin, who has lived with us since he was 9 weeks.
The first day we introducted them, Austin hissed and growled. From that day on, he retreated to an upstairs bedroom and refused to come downstairs, even for food and water. It got to the point where we had to move everything (litter, food, water) upstairs because he would not come down. Smokey tried sniffing him, etc but Austin would growl and hiss and try to swat him.
After about 2 weeks or so, the two have been slowly getting to be around each other for longer periods of time and Austin has finally started to walk around the house like normal. Last week we thought we had a breakthrough, because Austin and Smokey sat next to each other with no hissing or growling and seem to be getting along ok.
Well...yesterday Austin jumped on top of Smokey and pinned him down and was biting him. We quickly separated them and put Smokey in the room w/ his litter, etc and shut the door. Today it happened again when Austin came downstairs this a.m. We think Smokey might have instigated it, because he's started to be more brave and chase Austin around and try to bite his tail, and so on.
Trying to keep them constantly separated is stressful and we have a somewhat small house so keeping them apart is difficult anyway...esp because the baby is small and fast, he's hard to catch sometimes! He now runs up the steps so Austin cant hide from him there! When we go out, we're forced to shut the kitten in his room with his litter and food because we fear that Austin might hurt Smokey.
I've read a few things online but short of medicating them, not finding many answers. I know it's only been 3 weeks, so maybe it will just take longer.
Any advice would be appreciated!
The first day we introducted them, Austin hissed and growled. From that day on, he retreated to an upstairs bedroom and refused to come downstairs, even for food and water. It got to the point where we had to move everything (litter, food, water) upstairs because he would not come down. Smokey tried sniffing him, etc but Austin would growl and hiss and try to swat him.
After about 2 weeks or so, the two have been slowly getting to be around each other for longer periods of time and Austin has finally started to walk around the house like normal. Last week we thought we had a breakthrough, because Austin and Smokey sat next to each other with no hissing or growling and seem to be getting along ok.
Well...yesterday Austin jumped on top of Smokey and pinned him down and was biting him. We quickly separated them and put Smokey in the room w/ his litter, etc and shut the door. Today it happened again when Austin came downstairs this a.m. We think Smokey might have instigated it, because he's started to be more brave and chase Austin around and try to bite his tail, and so on.
Trying to keep them constantly separated is stressful and we have a somewhat small house so keeping them apart is difficult anyway...esp because the baby is small and fast, he's hard to catch sometimes! He now runs up the steps so Austin cant hide from him there! When we go out, we're forced to shut the kitten in his room with his litter and food because we fear that Austin might hurt Smokey.
I've read a few things online but short of medicating them, not finding many answers. I know it's only been 3 weeks, so maybe it will just take longer.
Any advice would be appreciated!