- Joined
- Sep 20, 2018
- Messages
- 8
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I have 3 cats. Sid is elderly, Minnie is 2 years and Sophie is 12 weeks.
I've had Minnie from 6 weeks old. She loved playing with her BFF who was the same age. Tragically, Grace was killed 9 months ago. It broke my heart and I think it broke Minnie's heart too. She has always been a nervy, anxious cat but it got worse after we lost Grace.
Three weeks ago I was asked if I would consider taking Sophie who had been found starving and sick and nursed back to health by my local vet. I made the mistake of thinking Sophie might be a friend for Minnie. I spent 2 weeks carefully introducing them and it seemed to go ok. Sophie is a typical, extremely active kitten. Sid has swatted her a few times and she now leaves him alone which suits him well.
It's not going so well with Minnie. Initially they seemed to get on ok but as Sophie gets more confident she is becoming more playful. She leaps on Minnie, runs at her, tries to playfight with her. They have a microchip cat door which Sophie can't use at the moment but she lies in wait for poor Minnie to come in and smacks her face as she tries to enter. The result is that Minnie is spending more and more time outside and, more concerning to me, is eating less to the point I am now quite worried about her weight loss. (I am making a vet appointment to be sure it's nothing else but I'm pretty sure it's stress) Every time she tries to eat Sophie harrasses her so she gives up and goes outside.
I have set up a spare room for Minnie with another microchip cat door programmed only for her so she has somewhere inside to retreat to. I sit in there with her and give her food and treats and try and play with her but she's so anxious she just wants out. I've just started leaving food outside for her and I've seen her eating it today but it's really distressing to think Minnie is feeling driven away from her home.
I've made a mistake taking Sophie but once I commit to a pet then it's for life so I need to figure this out. Any suggestions would be very welcome.
I've had Minnie from 6 weeks old. She loved playing with her BFF who was the same age. Tragically, Grace was killed 9 months ago. It broke my heart and I think it broke Minnie's heart too. She has always been a nervy, anxious cat but it got worse after we lost Grace.
Three weeks ago I was asked if I would consider taking Sophie who had been found starving and sick and nursed back to health by my local vet. I made the mistake of thinking Sophie might be a friend for Minnie. I spent 2 weeks carefully introducing them and it seemed to go ok. Sophie is a typical, extremely active kitten. Sid has swatted her a few times and she now leaves him alone which suits him well.
It's not going so well with Minnie. Initially they seemed to get on ok but as Sophie gets more confident she is becoming more playful. She leaps on Minnie, runs at her, tries to playfight with her. They have a microchip cat door which Sophie can't use at the moment but she lies in wait for poor Minnie to come in and smacks her face as she tries to enter. The result is that Minnie is spending more and more time outside and, more concerning to me, is eating less to the point I am now quite worried about her weight loss. (I am making a vet appointment to be sure it's nothing else but I'm pretty sure it's stress) Every time she tries to eat Sophie harrasses her so she gives up and goes outside.
I have set up a spare room for Minnie with another microchip cat door programmed only for her so she has somewhere inside to retreat to. I sit in there with her and give her food and treats and try and play with her but she's so anxious she just wants out. I've just started leaving food outside for her and I've seen her eating it today but it's really distressing to think Minnie is feeling driven away from her home.
I've made a mistake taking Sophie but once I commit to a pet then it's for life so I need to figure this out. Any suggestions would be very welcome.