- Joined
- Jul 26, 2005
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Hi everyone, long story short: I am helping out a friend by taking care of her cat for a few months while she is out of the country. I have 2 cats of my own that are both a little over a year old, both energetic and playfull.
So I followed the procedure from the articles online about how to introduce a new cat to the household with other cats. She was kept isolated for 2 weeks, I fed my cats by her door, exchanged towels between cats, gave them all catnip, etc. Then I let her out to meet my cats. Except for a few hisses here and there, there wasn't much of an initial aggression between the cats. Now, it's been about a week since they are in the same room, but the problem is, my friend's cat spends all day and all night long under the couch in the living room. My cats have gotten used to her and ignore her, they now even sleep in her kitty bed! But she just won't come out, except for maybe to use the bathroom. I put a bowl of dry food and water for her behind the couch and she eats it if she gets there before my cats do, but I am worried about her. She clearly seems unhappy.
She is an older cat (over 10 years old), she doesn't like to play, runs away from toys and lazer beams, the only two things she likes are catnip and to be pet.
Is that behavior normal? Is there a chance she might eventually come out and socialize with other cats?
So I followed the procedure from the articles online about how to introduce a new cat to the household with other cats. She was kept isolated for 2 weeks, I fed my cats by her door, exchanged towels between cats, gave them all catnip, etc. Then I let her out to meet my cats. Except for a few hisses here and there, there wasn't much of an initial aggression between the cats. Now, it's been about a week since they are in the same room, but the problem is, my friend's cat spends all day and all night long under the couch in the living room. My cats have gotten used to her and ignore her, they now even sleep in her kitty bed! But she just won't come out, except for maybe to use the bathroom. I put a bowl of dry food and water for her behind the couch and she eats it if she gets there before my cats do, but I am worried about her. She clearly seems unhappy.
Is that behavior normal? Is there a chance she might eventually come out and socialize with other cats?