Please tell me this can be rectified (cat introduction)

[BengallingAround]

Hello everyone. I'm new here and want to ask about introducing our 2 Bengals.

Milo is 6 months old and is as big as a fully grown cat. Koli is 17 weeks old. We've had Koli for 1 week.

Milo isn't overly amused about this kitten moving into his territory.

Unfortunately, on day 2, Milo got into the bedroom with Koli. After a bit of growling, he chased him across the room. No injuries, he didn't hurt him, he just scared him. Not a great first introduction.

Since then, they've been separated. We've been scent swapping and also a bit of site swapping.

Do you think they can get on after this?

Koli was scared at first but now he has a great time venturing out into Milo's territory when he's not around.

Milo is definitely anxious about having another cat around. He wants to get into Koli's territory to see what's happening.

Any advice would be most appreciated!

 

[tarasgirl06]

Hello everyone. I'm new here and want to ask about introducing our 2 Bengals.

Milo is 6 months old and is as big as a fully grown cat. Koli is 17 weeks old. We've had Koli for 1 week.

Milo isn't overly amused about this kitten moving into his territory.

Unfortunately, on day 2, Milo got into the bedroom with Koli. After a bit of growling, he chased him across the room. No injuries, he didn't hurt him, he just scared him. Not a great first introduction.

Since then, they've been separated. We've been scent swapping and also a bit of site swapping.

Do you think they can get on after this?

Koli was scared at first but now he has a great time venturing out into Milo's territory when he's not around.

Milo is definitely anxious about having another cat around. He wants to get into Koli's territory to see what's happening.

Any advice would be most appreciated!

Hello B BengallingAround and welcome to TCS! Well, I'm a "rescued" fan myself so know nothing about Bengals. But it sounds from your terminology that you have good cat knowledge and so you may know cat behaviorist, Jackson Galaxy "The Cat Daddy" has knowledge of Bengals and other "purebred" cat behavior. You may want to see what he says on YouTube or via his other links if you haven't already. I believe he would recommend going back to square 1 and starting over with the introductions. Hopefully other TCS members with more knowledge/suggestions will weigh in here.

 

[BengallingAround]

Hello B BengallingAround and welcome to TCS! Well, I'm a "rescued" fan myself so know nothing about Bengals. But it sounds from your terminology that you have good cat knowledge and so you may know cat behaviorist, Jackson Galaxy "The Cat Daddy" has knowledge of Bengals and other "purebred" cat behavior. You may want to see what he says on YouTube or via his other links if you haven't already. I believe he would recommend going back to square 1 and starting over with the introductions. Hopefully other TCS members with more knowledge/suggestions will weigh in here.

Hi tarasgirl06

Thank you. Yes, I've been reading and watching Jackson Galaxy.

I suppose I'm hoping to hear from others that it's still possible that they can have a good relationship. Maybe some cats that lived happily ever after a failed intro.

I really wish I could go back in time and that hadn't happened.

 

[tarasgirl06]

Hi tarasgirl06

Thank you. Yes, I've been reading and watching Jackson Galaxy.

I suppose I'm hoping to hear from others that it's still possible that they can have a good relationship. Maybe some cats that lived happily ever after a failed intro.

I really wish I could go back in time and that hadn't happened.

I absolutely believe it can happen! That's why I recommended JG. I have absolute confidence that they can form a bond. Yes, hopefully others will have good info/suggestions.

 

[susanm9006]

Even though Milo may look like an adult cat, he is still a kitten, and about 99% of the time two kittens will become best friends and playmates in short order. Start introducing them thru a semi closed door or a gate so that they can see one another but not get at one another. Then after a few days start with short face to face. There very well may be chasing because that is what kittens do but this is also how they start to play as well. Then give them supervised time together for longer periods.

 

[BengallingAround]

Even though Milo may look like an adult cat, he is still a kitten, and about 99% of the time two kittens will become best friends and playmates in short order. Start introducing them thru a semi closed door or a gate so that they can see one another but not get at one another. Then after a few days start with short face to face. There very well may be chasing because that is what kittens do but this is also how they start to play as well. Then give them supervised time together for longer periods.

Thanks susanm9006 - I hope so!

We're currently considering what kind of screen door will work for our strange shaped door.

 

[DeesCats]

Welcome to TCS B BengallingAround !

Some members have success using stacked baby gates or wire closet shelving zipped tied together like an accordion.

Another option if you are handy is to use 2 x 2 lumber to make a frame that fits the doorway snugly and staple flexible plastic garden fencing to the frame.

If the doorway opening is odd shaped at the top, you can always add stiff cardboard to the top of doorway or the DIY door.

I've never had Bengal cats but have seen posts from other members who say they are determined to explore when and where they want and overcome obstacles easily.

 

[BengallingAround]

Welcome to TCS B BengallingAround !

Some members have success using stacked baby gates or wire closet shelving zipped tied together like an accordion.

Another option if you are handy is to use 2 x 2 lumber to make a frame that fits the doorway snugly and staple flexible plastic garden fencing to the frame.

If the doorway opening is odd shaped at the top, you can always add stiff cardboard to the top of doorway or the DIY door.

I've never had Bengal cats but have seen posts from other members who say they are determined to explore when and where they want and overcome obstacles easily.

Hi D DeesCats , thank you for the reply.

We're trying out a full length glass door but I'm wondering if it needs to be mesh or something with holes so they can smell through the door.

 

[DeesCats]

The glass door will give them visuals of each other and some sniffing opportunities but mesh or screen will allow some physical contact such as nose and paw touching and also allow you to give treats to each for good interaction.

There are some great cat articles in the Library so here are some links:
How to Successfully Introduce Cats the Ultimate Guide
Introducing Cats to Cats
How to Fix and Unsuccessful Cat Introduction just in case there are issues.

Hope this helps.

 

[BengallingAround]

The glass door will give them visuals of each other and some sniffing opportunities but mesh or screen will allow some physical contact such as nose and paw touching and also allow you to give treats to each for good interaction.

There are some great cat articles in the Library so here are some links:
How to Successfully Introduce Cats the Ultimate Guide
Introducing Cats to Cats
How to Fix and Unsuccessful Cat Introduction just in case there are issues.

Hope this helps.

Thank you for the links.

We have a mesh door screen arriving tomorrow. Hopefully that will work better. The double glazed door felt too prohibitive.

 

[Meowmee]

What happened so far sounds pretty normal to me as far as cat intros go. I think it’s entirely possible. They’re going to be BFF over time.

You can re-isolate the younger kitten and then slowly introduce them through the screen doors like people suggested and through scent swapping. Milo is going to try to dominate Koi because this is his territory and he’s the older kitten… in the end I’m sure they’re going to be friends. And the one who is the top cat may change depending on their personalities.

I have never had a Bengal cat so I don’t know the specifics of them, but I do know from what I have read that they tend to be a little bit more domineering than other cats, I have a purebred Siamese who is like that too.

He is always the hardest one when we’re doing cat introductions, and it can take longer. He will definitely hiss and growl and stuff like that but each time he has adapted to every new cat who joined the family- except for Fred, who kept running behind the bed all of the time.

But even with Fred, he didn’t hiss and growl at him after a time and tolerated him. He like to chase him behind the bed too.

He had gotten through that initial phase when Fred first came in and was in a trap. But for some reason, he never fully accepted Fred who was always running behind the bed, etc.

Whereas with cinnamon who came in not long after and who was Fred BFF he totally accepted him and they eat/ sleep & play together etc. it didn’t completely happen until after Merlin died though. Because Merlin was more domineering with Fred and cinnamon and I guess Quinn fell in line with that.

It was odd though because he was friends with cinnamon through the screen door to the outside sniffing and was doing Patty cake paws but when cinnamon came inside all of a sudden cinnamon was the enemy, lol.

The hardest was with Sybil. She was the resident older cat, and he was a kitten who would not stop jumping onto her. I tried everything possible, but in the end at the end of her life when she had HCM, I had to keep him away from her as much as possible, so as not to cause her stress.

These are all adult cats that I’m talking about here. Your cats are kittens so it should be easy peasy.

There are probably other videos on YouTube about people introducing their Bengal cats together also. I will try to find one.

 

[BengallingAround]

What happened so far sounds pretty normal to me as far as cat intros go. I think it’s entirely possible. They’re going to be BFF over time.

You can re-isolate the younger kitten and then slowly introduce them through the screen doors like people suggested and through scent swapping. Milo is going to try to dominate Koi because this is his territory and he’s the older kitten… in the end I’m sure they’re going to be friends. And the one who is the top cat may change depending on their personalities.

I have never had a Bengal cat so I don’t know the specifics of them, but I do know from what I have read that they tend to be a little bit more domineering than other cats, I have a purebred Siamese who is like that too.

He is always the hardest one when we’re doing cat introductions, and it can take longer. He will definitely hiss and growl and stuff like that but each time he has adapted to every new cat who joined the family- except for Fred, who kept running behind the bed all of the time.

But even with Fred, he didn’t hiss and growl at him after a time and tolerated him. He like to chase him behind the bed too.

He had gotten through that initial phase when Fred first came in and was in a trap. But for some reason, he never fully accepted Fred who was always running behind the bed, etc.

Whereas with cinnamon who came in not long after and who was Fred BFF he totally accepted him and they eat/ sleep & play together etc. it didn’t completely happen until after Merlin died though. Because Merlin was more domineering with Fred and cinnamon and I guess Quinn fell in line with that.

It was odd though because he was friends with cinnamon through the screen door to the outside sniffing and was doing Patty cake paws but when cinnamon came inside all of a sudden cinnamon was the enemy, lol.

The hardest was with Sybil. She was the resident older cat, and he was a kitten who would not stop jumping onto her. I tried everything possible, but in the end at the end of her life when she had HCM, I had to keep him away from her as much as possible, so as not to cause her stress.

These are all adult cats that I’m talking about here. Your cats are kittens so it should be easy peasy.

There are probably other videos on YouTube about people introducing their Bengal cats together also. I will try to find one.

Hi Meowmee , thanks for sharing your story. It's so interesting how introducing new personalities and changing dynamics can change things so much.

I hope so. We're going to put up the screen today and see what happens

 

[Meowmee]

Hi Meowmee , thanks for sharing your story. It's so interesting how introducing new personalities and changing dynamics can change things so much.

I hope so. We're going to put up the screen today and see what happens

Please post pics of your guys

 

[BengallingAround]

Please post pics of your guys

Here they are. Our little darlings 🩷

 

[BengallingAround]

They're both laying on the same bed in those pics

 

[BengallingAround]

UPDATE

We have the door screen in place and Milo (6 months) has launched himself at the screen a couple of times when Koli is vaguely close. He's trying to force his way through.

I have no idea what he'd do if he made it through. He hasn't hissed or growled but seems very determined to get to the little one.

Koli (17 weeks) hisses if Milo is closeby. He was scared to go near the door tonight. We didn't push it - We decided to leave it until tomorrow.

What do you think? Is this normal for day 1 with the screen?

Thank you in advance for any advice.

 

[DeesCats]

Milo and Koli are very beautiful cats, thanks for sharing the pics.

Is the screen door secure as well as the screen material? Any chance of a pic of the screen door?

I think Milo is acting fairly normal though maybe a video would help if he just wants to get with Koli despite the screen door. Is there also a solid door whether wood or glass in addition to the screen door?

My resident cats also tried to get through the DIY garden mesh door we made to separate the new guy though they didn't launch themselves at the door. They were more pressing against the mesh and digging at it with their paws and nails as well as reaching underneath the door to play footsie as we intentionally left a gap.

 

[BengallingAround]

Milo and Koli are very beautiful cats, thanks for sharing the pics.

Is the screen door secure as well as the screen material? Any chance of a pic of the screen door?

I think Milo is acting fairly normal though maybe a video would help if he just wants to get with Koli despite the screen door. Is there also a solid door whether wood or glass in addition to the screen door?

My resident cats also tried to get through the DIY garden mesh door we made to separate the new guy though they didn't launch themselves at the door. They were more pressing against the mesh and digging at it with their paws and nails as well as reaching underneath the door to play footsie as we intentionally left a gap.

The screen is secure. It's velcro and nailed into place, thank goodness. There is a proper door too but we've been trying to use the mesh as there's no glass at the bottom to see each other.

Oh he completely threw himself against the screen a couple of separate times. I'll record him tomorrow and see if he does it again. No hissing or growling though for a while now.

Oooh another thing he's been doing today when he can't bust through the screen is immediately jump onto his wheel and have a little treadmill run. It's almost like a release of frustration. Does that sounds likely? It's happened too many times today to be coincidence.

The big guy does try to get his paw through the kitten's safe room door. That seems quite gentle - but that door is solid and although he knows the kitten is in there, he can't see him.

I have a suspicion that he just wants to see the little one and have a good sniff but I know the little one will react with fear and we could end in a stand off.

 

[BengallingAround]

We have properly sealed the bottom. We were worried that, if there was a gap, Milo would force his way under. He's very resourceful

 

[tarasgirl06]

Yes. One thing I do know about Bengals, being cats, is that they are very smart and resourceful. Your doors look great! and it sounds as if they will definitely do the job. And absolutely, Milo is taking a PAWSitive approach to working off his frustration at not getting through the door, by spending time on his wheel (glad you have that, BTW. I've seen on Jackson Galaxy media that a wheel is almost mandatory for Bengals, Savannahs and any other wild/domestic hybrid). Smart guy! If you're around when he does that, you might consider immediately giving him a high value treat and praising him. That's reinforcement for his good action.