Hi all!
Just after a bit of advice and reassurance.
We have this week introduced a new kitten to our family.
Elizabeth was always going to be a bit of a process with the introduction, as the big boss cat, we already know she needs a few days to state her position in the herd.
Percival was introduced 3 years ago and it took around 5 days for them to be friends, and since then they've been pretty much inseparable, with her taking a very motherly role towards him.
Since we introduced kitten (14 weeks old), she has not only been growling and hissing at her (expected) but also at Percival, who seems quite confused as he's doing nothing different, and only wants to sleep next to her as he usually does.
He's unbothered by the new kitten, which again, was expected, he is a fundamentally kind and simple being who is happy as long as he has food, but we're a little concerned that he's now being bullied by Elizabeth.
Is there anything we can do to try and reassure her that Percival is still friend, not foe, and to ensure that he doesn't feel displaced by her behaviour?
I imagine once she accepts kitten, it'll all settle down(?), but he doesn't deserve this in the meantime.
Behaviour wise neither Elizabeth, Percy nor kitten have shown any real concerning aggression beyond hissing and growling. There's been a few bats on the head without claws when kitten has got too bold, but no puffing up, no flattened ears and no approaching aggression, both big cats seem more keen for kitten to keep a distance for now, and actively remove themselves when she gets too close, which is absolutely fine. As soon as they're out of eachothers eyesights, it's tails up and purring again.
Additionally kitten is still currently in a separated room, with just supervised introduction time between them all, otherwise Percy and Elizabeth have free reign aside from a few hours for kitten to explore the living room every now and again, while big cats explore her room and scent.
She's mostly being aggressive to him at night, when we're (trying) to sleep.
Just after a bit of advice and reassurance.
We have this week introduced a new kitten to our family.
Elizabeth was always going to be a bit of a process with the introduction, as the big boss cat, we already know she needs a few days to state her position in the herd.
Percival was introduced 3 years ago and it took around 5 days for them to be friends, and since then they've been pretty much inseparable, with her taking a very motherly role towards him.
Since we introduced kitten (14 weeks old), she has not only been growling and hissing at her (expected) but also at Percival, who seems quite confused as he's doing nothing different, and only wants to sleep next to her as he usually does.
He's unbothered by the new kitten, which again, was expected, he is a fundamentally kind and simple being who is happy as long as he has food, but we're a little concerned that he's now being bullied by Elizabeth.
Is there anything we can do to try and reassure her that Percival is still friend, not foe, and to ensure that he doesn't feel displaced by her behaviour?
I imagine once she accepts kitten, it'll all settle down(?), but he doesn't deserve this in the meantime.
Behaviour wise neither Elizabeth, Percy nor kitten have shown any real concerning aggression beyond hissing and growling. There's been a few bats on the head without claws when kitten has got too bold, but no puffing up, no flattened ears and no approaching aggression, both big cats seem more keen for kitten to keep a distance for now, and actively remove themselves when she gets too close, which is absolutely fine. As soon as they're out of eachothers eyesights, it's tails up and purring again.
Additionally kitten is still currently in a separated room, with just supervised introduction time between them all, otherwise Percy and Elizabeth have free reign aside from a few hours for kitten to explore the living room every now and again, while big cats explore her room and scent.
She's mostly being aggressive to him at night, when we're (trying) to sleep.
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