- Joined
- Aug 18, 2020
- Messages
- 7
- Purraise
- 4
I'll try to keep this as brief as possible, and say thank you as I've been reading these posts for the past month.
BACKGROUND on intro:
Adopted a female 1.5YO 1 day after spay surgery. The Shelter said she was fine with other cats, just NOT dogs.
Did a slow intro (1 mo) until she was comfortable with the house and resident cat was not freaked out or aggressive (unless provoked).
No open feeding, followed Galaxy slow cat intro steps.
After 1 mo. Fed across a closed French door (with windows), no hissing but some "fighting" and swatting underneath doors.
Interactions:
Resident cat - Toonie seems to have gained confidence and will hiss now only when attacked (for no reason)
New cat - Ripley hunts, stalks and gives chase and lays claws into Toonie whenever she can.
Ripley will not accept love, pets or very much physical comfort from me (I don't push it but love is offered). She allows my husband to pet and scratch her head. She greets him with affection, swipes, rolling on the ground and verbal hello - which is amazing. (He is minimally involved but happy to give love).
Cats are only in the same room with only supervised time, "together" time has increased with more frequent, successful (quiet naps in the same room). Supervised time does not go well in the morning, when Ripley is let out, so we keep them separated.
Fighting still persists with Ripley doing aggressive posturing (eyes dilated, tail puffs, stiff upright body, ears back). I'm spending a small fortune on calm collars, diffusers, sprays, etc.
We are at the 7 week mark now. Ripley goes into her room to nap and in the evenings, Toonie stays in the office with me during the day. Multiple play times with Ripley following: chase, catch, kill, eat....you know the drill. :-) I'm trying to let Ripley have the main house to roam during the day as I noticed she paws at the bedroom where she sleeps so much her little pads are raw! Toonie has come into Ripley's room in a curious, non-aggressive posture and Ripley allowed but then attacked. Ripley will walk confidently around, tail up but she often regresses to tail down, head down posture when roaming. I offer opportunities for Ripley and Toonie to interact a few times as I'm able during breaks from my call schedule (I work from home).
Aggression:
Ripley has torn into my legs, hands and arms and I'm labeling as misdirected aggression and/or previous trauma (not sure if it is because I'm a female and she had bad experience w/someone?). I offer kickers, toys and other things to keep her from tearing into my legs and to distract from attacking Toonie. I've got several deep scratches (bloody) and a few bruises on my legs from her repeated attacks.
Previously, she had refused to take treats and was hissing and batting my hands but now she will eat treats from my hands with only the occasional swat and hiss. I count this as a small victory.
I called our vet and they suggested the Feliway pheromones for her attacks/aggression. I told them I was already doing this and they basically were like, "well that sucks, good luck." I specifically asked if they would recommend medication to help with the transition due to her aggression. NOPE.
TODAY: Toonie walked over, slowly with tail up and did her signature flop right in front of Ripley. I took this as a sign of friendship and open offer from Toonie to Ripley to play as Toonie's belly was exposed and this is her move to say, "come pet/love on me!" Ripley responded with a swat and hiss. We moved into the main part of the house (both cats naturally will follow me, together or separate), where Toonie walked slowly over and tried again to walk slowly by (tail up). Ripley "rode" Toonie back into the office, clawing at her rear, repeatedly. I yelled (my mistake) as I didn't have pot or cardboard handy and they had run away before I could intervene.
Ripley's attacks come out of nowhere, or sometimes they progressively build. She is best from 1-6PM (from what I've observed). She will attack Toonie when she is napping, sleeping, relaxing or walking/running. Many times, Ripley will slowly walk up to Toonie posturing aggressively, Toonie will usually hiss at this point as a warning and Ripley attacks. They both bear scratches from the other now (nails are trimmed).
I've got a cat tree coming for Ripley (she will not use the current tree as I guess she sees that as Toonie's territory). I'm hoping this will help with her confidence. She does appear comfortable in the house and around us the majority of the time. There are window seats for her in the living room and she will occasionally get on the couch and nap.
I know this is early but my husband is concerned for Toonie. Is this a confidence issue that can be overcome? Do I look into getting a cat condo for the living room? The whole point was to get Toonie a friend, not an in-home combatant.
I have only introduced kitten to adult cat, never adult to adult (my mistake). Have had cats for decades. We are concerned that Toonie's quality of life (super sweet, lap cat, cuddle buddy and previous foster cat/shelter rescue) may suffer. It is hard because I cannot give love as Ripley will not (yet) accept it.
Thanks in advance for any guidance/suggestions or feedback
LeelooLOVE (R.I.P. Leeloo, the most perfect being and cat)
BACKGROUND on intro:
Adopted a female 1.5YO 1 day after spay surgery. The Shelter said she was fine with other cats, just NOT dogs.
Did a slow intro (1 mo) until she was comfortable with the house and resident cat was not freaked out or aggressive (unless provoked).
No open feeding, followed Galaxy slow cat intro steps.
After 1 mo. Fed across a closed French door (with windows), no hissing but some "fighting" and swatting underneath doors.
Interactions:
Resident cat - Toonie seems to have gained confidence and will hiss now only when attacked (for no reason)
New cat - Ripley hunts, stalks and gives chase and lays claws into Toonie whenever she can.
Ripley will not accept love, pets or very much physical comfort from me (I don't push it but love is offered). She allows my husband to pet and scratch her head. She greets him with affection, swipes, rolling on the ground and verbal hello - which is amazing. (He is minimally involved but happy to give love).
Cats are only in the same room with only supervised time, "together" time has increased with more frequent, successful (quiet naps in the same room). Supervised time does not go well in the morning, when Ripley is let out, so we keep them separated.
Fighting still persists with Ripley doing aggressive posturing (eyes dilated, tail puffs, stiff upright body, ears back). I'm spending a small fortune on calm collars, diffusers, sprays, etc.
We are at the 7 week mark now. Ripley goes into her room to nap and in the evenings, Toonie stays in the office with me during the day. Multiple play times with Ripley following: chase, catch, kill, eat....you know the drill. :-) I'm trying to let Ripley have the main house to roam during the day as I noticed she paws at the bedroom where she sleeps so much her little pads are raw! Toonie has come into Ripley's room in a curious, non-aggressive posture and Ripley allowed but then attacked. Ripley will walk confidently around, tail up but she often regresses to tail down, head down posture when roaming. I offer opportunities for Ripley and Toonie to interact a few times as I'm able during breaks from my call schedule (I work from home).
Aggression:
Ripley has torn into my legs, hands and arms and I'm labeling as misdirected aggression and/or previous trauma (not sure if it is because I'm a female and she had bad experience w/someone?). I offer kickers, toys and other things to keep her from tearing into my legs and to distract from attacking Toonie. I've got several deep scratches (bloody) and a few bruises on my legs from her repeated attacks.
Previously, she had refused to take treats and was hissing and batting my hands but now she will eat treats from my hands with only the occasional swat and hiss. I count this as a small victory.
I called our vet and they suggested the Feliway pheromones for her attacks/aggression. I told them I was already doing this and they basically were like, "well that sucks, good luck." I specifically asked if they would recommend medication to help with the transition due to her aggression. NOPE.
TODAY: Toonie walked over, slowly with tail up and did her signature flop right in front of Ripley. I took this as a sign of friendship and open offer from Toonie to Ripley to play as Toonie's belly was exposed and this is her move to say, "come pet/love on me!" Ripley responded with a swat and hiss. We moved into the main part of the house (both cats naturally will follow me, together or separate), where Toonie walked slowly over and tried again to walk slowly by (tail up). Ripley "rode" Toonie back into the office, clawing at her rear, repeatedly. I yelled (my mistake) as I didn't have pot or cardboard handy and they had run away before I could intervene.
Ripley's attacks come out of nowhere, or sometimes they progressively build. She is best from 1-6PM (from what I've observed). She will attack Toonie when she is napping, sleeping, relaxing or walking/running. Many times, Ripley will slowly walk up to Toonie posturing aggressively, Toonie will usually hiss at this point as a warning and Ripley attacks. They both bear scratches from the other now (nails are trimmed).
I've got a cat tree coming for Ripley (she will not use the current tree as I guess she sees that as Toonie's territory). I'm hoping this will help with her confidence. She does appear comfortable in the house and around us the majority of the time. There are window seats for her in the living room and she will occasionally get on the couch and nap.
I know this is early but my husband is concerned for Toonie. Is this a confidence issue that can be overcome? Do I look into getting a cat condo for the living room? The whole point was to get Toonie a friend, not an in-home combatant.
I have only introduced kitten to adult cat, never adult to adult (my mistake). Have had cats for decades. We are concerned that Toonie's quality of life (super sweet, lap cat, cuddle buddy and previous foster cat/shelter rescue) may suffer. It is hard because I cannot give love as Ripley will not (yet) accept it.
Thanks in advance for any guidance/suggestions or feedback
LeelooLOVE (R.I.P. Leeloo, the most perfect being and cat)