Seniors cats like things as are & resist change. So #1 are you sure it is worth the effort & stress to get these two senior kitties to interact?
My senior cat Salem (15 years old) moved to my apartment and hid in terror for a couple of days. So I sent him back to my mom’s house where he felt comfortable to live out his last months (he is starting to have kidney failure) & adopted one of the kittens. Since my mom brought those 3 kittens into the house Salem has avoided them. They are now 13 months old and he still avoids them! When I visit he comes to snuggle me but still stays 10 or more feet away. He just doesn’t want to deal with them and his personality chooses avoidance over fights.
Now if you want to introduce them I suggest you buy two kitty t-shirts and wash them in unscented stuff. Then have each cat wear it for a week, then switch t-shirts every week (or bandannas or scent soaking collar.) Your goal is to get them to smell like each other, because cats think ‘if they smell like me they are my friend.’
With Jackie & Nick I brush one then the other & switch harnesses they will wear outside each week (Jackie & I visit for one day/night each weekend.)
In your case I would suggest swapping cat beds & card board scratchers to spread their scents in each other’s territory. I would also ‘site swap’ every day for a couple of hours.
My senior cat Salem (15 years old) moved to my apartment and hid in terror for a couple of days. So I sent him back to my mom’s house where he felt comfortable to live out his last months (he is starting to have kidney failure) & adopted one of the kittens. Since my mom brought those 3 kittens into the house Salem has avoided them. They are now 13 months old and he still avoids them! When I visit he comes to snuggle me but still stays 10 or more feet away. He just doesn’t want to deal with them and his personality chooses avoidance over fights.
Now if you want to introduce them I suggest you buy two kitty t-shirts and wash them in unscented stuff. Then have each cat wear it for a week, then switch t-shirts every week (or bandannas or scent soaking collar.) Your goal is to get them to smell like each other, because cats think ‘if they smell like me they are my friend.’
With Jackie & Nick I brush one then the other & switch harnesses they will wear outside each week (Jackie & I visit for one day/night each weekend.)
In your case I would suggest swapping cat beds & card board scratchers to spread their scents in each other’s territory. I would also ‘site swap’ every day for a couple of hours.
