So I finally got another cat to be a companion for my 7 year old hyperactive cat Boomer - he is very needy, always wants to play and hates when I'm gone. He had a cat companion when I first got him at 5 months old (my old 15 year old cat) who he was always around (not her choice, he didn't particularly like him) when we got home. I got him a sweet 1 year rescue girl. Everything went awesome the first couple of days until boomer got too excited and started wanting to play with her - she was very upset and thought he was attacking. Now she is hissing when he is crying at the door and wont go anywhere near him even for treats.
The sad thing is Boomer is doing so well having a companion around - he is eating better, bringing her toys and sticking them by the door and then yesterday when I was gone for 9 hours and there was no frantic crying like normal when I got home - just wanted supper that was 3 hours late and settled down on the couch. So this is proving he really needs a friend around.
I think the problem is that he was taken from his mom too early and doesn't have proper cat socialization skills. He really likes to watch holly (or any other cats) but tends to stare them down which the other cat I think took as a aggressive threat. He did get overexcited and pounced but only when the other cat was sitting there growling. He also doesn't know to back up with the growls and hisses, just continues to walk by or continue what he is doing (normally looking for the other cats food).
So he really needs a companion but I have no idea how to introduce him to a friend now .... the other cat is getting worse and worse with Boomer and she is not playful with him at all - 5 minutes of wand play and she is good for most of the day. I think the personalities are like oil and water - likely the rescue has a 30 day trial so I can swap her out for another cat - not fair to her to be in a home where he will be harass to play. Boomer on the other hand ..... 20 minutes of play at least 4-5 times a day at the very minimum.
Should I try a kitten? would they be more accepting to him and his weird behaviour?
The sad thing is Boomer is doing so well having a companion around - he is eating better, bringing her toys and sticking them by the door and then yesterday when I was gone for 9 hours and there was no frantic crying like normal when I got home - just wanted supper that was 3 hours late and settled down on the couch. So this is proving he really needs a friend around.
I think the problem is that he was taken from his mom too early and doesn't have proper cat socialization skills. He really likes to watch holly (or any other cats) but tends to stare them down which the other cat I think took as a aggressive threat. He did get overexcited and pounced but only when the other cat was sitting there growling. He also doesn't know to back up with the growls and hisses, just continues to walk by or continue what he is doing (normally looking for the other cats food).
So he really needs a companion but I have no idea how to introduce him to a friend now .... the other cat is getting worse and worse with Boomer and she is not playful with him at all - 5 minutes of wand play and she is good for most of the day. I think the personalities are like oil and water - likely the rescue has a 30 day trial so I can swap her out for another cat - not fair to her to be in a home where he will be harass to play. Boomer on the other hand ..... 20 minutes of play at least 4-5 times a day at the very minimum.
Should I try a kitten? would they be more accepting to him and his weird behaviour?