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- Nov 21, 2014
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I have a former feral, Georgie, that I brought into the house last October. She (thought it was a "he"!) was a TNR that became super attached to me and started following me to the house. When she was still living in the woods, she climbed up on my roof at 5am looking for me in my bedroom window! I had 2 house cats at the time, one has since passed away. Eventually she started sleeping in my basement at night- I knew winter was coming and making her "wild" again was never going to happen. So I had no choice but to bring her in the house with 14 year old Henry. I did it very slowly, she stayed in the basement for months and months and they met gradually through a screen door and everything.
They actually get along fine- never fought or anything BUT she is probably only 2 yrs old or so and she is obsessed with chasing poor Henry around. I know cats with a big age difference are a no-no, but I had no choice. Henry hardly ever comes downstairs and as soon as he does, she chases him back upstairs. I believe she just wants to play with him, but I also suspect she is slightly bullying him/taking his territory.
It breaks my heart to see him so uncomfortable in his own home- he won't play in front of her and is constantly creeping around corners looking for her. Summer was ok because she was outside all day, but now she's in 24/7 and he can't get a break. She even runs up when she hears him in the litterpan and spooks him. I can't have him becoming afraid of the litterpan!
I feel like I made a huge mistake and just wish it were me and Henry again. It's horrible, I feel like I can't really bond with her and I'm always yelling at her to stop. I read several books but they only talk about fighting, not playing. I tried the giant stuffed animal trick to give her something to attack. I will be in the middle of playing with her and once she is focused on him there's no stopping her. I'm afraid to try a water bottle or can of coins because I don't want to scare Henry. I really try to be positive and not yell or cause negativity or bad emotions but it still doesn't help.
I also have two Feliway diffusers going- the multicat type but fighting isn't really my problem so I don't think it's helping.
I just get so sad and regret this so much that I find myself crying over it.
Has anyone hired a behaviorist? I'm having trouble finding one in my area.
I will take any advice I can get! Thank you!!!
Lee Ann
They actually get along fine- never fought or anything BUT she is probably only 2 yrs old or so and she is obsessed with chasing poor Henry around. I know cats with a big age difference are a no-no, but I had no choice. Henry hardly ever comes downstairs and as soon as he does, she chases him back upstairs. I believe she just wants to play with him, but I also suspect she is slightly bullying him/taking his territory.
It breaks my heart to see him so uncomfortable in his own home- he won't play in front of her and is constantly creeping around corners looking for her. Summer was ok because she was outside all day, but now she's in 24/7 and he can't get a break. She even runs up when she hears him in the litterpan and spooks him. I can't have him becoming afraid of the litterpan!
I feel like I made a huge mistake and just wish it were me and Henry again. It's horrible, I feel like I can't really bond with her and I'm always yelling at her to stop. I read several books but they only talk about fighting, not playing. I tried the giant stuffed animal trick to give her something to attack. I will be in the middle of playing with her and once she is focused on him there's no stopping her. I'm afraid to try a water bottle or can of coins because I don't want to scare Henry. I really try to be positive and not yell or cause negativity or bad emotions but it still doesn't help.
I also have two Feliway diffusers going- the multicat type but fighting isn't really my problem so I don't think it's helping.
I just get so sad and regret this so much that I find myself crying over it.
Has anyone hired a behaviorist? I'm having trouble finding one in my area.
I will take any advice I can get! Thank you!!!
Lee Ann