This is my first post in this forum. I have come here for some advice and hopefully the kind folks here can help.
I have a wonderful female cat, Zena, who is 9 years old. She's been my best buddy for those years and I love her to pieces. Three days ago, however, I decided to get a kitten, both as a companion for her and because I thought it was time for a second kitty. So I went to an adoption event at the local Petco and fell in love with a little 9-week-old female tabby, adopted her and brought her home.
For a number of reasons, I don't have a room where I can leave her to use the usual preferred method of getting the two new sisters used to each other. So I had to just hope for the best and let her be in the house with my other cat.
To make a long story short, Zena (resident cat) doesn't like Holly (newcomer) at all. She hisses and growls at her and even at me, which really hurts because I love her. And Holly, when Zena growls at her, just lays right down and looks at her all sad. She doesn't run away or anything. I'm wondering if this is submissive behavior and a good thing, or not?
This being the third day they've been together, I was really happy when I held Holly and was right next to Zena, petting her and she seemed okay. Maybe things are getting better and it'll just take time? Because I will not give up Holly and definitely not Zena. I love Zena more than anything and I'm already attached to Holly.
I guess what I'm asking is, is there anything else I can do besides pray and hope? I don't have the room to keep the new girl in a room by herself. Advice would be really appreciated. Thanks so much.
Lisa, Mama of Zena and Holly
I have a wonderful female cat, Zena, who is 9 years old. She's been my best buddy for those years and I love her to pieces. Three days ago, however, I decided to get a kitten, both as a companion for her and because I thought it was time for a second kitty. So I went to an adoption event at the local Petco and fell in love with a little 9-week-old female tabby, adopted her and brought her home.
For a number of reasons, I don't have a room where I can leave her to use the usual preferred method of getting the two new sisters used to each other. So I had to just hope for the best and let her be in the house with my other cat.
To make a long story short, Zena (resident cat) doesn't like Holly (newcomer) at all. She hisses and growls at her and even at me, which really hurts because I love her. And Holly, when Zena growls at her, just lays right down and looks at her all sad. She doesn't run away or anything. I'm wondering if this is submissive behavior and a good thing, or not?
This being the third day they've been together, I was really happy when I held Holly and was right next to Zena, petting her and she seemed okay. Maybe things are getting better and it'll just take time? Because I will not give up Holly and definitely not Zena. I love Zena more than anything and I'm already attached to Holly.
I guess what I'm asking is, is there anything else I can do besides pray and hope? I don't have the room to keep the new girl in a room by herself. Advice would be really appreciated. Thanks so much.
Lisa, Mama of Zena and Holly