I have Pumpkin, a 5 year old female orange tabby, and brought home Nola, a 5 month old tabby, also female, about a month a half ago. I was concerned about introductions so did lots of reading and have tried to go very slowly.
I have Nola in a separate room, no contact the first week, and then scent swapping, and gradually increasing time together each day. Now she's up to about 2 or 3 visits a day, between 1 to 2 hours each. Still sleeps in the other room every night. And I've tried to make sure Pumpkin continues to get lots of affection and play time alone with me.
Nola, full of kitten energy, wants to play with Pumpkin and typically follows her around, and gets growled back at. After a while, and/or if I've tired her out by playing with her before bringing her in the room with Pumpkin, she settles down, and sometimes goes to sleep. Pumpkin doesn't mind Nola being in the same room, she just wants to be left alone, having been a solitary cat for 5 years. But the growling whenever Nola comes within, say, 10 feet, hasn't subsided.
Even with all that, I wasn't too worried as I've read other posts that say intros can take more time, and as long as fur isn't flying, growling & hissing are ok. However, yesterday I noticed a dollar-coin-size bald spot on Pumpkin's hind leg, took her to the vet, and learned it's self-inflicted overgrooming. We are pretty sure it's the new cat's presence, since nothing else has changed in her routine or environment.
So that's got me quite a bit more worried. The vet and I talked thru options and Pumpkin got a steroid injection. I'm not keen on keeping that up, but the vet thought this would help get her through the adjustment period.
I have to admit I'm feeling frazzled too, since I work at home and am there to hear all the growling. Nola's had ringworm (which is thankfully, now almost gone) so that and this newest grooming issue adds to it.
I'd love to hear any suggestions or tips, or others' experiences about how "normal" this behavior is, if I'm overworrying, if rehoming should be considered, and if so, how much more time ought I to wait....
Thank you!
I have Nola in a separate room, no contact the first week, and then scent swapping, and gradually increasing time together each day. Now she's up to about 2 or 3 visits a day, between 1 to 2 hours each. Still sleeps in the other room every night. And I've tried to make sure Pumpkin continues to get lots of affection and play time alone with me.
Nola, full of kitten energy, wants to play with Pumpkin and typically follows her around, and gets growled back at. After a while, and/or if I've tired her out by playing with her before bringing her in the room with Pumpkin, she settles down, and sometimes goes to sleep. Pumpkin doesn't mind Nola being in the same room, she just wants to be left alone, having been a solitary cat for 5 years. But the growling whenever Nola comes within, say, 10 feet, hasn't subsided.
Even with all that, I wasn't too worried as I've read other posts that say intros can take more time, and as long as fur isn't flying, growling & hissing are ok. However, yesterday I noticed a dollar-coin-size bald spot on Pumpkin's hind leg, took her to the vet, and learned it's self-inflicted overgrooming. We are pretty sure it's the new cat's presence, since nothing else has changed in her routine or environment.
So that's got me quite a bit more worried. The vet and I talked thru options and Pumpkin got a steroid injection. I'm not keen on keeping that up, but the vet thought this would help get her through the adjustment period.
I have to admit I'm feeling frazzled too, since I work at home and am there to hear all the growling. Nola's had ringworm (which is thankfully, now almost gone) so that and this newest grooming issue adds to it.
I'd love to hear any suggestions or tips, or others' experiences about how "normal" this behavior is, if I'm overworrying, if rehoming should be considered, and if so, how much more time ought I to wait....
Thank you!
And she, who lived to be 18 herself, never liked another cat except him. 
