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should I take Odessa's hiding spot away?

post #1 of 6
3/7/11 at 2:13pm
Thread Starter 
okay so the saga of Cat Wars continues between Odessa and Norah. See the past forum to get acquainted with their tumultuous past. http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=226500

For the past few days, Odessa has been spending most of her day under the couch. She hardly comes out, except to eat/drink and use the litter box (even more recent behavior, she only uses the box at night when Norah is not in the living room). At night, before going to bed, if I can get to her I grab Odessa and bring her into the bedroom with Norah and myself. I'm not sure how much that is helping though because Odessa usually just hides under the bed and growls if Norah walks too close. Sometimes she jumps up on the bed with me but in the mornings when I open the door, she runs like a bat out of hell...

What I'm wondering is, should I take Odessa's couch hiding spot away? She would still have behind a chair, in a closet, and under her stairs for hiding spaces. I'm just afraid that her recent under the couch position is going to turn into something more permanent.

Also-- should I put them both in the bathroom under supervision so they can finally decide who the boss is (the small fights they actually do have are either halted by Odessa hiding under something or by Norah's short attention span, so they're pecking order seems like its not getting decided)?

***Last week I took Norah to my mom's with me for the day and Odessa had a blast! She played with her toys all day and was sleeping soundly on the couch not under something when we got home.

Also, regarding the vanilla extract idea, can I use something other than vanilla? I hate the smell of vanilla?
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post #2 of 6
3/7/11 at 2:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mscatamaran View Post
Also, regarding the vanilla extract idea, can I use something other than vanilla? I hate the smell of vanilla?
I use talcum powder, which is the other common recommendation. Make sure you rub it in your hands first, so you dont produce a cloud of dust for the cats to inhale when you rub it on them.
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post #3 of 6
3/7/11 at 2:45pm
No, do not take her hiding place away. She needs a place where she feels safe. Taking it away will only cause more stress.

I didn't read your entire thread to see what you've done already, but at this point it sounds like you need to start the introduction process all over again. It may take longer this time, or they may never become friends, but forcing them to be together before they're ready will not get them used to each other. It's more likely to exacerbate the problem.

Good luck with both of your furkids.
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post #4 of 6
3/7/11 at 3:34pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by GoldyCat View Post
No, do not take her hiding place away. She needs a place where she feels safe. Taking it away will only cause more stress.

I didn't read your entire thread to see what you've done already, but at this point it sounds like you need to start the introduction process all over again. It may take longer this time, or they may never become friends, but forcing them to be together before they're ready will not get them used to each other. It's more likely to exacerbate the problem.

Good luck with both of your furkids.
see, i mentioned this in my last topic about Odessa/Norah, i keep getting conflicting advice and i dont know which advice to follow because of it.

Some people say to intervene and stop fights. Other say to let them to duke it out to find the pecking order. And then even another group of others say to restart the introduction process.

The alone time only lasted about a week when I first got Norah in Dec. because 1: the sanctuary room is a room that can't stay warm (I live in an old building) and 2: she kept darting out of the room. So with all that being accounted for, how the heck would i even do the process let alone restart it (especially when Norah is very accustomed running around silly all day and not being in there anymore.) It was very taxing on me last time because I'm home all day and while I was showering resident cat with love and affection, new cat would be crying and clawing at the door so then I would have to go see her.
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post #5 of 6
3/7/11 at 7:08pm
I agree with Goldycat. Don't force Odessa anywhere or to do anything, right now.

Since you can't separate them, then best to use a combo of the advice to let them duke it out and to intervene. The MAIN thing is to make Norah feel more loved and secure than ever, so she doesn't get jealous of the new kitty. But let her know how you want her to behave. Reward non-agressive behavior like crazy, praise the heck out of each of them for anything you can. Positive reinforcement whenever possible - for just being near and not doing anything. For Odessa, any signs of confidence.

Does Odessa like to play? Will she come out from under the couch for a wand toy? If so, learn how to operate "two handed" wand toys. Get them focused on stuff other than each other. Make Norah think having Odessa around is a big party - and Odessa will feel more confident about coming out if Norah's focused on something else. If Odessa wants to hide, let her, and play with Norah.

The main problem is that Odessa is an invader in another cat's territory, and she knows it. Cats are all about territory, and she doesn't have any. The purpose of a "safe room" for introductions is to give the new kitty territory that first and foremost they feel safe in, then begin introductions. Without that space, it takes longer.

Do you have much vertical space? If you don't, I'd do whatever I could to create it. Cat trees, a "kitty wall" of shelves (http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=201467), or if these aren't possible, then just something simple, like a number of plastic storage boxes stacked in a pyramid with holes cut in them invarious places so the cats can look out, go up through them, go between them, and up and on them, or something like this: http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho....php?t=221283; or even just a 3D box fort, with boxes taped together with holes cut in them to make a big 3D maze kind of thing.

But right now, I'd recommend just stop focussing on them interacting with each other. Focus on redirecting them FROM interacting with each other, and do what you can to keep Norah occupied so Odessa has time to begin to feel comfortable in your home.
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post #6 of 6
3/7/11 at 10:18pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by LDG View Post
I agree with Goldycat. Don't force Odessa anywhere or to do anything, right now.

Since you can't separate them, then best to use a combo of the advice to let them duke it out and to intervene. The MAIN thing is to make Norah feel more loved and secure than ever, so she doesn't get jealous of the new kitty. But let her know how you want her to behave. Reward non-agressive behavior like crazy, praise the heck out of each of them for anything you can. Positive reinforcement whenever possible - for just being near and not doing anything. For Odessa, any signs of confidence.

Does Odessa like to play? Will she come out from under the couch for a wand toy? If so, learn how to operate "two handed" wand toys. Get them focused on stuff other than each other. Make Norah think having Odessa around is a big party - and Odessa will feel more confident about coming out if Norah's focused on something else. If Odessa wants to hide, let her, and play with Norah.

The main problem is that Odessa is an invader in another cat's territory, and she knows it. Cats are all about territory, and she doesn't have any. The purpose of a "safe room" for introductions is to give the new kitty territory that first and foremost they feel safe in, then begin introductions. Without that space, it takes longer.

Do you have much vertical space? If you don't, I'd do whatever I could to create it. Cat trees, a "kitty wall" of shelves (http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=201467), or if these aren't possible, then just something simple, like a number of plastic storage boxes stacked in a pyramid with holes cut in them invarious places so the cats can look out, go up through them, go between them, and up and on them, or something like this: http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho....php?t=221283; or even just a 3D box fort, with boxes taped together with holes cut in them to make a big 3D maze kind of thing.

But right now, I'd recommend just stop focussing on them interacting with each other. Focus on redirecting them FROM interacting with each other, and do what you can to keep Norah occupied so Odessa has time to begin to feel comfortable in your home.

i was thinking about it and i have a roommate moving out in April so i will have a spare room. its kinda tiny but very warm, so i think i can do re-introductions then. I was thinking of buying one of those Retract-a-gates for cats and separating the apartment into halves. Norah/new cat can have one and Odessa/old cat the other then I can step by step them into getting used to one another (again).

the only toys Odessa likes to play with are her green track with a ball in it and a mouse with rattles in it (it used to be on a wand but she didnt seem to like it much so i freed the mouse from the wand, she's loved it ever since). id probably have more luck getting them both to eat treats around one another since Odessa isn't really an interactive cat (she likes to play alone).

I'm in the process of getting Norah plenty of toys/kondos/trees/carnivals because she LOVES playing and running around. Ill put all that stuff in Norah's section so she wont be so bored being in that section of the apartment.

thanks!
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