Is this going well? (Introductions)

I've been slowly introducing my unexpected rescue cat (Astro) to my resident cat (Celeste) over the last four weeks. Astro (male) is a friendly, energetic 9 month old and Celeste (female) is a quiet, somewhat aloof, 10 year old. They are both fixed. Astro is used to being around other cats, but Celeste is not. I knew this would be a challenge from the start, but I've never had two cats before. So I don't know if I'm making good progress or not?

Week One: Astro remained quarantined in my bathroom and had no contact with Celeste. She would hiss and growl a little at the door and hiss a little at me if I had just come out of the bathroom. She didn't like eating her meals near the bathroom door at first so I slowly moved her bowl closer and closer each evening until she was okay with it.

Week Two: After Astro was given a clean bill of health from the vet, I started swapping scents on towels, toys, my clothes, etc. Celeste would hiss at the items with Astro's scent, but slowly became more comfortable. At the end of this week, I started letting Astro out into the apartment twice a day for play time and to share his scent around with Celeste safely shut in the bedroom. Astro was also neutered this week.

Week Three: I put Astro in his crate and left him in the kitchen for 15 to 20 minute intervals to let Celeste see him. She would hiss and growl and run away. Eventually, she would just sit and look at him without the drama. So I then supervised some short meetings where they would both be out together, but I would distract Astro with toys if Celeste started to feel uncomfortable. Astro chased Celeste a couple of times before I could stop him. She would hide for a few minutes, but come right back out. There were a few times where they would sit peacefully on the cat tower together with Celeste in the top basket and Astro on the level below her. I started opening the bathroom door during mealtimes about and inch or two so the cats could see each other during meals. Celeste hissed a little at first, but can now eat her meals peacefully with Astro nearby.

Week Four (this week): I put up a baby gate and feed the cats on either side. Celeste doesn't like it when her bowl is closer than about 3 feet to the gate, but otherwise is doing really well. She still hisses and growls at Astro if he gets too close. I've started putting her in the bedroom again when Astro is out in the apartment, but with the baby gate so she can come look if she wants to. The reason for this is that Astro is still chasing Celeste whenever she is on the floor or on the bed. He doesn't catch her or jump on her, but sometimes he will corner her and it makes her really frightened/stressed. She will hiss and growl and swat at him until he backs off.

I guess my question is.... Is this going well? Should I continue to keep them separate until Celeste feels confident enough to sniff Astro through the gate without hissing/growling/running away? Or should I let them mingle and let them work it out themselves knowing that Cleleste might get chased sometimes?

I'm just really worried about Celeste being frightened and stressed by Astro. She has not had an easy life and I feel terrible putting her in this situation. On the other hand, I feel responsible for Astro (plus I fell in love with his goofy face/antics) and I want to give him a chance to become a permanent member of my family.

Would Feliway help Celeste feel more relaxed/confident? I can't use the plug ins because the outlets in my apartment are stupid (badly placed). But I could try the spray. I've also read up a bit on Spirit Essences, but they seem a little hokey to me?

Thanks!!

I don't know what Feliway is, but it does sound like you are making progress with Celeste. So just be patient. It can take a long time for cats to learn to accept each other. A friend of mine has a cat that has lived with her other cat for a year and her older female still will not socialize with her younger male cat. It's not that they fight, it's that Sassy gets up and leaves the room when Rocky walks in. It does sound like you are brokering a peaceful existence though. 

Thanks, Gemini. My goal is cool indifference. It would be nice if they could be pals, but I'm not expecting any miracles!

Feliway is a calming product for cats that has "feel good" pheromones in it that are supposed to mimic the pheramones in cats' cheeks. It comes as a plug in (like an air freshener) and as a spray.

I decided to let both cats out together again yesterday because Celeste had been sniffing around the bathroom door and playing "paws" with Astro. They were fine for awhile with Celeste sitting on the window sill and Astro a little ways away on the couch. I turned away for a half a second and then Celeste started screaming bloody murder! I turned back around expecting to see Astro on top of her, but he was standing a few feet away looking perplexed. Celeste was laying on the floor in complete distress. I took Astro away and she was fine.

This morning she's back at the bathroom door and ate her breakfast in full view of Astro with no problems. She only seems to panic when he's out in the apartment.

Cats... I will never understand.

I'm going to back up to putting Astro in his crate and try to move forward from there.

It appears you have done all of the necessary steps to properly introduce them, but now it the hardest and trickiest part.  This is also where I made my mistake and rushed the process.  At this stage, you need to take things very slowly.  Keep doing the cage part and see if it is possible to switch who is inside the cage.  Offer yummy treats when someone is in the cage to both cats.  When I used the cage, I started by covering it on 3 sides.  I would also do the cage at least 3 times each day.  I would only allow the cat to be inside the cage for 5-20 minutes depending on how well they tolerated it.  If one of the cats went to sleep, then I just let them be.  Have you thought of using a screen door?  I bought a cheap wooden screen door at Lowes and fastened it over the door frame with tension rods.  I also had a baby gate fastened in the door to add a layer of protection.  This was used only when I was home so I could be within ear shot.  I did the feedings on either side of the screen door and this also allowed for safe sniffing.  I have a picture of my set up if you would like to see it.

I have used Feliway and think it does help.  You sometimes need more than one.  I also find the spray handy.  I also have used Composure feline treats and Composure liquid max.  It is a calming agent (not sedating) that helps both cats to relax a bit.  The treats are handy, but at first I found that it took at least 3 treats per cat and it took up to an hour to work.  The liquid works much quicker and last a bit longer, but is also more expensive.  I found both on Amazon. 

I have also used Spirit Essences products.  I used the Bully and Peacemaker and found them to take the edge off, but I really thought the composure worked better along with the feliway.

This is a process and you are doing really well.  My two have been in the same house together for 9 months.  They began having contact after almost 3 months of the stray/feral moving inside.  I took it slow, but rushed the last step.  I paid for it dearly.  I redid the introductions and took it very slow.  The two will never be buddies, but they have learned to coexist.  There is still chasing, but no more screeching or growling or fur flying fights. 

Is it generally easier to introduce a cat to a dog than it is another cat or did I get lucky? I already had the dog (Bailey- a 45 pound Border Collie) and brought home the 2 cats (siblings I believe). The PLAN was to do the separation/gradual introduction thing but it didn't work out that way. I had the cats set up in a spare room that has windows that look out into the hallway. They had everything they needed in there before I got them home so I brought them in the carrier and let them out in there. The dog has spent a lot of time in there as one of her favorite sunny spots is in there so her scent is definitely in there.

I went in to check on them and as I was coming out, Houdini (AKA Lilith) made a break for it and bolted out the door into the hall where she was now face to face with the dog. I was not at all worried about what the dog would do because she doesn't have a mean bone in her body and she has been around smaller animals (2 obnoxious poodles mostly) with never a problem. They stared at each other for a minute and then did the circle/sniff thing. That went on for a minute or two and the dog's grinning like a fool and her tail's wagging like crazy. Lilith sized her up, figured she was harmless I guess and wandered off to check out the rest of the house, Meanwhile, I am ready to jump in between them in case Lilith decides to go after the dog. She didn't do anything. 

While all this was going on, I don't see Sophie come out of the room until Lilith walks off and now Sophie and the dog are face to face. Same thing happens. A look over, circling/sniffing and then nothing. Sophie was completely indifferent about the fact that there was a big, goofy dog in her face. At this point, I threw my hands up and said to hell with the plan. They have been around each other ever since.  So far, they have gotten along fine with the exception of two swats to the nose (no claws) and a couple of hisses after the dog got too up close and personal with Lilith's butt.   I got them a fountain to share after I walked into the kitchen and all 3 of them were drinking out of Bailey's water dish (I wondered why I needed to keep refilling hers when theirs stayed full). They have also napped together in the dog's favorite sunny spot. I wouldn't call them friends at this point but no one dislikes anyone. I'll take what I can get.