Introducing new kitten to a 'fraidy' cat - Bonnie + Clyde

zemari

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Aug 8, 2014
Messages
66
Purraise
9
Location
Malton, North Yorkshire, UK
Hi :)

My hubby and I got a rescue cat 6 months ago (Bonnie - female + neutered) - she was aged about 7 months and was very timid. No one at the center knew anything about her background

When we brought her home she hid in a corner behind a bookcase for the first 2 weeks - she would come out and eat / use her litter but wouldn't socialize with us at all and jumped at the slightest sound

Over the months she got a lot better (Feliway helped) and although we can't pick her up (she scratches to get free) we can pet her (me more than hubby) and she isn't as jumpy (however if she gets really scared she has a safe hiding place under the spare bed). 

2 weeks ago the rescue center had an appeal as they had 30 kittens to re-home. To cut a long story short we ended up with a 3 month old male (Clyde - not yet neutered). He is full of life and really loving.
 

For the first week he lived in a dog crate in our bedroom whilst Bonnie had the run of the house.

The bedroom door was left open at night so she could come in if she wanted

When I Clyde for his jabs the vet (who knows how timid Bonnie is) suggested Zylkene - so she is now on these as well

After a week we started putting Clyde in a carry case and letting them eat together

We have also been swapping bedding and petted one then the other to mingle smells etc

At the first feeding session she hissed at him but otherwise ignored him.

Then a couple of days ago he managed to escape when they were feeding and Bonnie turned tail and fled up to her safe place. She came back after about 15-20 minutes (we had put Clyde back in our bedroom by then) but she was very jumpy

Now if we try to feed them together and Clyde looks at her she runs away (not always to her safe place but at least into a different room) - its heartbreaking as I love them both and although I know they may not be best friends I would at least like to be able to let them both roam the house and know that Bonnie isn't cowering in fear somewhere. 

The strange thing is that she doesn't seem to mind his smell - just his movement...

Does anyone have any ideas ... will it get better?

Thanks
 

p3 and the king

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 10, 2012
Messages
1,831
Purraise
127
Location
Branson, Missouri (USA)
Well, bless you for helping this poor kitty, Clyde.  And for not giving up on Bonnie.  My guess is that she was probably either semi feral or completely feral when she was rescued.  This is normal behavior for them.  It can take them much longer to adapt to a home and another kitty, too.  Another kitty to a feral means competition and often fights so in her world, she learned to avoid others at all costs, especially males. 

Keep being patient with her and do not push her.  It can cause her to revert.  Let her come to you.  Don't try to hold her unless you have to.  She may never be a lap cat but a lot of cats aren't anyway.  Her letting you touch her and pet her is a big leap for her.  So be happy with that.  She shows you love and appreciation in that way. 

As for Clyde.  Keep them separated for the most part.  Keep interactions brief for the most part.  Don't force her but give her time to know that she has the "floor" so to speak and you to herself for awhile during the day.  She needs to see he is not a threat.  She needs to feel safe.  Maybe asks your vet for some anti anxiety meds (short term) to help her, as well? 

Take it slow and don't push her is the big thing.  She'll come around in time.  It'll take awhile but in time she will feel safe. 
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5

zemari

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Aug 8, 2014
Messages
66
Purraise
9
Location
Malton, North Yorkshire, UK
OK thought i would give you an update

Bonnie is on some anti-anxiety meds and she is a lot calmer - lets me (and hubby) pet her when she is in the window or on her climbing tree

She has also started rubbing round my legs when its time for food and we play with the Flying Frenzy a lot which she loves - she even jumped onto the sofa the other day when I was sat there and let me stroke her for a minute before she wandered off - major progress 


Clyde has been kept separate (he has the upstairs and Bonnie the downstairs during the day)  - at night he is in his cage (one of those big dog ones) with his bed and we leave the door open with some treats on the floor - most mornings the treats have gone so Bonnie has been investigating 

We then let them meet again (Supervised for 10 / 15 mins maybe 2 / 3 times a day)

So far Bonnie has stood her ground - she hissed / growled and tried to swat him but didn't run away (which is progress) although she does tend to have her back to the wall when she is hissing (but she always has an escape route if she wanted it)

The thing that is confusing me though is that when she is hissing / growling / swatting her ears are pricked and her eyes are normal (not wide eyed) and she blinks at him (even though he is staring at her)

Its like she doesn't know how to react 

Clyde, being the kitten he is, keeps trying to pounce on her / play - he gets swatted and wanders off - then comes back for more !

Is this normal ???

I would have expected either Bonnie not to do the blinking thing (which I thought was a sign that she wasn't bothered - but she must be as she hisses / growls and for Clyde to learn that pouncing on her only gets him hissed at!)
 

p3 and the king

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Jan 10, 2012
Messages
1,831
Purraise
127
Location
Branson, Missouri (USA)
This is normal.  I am almost certain she was a feral at some point.  She wasn't socialized so she is learning as she goes, ironically from Clyde.  She realizes he's a juvenile.  She is not threatened but she knows everything in her past has told her other cats and animals are bad and trouble.  She is coming along.  She doesn't know how to play probably?  She definitely doesn't know how to interact with him, though, so she will send him mixed signals for awhile. 
 
Top