LoL, yes, the flees are pretty understandable! I don't think I'd go near Sinbad when he's got flees either.... I am such a bad cat mom, no unconditional love here where flee bites are concerned.
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Cat Introduction Woes
- Thread starter losna
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Yep, this just goes to prove that not only am I an idiot that can't spell but I am also a bad cat parent who will not go near a cat when they have fleas.... I'd probably run straight out of the house the moment I thought my cat had fleas and not come home without a huge can of some toxic spray that would kill all living 'things'.
I meant Tempest flees at the sight of Sinbad, not that Sinbad has fleas.
I am so terrified of fleas. I bought a carpet rake, I rake and vacuum the carpets every other day, as well as keeping both of them brushed so I can keep an eye out. Sinbad loves being brushed so much we bought him one of those huge giant brush gloves. He rolls around so adorably when I brush him with it.
it could be that sinbad wouldn't learn anything but 'hissing means playing'. but maybe, since tempest is starting to enjoy the rest of the house now, she knows that for her own comfort she needs to teach sinbad to understand when she's uncomfortable or needs a little space. maybe what you're seeing is tempest working on that, trying to find a way to help sinbad understand. maybe not, but i kinda hope that's what tempest is doing.
Yeah after over a year of scolding the male cat for aggression(Smoke),
\I think they are playing!!She keeps approaching him to have the ears done,not afraid then.
He stalks her when she uses the litter box,hiding under the bed and rushing her.
But after a considerable length of time co dwelling in a small space and there is no gate...
noone is injured.Aichiahuahua..too bad we cant speak their language..we would know.
They just stop and look at me like,"yeah MA What??"I wish I had more space for them.
\I think they are playing!!She keeps approaching him to have the ears done,not afraid then.
He stalks her when she uses the litter box,hiding under the bed and rushing her.
But after a considerable length of time co dwelling in a small space and there is no gate...
noone is injured.Aichiahuahua..too bad we cant speak their language..we would know.
They just stop and look at me like,"yeah MA What??"I wish I had more space for them.
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I think this is something good!
The usual morning routine here is my husband and I get woken up by Sinbad, who zooms up to Tempest and bugs the crap out of her resulting in many hisses and clawings at the gate. We just ignore it now, my husband gets up and goes down to do his morning exercise, and shortly afterward I am too irritated by the spatting kitties that I get up too and go down to leer at hubby.
This morning, however ... I fell back asleep!! There were no hisses!! I woke back up after a few minutes out of habit, and when I stumbled out of bed, confused, I saw the two of them batting paws at each other without any of the usual antagonism.
The usual morning routine here is my husband and I get woken up by Sinbad, who zooms up to Tempest and bugs the crap out of her resulting in many hisses and clawings at the gate. We just ignore it now, my husband gets up and goes down to do his morning exercise, and shortly afterward I am too irritated by the spatting kitties that I get up too and go down to leer at hubby.
This morning, however ... I fell back asleep!! There were no hisses!! I woke back up after a few minutes out of habit, and when I stumbled out of bed, confused, I saw the two of them batting paws at each other without any of the usual antagonism.
What great progress 
That must feel so great after so many months of trying. Hoping this is the breakthrough I'm sure you've been waiting for :cross:- Thread Starter Thread Starter
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@Columbine Well there've been many 'breakthrough' moments of varying degrees! Each one still is awesome though. I have no idea if this is a larger shift in their relationship yet, or simply an unusual aberration for now. Will have to wait and watch and see and hope. They are both eating their breakfasts now, but I will be watching them for the rest of the day to see if they are friendlier.
Even friendlier for a day is progress, but this does sound good (and very cute to see).
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Things here have been kind of subdued all week, but I did have a super funny interaction moment this morning that I so wish I had the camera to catch.
It was time for morning treats, and for whatever reason, Tempest was really wanting her bonus interaction with Sinbad treats. Not content with merely reaching through the gate and wiggling her paws this morning, oh no, when he failed to giver her the attention she needed for her bonus, she grabbed him. Reached both arms all the way through the gate holes, and grabbed onto his back and clung there like a big bear hug. He was so surprised, he had no idea what to do, he just sat there completely still staring at me with this WHAT DO I DO NOW OMG OMG OMG?!?! expression on his face. It was absolutely priceless. I may be laughing about it all day.
It was time for morning treats, and for whatever reason, Tempest was really wanting her bonus interaction with Sinbad treats. Not content with merely reaching through the gate and wiggling her paws this morning, oh no, when he failed to giver her the attention she needed for her bonus, she grabbed him. Reached both arms all the way through the gate holes, and grabbed onto his back and clung there like a big bear hug. He was so surprised, he had no idea what to do, he just sat there completely still staring at me with this WHAT DO I DO NOW OMG OMG OMG?!?! expression on his face. It was absolutely priceless. I may be laughing about it all day.
As a side note - I can't believe I missed your last post!
Keep doing what you're doing, have faith and keep updating. I love hearing how things are going with the two of them.
How funny are your cats!
I wonder if Sinbad will have second thoughts about launching at Tempest now he's been on the receiving end of a kitty-bear hug?
Unlikely but you never know.
The question is, did you manage to stop laughing long enjough to give Tempest her treat? Or is this behaviour not something you want to see repeated?
Do you ever wonder if they're just stringing you along and are really best buddies when you're not looking?
The question is, did you manage to stop laughing long enjough to give Tempest her treat? Or is this behaviour not something you want to see repeated?
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I did give them their extra treats. My hubby thought I should have given Tempest a double portion of full treats.
My heart would be pounding the whole time with a cat hanging out up there! Mind you, a friend of mine had a cat that used to position itself on the edge of the attic ceiling hatch when the door was open and the ramsay ladder was down. She had a clear view down to all the bedrooms and landing on the first floor and then straight down the main staircase to the ground floor door in to the living room and the main door to the house from there. Talk about the ideal spot to keep an eye on your territory! She never fell off amazingly enough, and had even perfected the art of getting back down the ramsay ladder.
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@Columbine Yeah, it's been a year now and they are still not able to be in the same room. Progress is being made though, which is good. But I see people all the time saying things like: I've been so patient! It's been 1 week and they still won't get along!! So I thought I'd link to the guide, and say no no. A week is not a long time.
What breaks my heart are the people who adopt a cat at the shelter, are told how to introduce, then bring the cat back the very next day because "despite our patient introduction, she won't get along with our other cat."
And I still have to admire Sinbad's tenacity. He is still just as devoted to her as he was the day we brought them home, despite an entire year of rejections. Though my husband has been saying for the past few months that their friendship is in the bag already, because Tempest is failing the attrition war. Her stubbornness is fading much more rapidly than his devotion.
@MServant I wish they were putting us on.
It is really a pain to have to take down the gate and put it back up a million times a day to bring her food and clean her litterbox.
What breaks my heart are the people who adopt a cat at the shelter, are told how to introduce, then bring the cat back the very next day because "despite our patient introduction, she won't get along with our other cat."
And I still have to admire Sinbad's tenacity. He is still just as devoted to her as he was the day we brought them home, despite an entire year of rejections. Though my husband has been saying for the past few months that their friendship is in the bag already, because Tempest is failing the attrition war. Her stubbornness is fading much more rapidly than his devotion.
@MServant I wish they were putting us on.
I wish they were putting it on too, they both sound so adorable - and how amazing would it be for you to be able to sit in your home with onekitty on your lap and another for your husband and not have to be in seperate rooms for it to happen!
@Columbine Yeah, it's been a year now and they are still not able to be in the same room. Progress is being made though, which is good. But I see people all the time saying things like: I've been so patient! It's been 1 week and they still won't get along!! So I thought I'd link to the guide, and say no no. A week is not a long time.
What breaks my heart are the people who adopt a cat at the shelter, are told how to introduce, then bring the cat back the very next day because "despite our patient introduction, she won't get along with our other cat."
And I still have to admire Sinbad's tenacity. He is still just as devoted to her as he was the day we brought them home, despite an entire year of rejections. Though my husband has been saying for the past few months that their friendship is in the bag already, because Tempest is failing the attrition war. Her stubbornness is fading much more rapidly than his devotion.
@MServant I wish they were putting us on.It is really a pain to have to take down the gate and put it back up a million times a day to bring her food and clean her litterbox.
Poor Sinbad, he is being so patient, and Tempest is being so patient with his persistance. It's such a shame they can't find a mutually acceptable nature of contact - not Sinbad wanting his hugs and Tempest wanting to paw slap him.
I wish they were putting it on too, they both sound so adorable - and how amazing would it be for you to be able to sit in your home with onekitty on your lap and another for your husband and not have to be in seperate rooms for it to happen!
Poor Sinbad, he is being so patient, and Tempest is being so patient with his persistance. It's such a shame they can't find a mutually acceptable nature of contact - not Sinbad wanting his hugs and Tempest wanting to paw slap him.I think you are right sadly, not many people would patiently adapt their home and continue to support cats to get some reasonably relaxed way of sharing their home in the way that you are doing. Good for you.
You're doing amazingly well with them both. I don't know if I'd be able to be as patient in your position.I love that pic of Tempest. Reminds me of Asha at the top of her ladder (as in her 1st poltercat pic).
I'm sure you'll get there in the end. There's definitely progress - hold onto that, and have faith in them both!
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Originally Posted by MServant
@Columbine We were warned that Tempest might take a while. They extended the 'return window' for us to 6 months when we adopted her, because she had been abandoned so many times she was very scared and reticent of new people. You'd never know it now though! Here she is sharing some love with my husband.
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I love that last pic. :cross: for your superhighway! Have you checked out [thread="297074"][/thread]?
I you are able to something like Snick and Jasper's highway your kitties will have an even more awesome home to rule over! It could really help Tempest given her love of high places and Sinbad not negotiating them so easily.
What would happen if they were in the same room? With treats. Would they fight? When was the last time you tried that? Maybe they'd surprise you and find they can tolerate each other in the same room. With treats and the two of you there as well. With treats.
