new cat companion for Midnight- and Midnight doesn't like it

soopermouse

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Hi there 

So lately Midnight has been kind of upset and mardy and bored, and I decided to get her a companion. So a friend had found a stray a few weeks ago and could n #o longer keep her, so I said I'd have her.
It's a sweet tortoiseshell, we got her here and she just took to the place. She walked around, smelled things and came eye to eye with Midnight who was on her cat tree. None of them made any aggression moved just kinda stared each other down then new cat proceeded to visit the place while Midnight took refuge on the top of the cat tree and I think she's scared. We took the new cat who doesn't yet have a name to the other room where she just took a tour then plopped herself on the bed and she's very happy and content, even ate from my hand and allowed me to clean up her tail- she had pooed in the box on her way over.

New cat is now ;laying on my bed on the other room happy and purring and perfectly adjusted. Midnight is scared, has been hissing at us when we tried to pet her and she's now sitting near my desk in a corner- close to me but not too close.

My plan is to keep them separated for a bit until Midnight calms down. I'm playing some classical music for her and hope she will be ok but she was rather hissy- at us not the other cat.
 
I hope she'll be ok- is there anything else I can do to make it easier ?
 

misterwhiskers

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Hi, can you keep the new cat in your bathroom? For a bit?? She sounds quite alpha. How would YOU like it if midnite brought home somebody to sleep in YOUR bed?
 
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soopermouse

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i put her in my bedroom while Midnight has reign of the livingroom
 

mojoseph

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I am no expert, but I feel your pain! I asked about a similar situation of my own on this site pretty recently. After a lot of helpful posts from people on here, what it seemed to come down to is it takes time. A lot of time. We are at five months at my house and the new cat, who is also apparently an alpha, still rules the roost. She and our male get along now (she still bullies), but our other female has yet to come out of the basement. Below are some links I was given. I'm not going to pretend I did all the things on here consistently. I am a flawed cat owner who is gone 11 hours a day! But I did the best I could and still try to feed the new cat and my shy basement cat as near to each other as possible.

So just don't get discouraged if it seems to take forever for Midnight to come around. Cats are complex little beasties! I had no idea how complex.

Just FYI: The new cat was a pregnant stray we took in to avoid starting a feral colony on our property. We did not intend to have three cats. Well, we did not intend to have any cats, they are all strays/rescues. (:

http://www.catbehaviorassociates.com/a-simple-little-trick-to-use-during-new-cat-introductions/

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/cat-behavior/introducing-your-cat-new-cat

http://jacksongalaxy.com/2010/10/01/cat-to-cat-introductions/

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/introducing-cats-to-cats
 
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soopermouse

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Thank you.
The new cat who is now named fancy just up and slept in my bed- she is very sweet and affectionate. I didnt have where else to put her as my flat only has 2 rooms.
Fancy is a stray. She is younger than Midnight and quite a bit bigger- Midnight is for some reason quite a small cat and she's always been a a bit distant. She sits on top of the tree or on top of my PC monitor, she would play with us but it's been a long time since she last slept in my bed.
She gets along so and so with my boyfriend- she eats food he puts in her bowl, plays with the red dot with him, when he falls asleep on the couch she sits next to him- and lately for some reason she had been hissing at him. 

We figured she is lonely- that's why I wanted a new cat to keep her company.
 

Fancy is, as stated before, a stray. Someone found her in a bush she couldnt get out of- they fed her and took her home and to a vet, but turns out the resident cats bullied her so she ended up with me.

She's well adjusted- let me clean her, ate, is house broken, plopped herself on the bed and slept there all night next to me. She is very affectionate and purry.
 

This morning Midnight didn't hiss at me again albeit i'm certain i smell like Fancy- after all she slept in my bed.

i have hope :)

 
 

stewball

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Poor midnight. His home and place in the family usurped by a complete stranger who sleeps with mummy.
I'd also hiss.
 
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soopermouse

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I don't want her to feel like that. She's not a very affectionate cat at best of times but we wowork hard to give her affection and attention. This morning she let me pet her again no hissing... hope she will be ok
 

ruaryx

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Hm, maybe isolate Fancy in a separate room that you are not constantly in?  Like the bathroom.  If Fancy gets to hang out in your bedroom all the time, Midnight might be a bit jealous.  Definitely take it slow.  Perhaps it was a mistake to let them see each other so early?  Try scent swapping first and then gradually move onto sight.  I'm in the process of an introduction myself which will have to be slow since the newbie is still being treated for roundworms and we have to wait for it to clear. Good luck!
 
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soopermouse

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bathroom is a bit cold... and probably boring.
Midnight is getting a bit more calm- doing her normal routine.  I figure getting some Feliway will help a lot.
 
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soopermouse

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ok so new developments: 
Fancy came out of the bedroom and just burst into the livingroom. Midnigth who was on the windowsill started hissing at her. Fancy started to meow and wanted out. Fancy went back to her room where she had food. Midnight is under the couch hissing and growling.
And now she's on my work PC tower, hissing and growling at me.
Going to get Feliway
 

mani

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This is not going well, is it?


Honestly, I'd go with the whole introducing routine.  It really works even though it's time consuming.  If you try to miss steps you just have to start again.

Take the time to read through this and see if you can manage it: http://www.thecatsite.com/a/introducing-cats-to-cats
 
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soopermouse

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They are not fighting- Fancy just wants to explore and she fully adjusted very fast while Midnight just hisses and growls but seems to slowly get used to the idea of another cat in the house. None of them started to fight, and Fancy has only been here about 20 hours
 
 

stewball

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They are not fighting-

Fancy just wants to explore and she fully adjusted very fast while Midnight just hisses and growls but seems to slowly get used to the idea of another cat in the house. None of them started to fight, and Fancy has only been here about 20 hours

 
[/quote

it seems midnight should be an only cat and is very unhappy. I wouldn't be surprised if fancy tried to be alpha cat.
 

reikitty

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Midnight is not happy about this interloper. Keep in mind Midnight was the boss lady in her home for years and now there is this new lady making the moves on her stuff. It's kind of like you and Midnight were married and now you left Midnight suddenly for a younger girl/guy.

Make sure Midnight gets plenty of attention from you and don't let Fancy take all of Midnight's favorite spots or toys.

You're doing what I call the sink or swim method of introduction. I often do this in my house as my kitties are little more used to strangers coming and going as we foster kitties.

Typically it take my guys about a week to adjust. It can take 3-6 months though for kitties not used to other kitties to get used to each other. The best cure is time.
 
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soopermouse

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Fancy is in the bedroom- has her own toys and litter trays and food bowls. Midnight doesn't like the bedroom- she prefers the livingroom where her cat tree is and where he has her bowls and toys.

Fancy came into the livingroom today but when Midnight hissed she meowed and asked to go to her room.

 I got a feliway spray today and midnight is a lot calmer- she isn't hissing anymore and is letting me pet her again. I'm showing her all the affection she needs but giving her space, she's not an overtly affectionate kitty

have to wait and see what works for them, for now i am happy she is calm.
 

reikitty

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Feliway works great in most cases. Make sure to spray the spray on blankets and furniture not the cat.

And it doesn't matter that she didn't like the bed room, nor if she never sleep with you. You were still hers and now she has to share you.

And if all your getting is hissing and growling its going good. I'v seen a lot worse. 
 
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soopermouse

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progress: day 2
 Fancy came into the livingroom- Midnight hissed at her and hid under the couch- Fancy asked to go back to her room. Rest of the day proceeded as normal- Midnight a lot less hostile to us. Occasional hissing but he let me pet and play with her

progress day 3:

Midnight acted normal again- she sniffed the jumper fancy slept on last night. Fancy came in the livingroom- Midnight was on the windowsill under the curtain. Midnight was tense but did nothing- Fancy was tense and went to the door asking to go to her room. Midnight hissed a bit after Fancy left but didn't hide under the couch anymore, just plopped herself on the monitor hissing and growling softly.
 
 

karma2222

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You are about at the same place I am at too ..... I'm almost 2 weeks in and if the kitties are sleepy all are good, but if my resident cat is playful ..... He is comfortable and really want to play but then gets mad when she wont and starts to swat her which holly takes as a threat and screams and gets scared. So work in process and holly still spends a lot of time alone in her room but last night she only woke me up once crying and howling so she is getting use to be in there at night yay! I can start to get some sleep again!

Good luck and keep working on it!
 
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soopermouse

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Fancy was bullied at the previous place, so when Midnight starts to hiss she just asks to go to her room- despite being twice Midnight's size.
 Midnight is very small for being almost 2 years old, she's only about 4 pounds.

Today I brought Fancy in for the second time, and Midnight didn't actually do anything but stare- no hissing.

However I made the mistake of picking fancy up to try to make her stay a bit more in the room, and when i stepped with her to the couch Midnight hissed.

fancy went to her room, but Midnight no longer seems traumatised of the idea of another cat in the house- she sits on her  cat tree but doesn't run away to hide for three hours under the couch anymore hissing and growling- so i think she is getting used to the idea- reluctantly.
 
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