Suggestions and help for Abby

pentagramcereal

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Feb 10, 2015
Messages
3
Purraise
1
Good evening everybody!

I'm hoping perhaps I could get some insight into a bit of a problem I am having with my cat, Abby.

First of all, Abby is 5 years old. I got Abby from my brother's girlfriend (who rescued Abby and her two litter mates from an abandoned mobile home.) I fell in love with Abby the moment I saw her and decided to take her. She was spoiled rotten as a kitten (and still is) and  the center of attention.

So, a little about my current living situation:

I live with my parents, however I live in a separate building, apart from my parents house (where they have 5 cats!) Kind of like a little apartment. Abby lives in here with me, by herself (and two rabbits, which she loves. Abby is also an indoor-outdoor cat and spends most of the day outside, except for night. She's an extremely independent cat.)

From time to time, Abby likes to make a pass through my parent's home and throw her weight around, hissing at all the other cats and being a bully. She doesn't bite or scratch the other cats, just hisses when she passes by, acting as if they don't belong there and my parent's home is hers and only hers, or should be anyway.

I guess basically what I'm getting at is since I have had Abby she has been I guess what you could call an "only child." She's used to being the only cat around and seems to be very socially awkward around other cats. 

In the very near future, probably within the next few months, I plan on adopting a cat and I'm a bit scared of how Abby will react, which is why I am writing this. I love Abby to death and don't want to stress her out but yet I want to have another cat, a cat that is very affectionate (something Abby really isn't, well, not often, that is.)  I don't want Abby to feel as if she's being kicked out of her space and cause her to retreat from my room, which I have a feeling that it could happen. 

So, I guess what I'm asking is there anything I can do to help Abby? Will Abby be able to live in harmony with not just the new cat, but the other cats as well? And what can I do to make the arrival of a new can less stressful for Abby and the new cat, too! (Besides a very slow introduction.) I've done some reading (books, articles, etc.) and I've started to "catify" my room. I'm not sure if it's helping though.

I've looked into Feliway and Jackson Galaxy's Spirit Essences, but I must admit I was a bit hesitant, however at this point I'm willing to try whatever it takes.
 

ritz

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Apr 2, 2010
Messages
4,656
Purraise
282
Location
Annapolis, MD
Welcome to The Cat Site. I may be in a somewhat similar position with a similar "only child".
Jackson Galaxy has some good information about introducing a cat to another cat.
And here is an article on TCS. When the time comes, you might want to read this article about choosing a second cat. In my case, it is a super friendly, stray cat that I take care of, so I've already chosen him/he has chosen me.
Also, do get Feliway and consider Jackson Galaxy Spirit Essence; they usually help.
Good luck.
 
Last edited:

di and bob

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Dec 12, 2012
Messages
16,584
Purraise
22,966
Location
Nebraska, USA
In my 50 years of owning cats, I can tell you that a LOT of females are like yours. They like to rule with an iron paw and seem to be perfectly happy with being alone. That being said, I've also found that neutered males seem to be the most affectionate, my 13 year old and 7 year old are always on our laps, and constantly wanting cuddling. My advise to you would be to get TWO male kittens (if at all possible). They would play with each other and keep each other company, and your Abby could observe them and be bossy, and they would keep her entertained with their antics. I wish you all the luck!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #4

pentagramcereal

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Feb 10, 2015
Messages
3
Purraise
1
Welcome to The Cat Site. I may be in a somewhat similar position with a similar "only child".
Jackson Galaxy has some good information about introducing a cat to another cat.
And here is an article on TCS. When the time comes, you might want to read this article about choosing a second cat. In my case, it is a super friendly, stray cat that I take care of, so I've already chosen him/he has chosen me.
Also, do get Feliway and consider Jackson Galaxy Spirit Essence; they usually help.
Good luck.
Hey, thanks a bunch for these links! :D

I plan on getting some of JG's "Ultimate Peacemaker" set with my next paycheck for when I bring the new kitty home so I'll have it in case things get...Hairy, lol.
 

mojoseph

TCS Member
Young Cat
Joined
Nov 11, 2014
Messages
33
Purraise
4
Location
Indiana
We were adopted by a stray female cat in August, who turned out to be an alpha cat.  Six months later, she and my other female still absolutely despise each other and each have their own floor of the house. But after an extremely rocky start, she and my neutered male get along fine now. I saw her nose kiss him yesterday for the first time ever. That is just my experience and I'm kind of a newbie, but it seems to coincide with a lot of the information I have read on this site.
 

the3rdname

TCS Member
Alpha Cat
Joined
May 8, 2014
Messages
399
Purraise
79
Location
Pennsylvania
Go sloooowly with the introduction- you'll regret pushing them together too quickly, but you can't go too slowly- and I agree that you should consider a boy cat.  There's generally less friction between members of the opposite sex.  I have an iron-pawed female that only gets into confrontations with my other girls.  The boys will run for their lives if she's feeling cranky and give her all the personal space she desires 
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #7

pentagramcereal

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Feb 10, 2015
Messages
3
Purraise
1
 
Go sloooowly with the introduction- you'll regret pushing them together too quickly, but you can't go too slowly- and I agree that you should consider a boy cat.  There's generally less friction between members of the opposite sex.  I have an iron-pawed female that only gets into confrontations with my other girls.  The boys will run for their lives if she's feeling cranky and give her all the personal space she desires 
I'll just have to see what happens, I guess. 
 
Top