Kitten bullying newly adopted senior

honeyandherb

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About 6 months ago, I found an abandoned kitten and adopted her. Named her Honey. The vet estimated she was a month old putting her at 7 months now. She grew up to begin with in a house with two yellow labs, but I brought her with me when I moved a few months ago, so she became a single pet. I started noticing behavior issues after the move which I know is a common reaction to stress. I purchased a Feliway diffuser and had her spayed and those in combination with time for her to get used to her surroundings seemed to correct the issues.

Then, about a month ago, I adopted a new cat, Fudgey, from the Humane Society. He's a 9 year old fixed male. When I first brought him home, we went through the initial introduction steps. I kept them separated for about a week, switching their rooms so they could adjust to each other's scents and feeding them near the door so they would associate the other cat with good things. Fudgey had no reaction to the scent of Honey. He had been at the shelter for an extended period of time so he probably was used to the smell of other cats. Honey however initially had pretty violent reactions. Every time she would smell him or see him under the door she would hiss like crazy. I kept them separated until she no longer hissed at him from under the door and things seemed to go okay. I had surgery just a few days after integrating them so I was off work for a week and was able to monitor their behavior. No issues.

No issues until about 3 days ago, that is. Now, any time they are within proximity of each other, Honey pounces on Fudgey. She typically goes for his neck/head and bites his ears. Fudgey most of the time has no reaction but sometimes he (understandably) kinda snaps and goes after her. He'll start a high speed chase through the apartment until he corners her, causing her to freak out and hiss and growl and attack his face. This is happening once every couple of hours. I'm still using the Feliway diffuser but it doesn't seem to be helping. It also seems to be exacerbated at night, which is keeping me awake. And me being exhausted is certainly not helping the situation. I have separated them, but that's causing just as many issues. They meow and cry for each other at the door relentlessly and Honey even rips up the carpet trying to get under it to see her brother.

I just really don't know what to do. Fudgey has some health problems and I hate that he's having to deal with a kitten bullying the crap out of him constantly. They initially weren't having any trouble getting along so this is a bit confusing. At the same time, I'm worried that Honey is really being traumatized when he corners her off. The hissing and growling and crying noises she makes whenever he finally catches her are horrible. Is there anything I can do to make this behavior stop? I'm afraid Honey is going to seriously hurt Fudgey every time he catches her, and obviously cat fights are not something anyone wants to have in their house all day and night.

info:
850 sq ft apartment, 1 bedroom apt
2 litter boxes
Fed in two different areas, twice per day
Honey: 7 mos, American shorthair, tortoiseshell coloring
Fudgey: 9 yrs 7 mos, Himalayan mix
Several cat perches and hiding spots available
They're typically alone 4-8 hours per day

Thanks in advance everyone!
 

Columbine

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I think you're going to have to re start the introduction process. It's sounds as though the final inegration was just too fast for them. Go back to square one - scent and site swapping with no direct contact. Once they are totally chilled again, start feeding on opposite sides of a cracked door or a covered screen door. Gradually open the door further/raise the cover. When they are no longer reacting to each other you start controlled meetings. Font leave them alone together for quite some time. Gradually increase the length of the meetings until you are certain that they're at peace with each other. Another trick for this period is to have a screen door shut with the interior door open. That way they can safely get used to the site of each other.

Basically it sounds like Honey got thoroughly over stimulated by the move followed by Fudgey's arrival. She's struggling to cope, and Fudgey wants his space and is unsure how to deal with Honey. Cat introductions can take a very long time - for one member here the process to a full year. That's exceptional, but months isn't.

The other thing that will help the whole process is interactive play (ideally with a wand to such as Da Bird) with each cat individually on a daily basis. Play boosts confidence and drains energy - a sleepy cat is far less likely to fight. If you take it one step further and mimic the hunt-kill-eat cycle you'll be well on the way to having two happy, chilled, well adjusted cats.

These articles may help :-
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/the-multi-cat-household
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/introducing-cats-to-cats
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/the-other-cat
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/six-surefire-strategies-to-reduce-stress-in-cats
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/the-ultimate-yet-simplified-guide-to-introducing-cats
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/playing-with-your-cat-ten-things-every-cat-owner-needs-to-know
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/cat-play-the-rules-of-the-game
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/breaking-up-cat-fights
 
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honeyandherb

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Go back to square one - scent and site swapping with no direct contact. Once they are totally chilled again, start feeding on opposite sides of a cracked door or a covered screen door.
Thanks so much! I had a feeling this was gonna be the case, but before I started over I just thought I'd get someone else's opinion. I do have a couple other things to run past you regarding re-introduction.

The way my apartment is laid out, there is no truly isolated room. The living room/kitchen is directly connected by doors to both the bedroom and bathroom, which are connected to each other as well.
I live alone, so if I close them off from each other (one in the bathroom/bedroom, one in the living room/kitchen) I am consistently in the room with one or the other of them. When I'm in the room with Fudgey, Honey will dig and rip up the carpet under the door and yowl for hours. And if I'm in the room with Honey, Fudgey also meows and yowls insistently and knocks things off shelves. I have attempted to separate them for several nights hoping to get some sleep and a break from the fighting, but I just end up with destructive behaviors and yowling in place of the fighting. Is there anything I can do to help them calm down when I'm not in the room with either of them? I have a Feliway diffuser in every room, and that's the only specific suggestion I've been given for that problem.
 

Columbine

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Hmm...they do like making life difficult, don't they :rolleyes:

The play sessions might help - especially if you do play then food just before bed that could well help with giving you a decent nights sleep. I know other members have had success with Composure treats or liquid. Flower essences can also work well. The easiest to use are Jackson Galaxy's Spirit Essences or Bach's Rescue Remedy.

From Honey's perspective, she's just going to have to learn to share! I suspect Fudgey is still feeling insecure, and possibly extra needy as a reaction to his shelter experience. That's all I can think of. @Feralvr @ShadowsRescue is there anything I've missed?
 
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