introducing cats

bfguru

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Well, just got back from the vet where we checked our baby TNR turned tame kitten, now mine, out for leukemia and fiv. All is well so I finally allowed big boy into her room.

I had stopped at the pet store for a collar for her since the tipped ear would mean no one would help her if she got out, and caved and bought a harness. She really seems to like the car and I haven't tried her in a carrier yet, but I felt it would give me a little more control and we could take her out occasionally.

Anyway, the harness was a GREAT idea because she was so excited to see another kitty she started jumping towards him and purring. Not aggressive .Just playful kitten jumping. The harness let me control her and keep her from jumping on him. He came in, sniffed around, hopped on the bed with us, got nose to nose...and then hissed. A brief bout of growling and one more hiss then he jumped down and walked two feet away and just stared at her lol.

This whole tiime she just cocked her head side to side, super curious, but no shaking or hissing from her.

Any time I've introduced kittens to my late girl (rip) she'd growl like a dog and wouldn't even let me touch her and would bite or scratch me during the adjustment. The last time she actually hunted down my clothes to pee on in protest.In fact, she never really liked this boy. Just tolerated him as long as he didn't come near her. so I was kind of expecting the same behavior and this was tame next to her.

I had treats that he likes, but he would sniff them in my hand and go back to staring . He allowed me to pet him and kept sniffing my hand. Gave me the evil eye a few times then let me pick him up and take him out after 15 minutes.

Not sure how long our transition will be, but the main house isn't kitten proof yet anyway so she will reside in the small room a while. I'm really pleased with his first introduction, though.
 
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shadowsrescue

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Just be sure to take the process slowly.  You do not want any growling, biting, hissing, yowling or attacking.  Here are a few articles and a video on cat to cat intros.  If you take the process slowly and watch the cats posture, ear positions and tail positions all should be fine.

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/the-ultimate-yet-simplified-guide-to-introducing-cats

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/

 
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bfguru

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I'm basically holding the kitten and just leaving the door open for him to explore. If he gets close great. If not that's his call. I'm keeping it as calm as can be and allowing him to leave it he chooses. The ball is totally in his court. Kitten will be restrained until he is ready to interact with her.

Today he hissed from the door. But the kids were home and having a hard time listening to my instructions I'm theirexcitement. DD was petting him and he was fine until she laid across the door way and he growled at her.

That startled her, she jumped up and he sped off. I explained that she couldn't block his exit. He needed to be able to leave at will.As soon as the door was closed and I went out to join him he was fine. Lots of cuddles with just me and tail up and posturing happy cat.

I'm only allowing a few moments of interaction at a time right now.

Off to read your links to see if there is more I can do.
 

shadowsrescue

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It sounds like the kitten needs a bit of socialization work.  I would do my best to concentrate on human interaction with kitten.  A few tips:

When interacting try sitting on the floor at his level so that you don't loom over him.

It's great you can pick him up.  Keep doing this so he gets used to it.

Try a brush.  Many kitten like to be brushed.

Explain to your children that they need to remain calm around the kitten.  They need to use quiet inside voices so not to frighten him.  Realize the kitten can scratch them so if he is not liking to be picked up, don't allow the kids to do so right now.

Here is a really great 3 part video on socializing feral kittens.  It starts with their rescue so keep watching.  It has some really great tips.  It sounds like your kitten is doing really well, but you might find a nugget that could help.

http://www.urbancatleague.org/TamingVideo
 
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bfguru

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I think kitten is doing well. She's a very quiet gir. Shehiss only hissed once her second night when she cried all night and DD tried to pick her up. I think she moved too fast.

You really can't tell she was feral. As soon as you pick her up, she curls up in your arms and purrs. She also does not seem afraid of the other cat. No hissing from baby or posturing. More curious. And honestly seeing him was the first time I saw her want to play since we met. Except big boy, Solar, doesn't want to play lol.

I've not been washing my hands and making sure to snuggle him right after handling her so he gets used to her ace t on me.

I will try the door and food over the next few days .
 
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bfguru

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Tried the food in the door tonight. Baby went right to work (we still have to place her in front of food or she won't eat). Big boy sniffed the barrier in the doorway, then took a few bites and stepped back so I moved his tray closer to him. He eyed the barrier a few times, nibbled some more then walked away. At no point did his tail go down or did he posture. It only lasted a minute before he walked away, but it still worked nicely.

Going to try again in a.m.

Taking things nice and slow.
 
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bfguru

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I swear this feral turned tame kitten must have rag doll in her. She just eats up the attention from the kids, let's them roll her up like a baby. She won't come when called, but as long as you approach her slowly, she will let you pick her up and she instantly snuggles in and purrs.

Today I managed to get both cats less than a foot from the barrier between the doors at meal time. Solar, my big boy stayed about five minutes. He'd pause, look at the barrier and I'd shake his food a little and scratch his head and he would go back to eating.

When he walks away I've been removing the barrier so they can see each other at a distance. They seem fine with this.

Tonight I held Sassenach (baby) for a bit in the same room as him and he laid on the floor staring at me while my daughter pet him and rubbed his belly.

No hissing. No posturing. So this is good.
I gave Sassenach back to DD so she could bring her back to her room, and Solar came over once he was sure she was gone. Every time he sees me holding her, he insists I pay attention to him when she's gone. He's a wee bit jealous and I think it's adorable. He isn't usually this cuddly.

All in all we are going nice and slow. Things seem to be progressing well. I do hope they can bond and eventually play with each other. Time will tell though.
 
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Looking good!
 

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It sounds like you're going about it the right way. :) How old is Solar? The kitten will likely want to play, but not all adult cats are wiling to play with a kitten. When we introduced our kitten (11 weeks old) and cat (three years old), they had many awkward interactions because the kitten just wanted to play, while the cat didn't. Even now that they are friends and play often, there are times where he will hiss at her if she gets too rough or if she wants to play when he is done playing. This is just his way of making his boundaries clear. Since they don't have matched levels of desire for play, we have to make sure we play with her and wear her out so that he isn't bothered for play constantly. 
 
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Solar is 4. But he's been my chaser. My cat that just passed hated him for it lol. At the end, that last week, he left her alone like he knew she was sick. But because he was so insistent on her interacting with him he seemed a bit lost and has been demanding more of our attention lately.

He's a little calmer this year than years past, but still liked to terrorize his much older sister. That said, I'm thinking the kitten will be the social network he needs when we aren't here, if we acclimate them properly.
 
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Me too. She's more cuddly than playful, which is weird for her age, but she is so curious about him. Just keeps looking at him tilting her head from side to side as he looks bored or annoyed lol.
 
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First hissing since that first meeting today. It had been a week now. Things were going so well, but DD left the door open when she took the kitten out to cuddle her. This isn't the problem .We've been doing this to let big boy go in and sniff around. The problem is DD put kitten on the floor near her door and Sassenach walked in before we could respond. Well, between her jumping to pick up the kitten again and both cats realizing they were suddenly much too close for comfort, both cats started hissing and the kitten jumped and scratched Dzd by the time I got across the house to them.

I calmly reached down and picked up the kitten and shushed her, petting her head. I verbally reassured big boy that it was ok and directed DD to slowly walk to him with her hand extended so he could smell her, but to be prepared to move if he goes to bite and to pet him if he lets her, then took the kitten out.

Big boy let her pet him and tiny settled in my arms to purr again. Once he came out of her room I walked kitten back and shut the door.

I feel like we had a mini set back, but then at dinner time I was able to move both food dishes right next to the barrier.Solar only nibbled a few seconds before walking off, but he normally doesn't eat at night. I've been decreasing his morning meal so he participates twice a day.

No posturing or growling so that's a plus.

I need to get a baby gate for the next step, but I'm not sure how soon to do it. I also don't know if I should pull back their dishes for the first reveal so they aren't as close or not.
 
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shadowsrescue

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Set backs will happen, but it sounds like this incident didn't do too much damage.

When you move to the baby gate, first cover it with a sheet.  You don't want to move from eating on either side of a closed door to eating with just a baby gate.  Every day, raise the sheet up a bit until it's no longer on.  If you hear hissing or growling or someone refuses to eat, you are moving too quickly.  Just take it slowly.  It may take an entire week of the gate and the sheet completely covered before you can start to raise it.
 
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Ok thanks. Neither stayed at their dish long tonight. And I left to go to a meeting and came back to DD on the sofa holding Sassenach next to her brother and Solar sitting on the other side of my son.Everyone seemed cozy. Later I was holding her in my chair and Solar laid on the floor about two feet away. This always seems fine.

However, silly boy decided to try and come sniff her, and was even fine with me leaning down to scratch his head, and then he got nose to nose with her and hissed.

It's very weird. He's fine being in the same room with her and even in close proximity, but every time he comes close enough to smell her he hisses. I kind of just went by his cues today. She doesn't seem to care. As long as someone is holding her, she is happy as a clam.
 

shadowsrescue

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Hissing is pretty normal.  He is still not sure and it's his reaction.  Offer some  yummy treats to all when they are all 3 together.  This will allow them to associate each other with good things.  They will start to think, "Hey when we are all together, we get a yummy treat"! 
 
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bfguru

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Oh yeah. We do that too. This is just the part you want to speed up lol.
 
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