New cat and resident cat

Hi, so I have been googling frenziedly trying to find some advice.

I have introduced cats before, and achieved tolerance between the kitties.  They didn't snuggle, but would sleep on the same sofa or the same bed.  I am hoping to get a more cohesive relationship this time, so am following the advice that leaves the new cat in a separate room with a slow introduction.

A bit about the kitties

Freddie, 2 year old ginger tom.  Friendly and has lived with another cat, up until Dec 2014.

Belle, exact age unknown (maybe a year, but looks quite a bit less), new kitty came home yesterday.  She was in foster care with her kittens, who were also adopted yesterday.

Both cats are neutered.

So, Belle has been in her 'safe room' since I brought her home.  She settled quickly, eating, looking for affection voluntarily and sitting on my lap.  She shows no signs of being timid at all and is eager to explore her new home.

When I have to leave her, she cries and scratches at the door.  Its clear she does not want to stay in there.  

Against my best efforts, Freddie and Belle came face to face when he was in the hallway and she dashed out of the room.  Freddie seemed curious.  Belle hissed and yowled, leaving Freddie to 'puff up' and run away.

My question is, do I continue with the 'slow and steady' introductions and leave Belle clearly unhappy in her 'safe room'?  Or is there another route I could follow.

I don't want to alienate Freddie, but I also hate hearing Belle in distress. 

Thank you in advance for any advice you can offer.

Hi, and welcome to TCS

It's great that you're going with slow and steady introductions. The impromptu meeting between Belle and Freddie clearly shows that neither cat is ready for face to face meetings. If Belle is really unhappy being left in her room then periods of site swapping are always an option. Shut Freddie away in a room for a little while and let Belle explore more of the house. Then return her to her safe room and release Freddie.

Do remember that Belle has just been separated from her kittens, and may well be experiencing some degree of separation anxiety. This should pass in time, but basic calming measures such as Feliway are a good place to start, and she may appreciate a heat pad of some sort (be sure it's cat safe -another option is a heat reflective blanket that will warm up as she lies on it) and a stuffed toy to snuggle up to - especially if you soak it with her scent using scent cloths (explained in the introduction article below).

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Thank you, I will read those articles.  Hopefully I should get some feliway today.  And reading some articles on here I have now left a radio with classical music and one of the pillows from my bed for her.

Instead of site swapping, would it be ok to let Freddie out in the garden to allow Belle to explore?  Freddie will not tolerate being 'locked' away, he tears up carpet if I shut a door to him.  

I have some heat pads that I use for my rabbits which will be safe, so will employ the use of those too.

Letting Freddie out could work, but I'd be very worried about stopping him coming inside again - even for a short time.

The best option would be to wait till he's asleep in an appropriate room and quietly shut the door. Belle doesn't need to have hours to explore - even as little as 10 mins is fine at first. I'd suggest giving a treat when she goes back to her room so that going back to her space is a great thing for her too.

Fortunately, he has been acting normal - going out through his cat flap as he pleases (mostly after he eats) and then resuming his nap in one of his spots, but I might try an upstairs/downstairs investigation and bar Belle from coming down stairs and let Freddie snooze down her.

He is really eager to meet her (at least it seems that way) and has not shown any signs of aggression at the bedroom door where she is kept whilst she hisses and growls through it.

Thank you so much for your help.  I was on the edge of meltdown thinking I'd botched up their meeting and wasn't expecting Belle to be so eager to explore!

Just remember not to panic, and let the cats dictate the pace. Come back and ask as many questions answered you lime - we'll always help if we can

So, I've been on shift this weekend, and young Belle has started tearing up carpet.  She had me up at 4a.m. as well as through the night.

She is not happy about being in 'her' room, will not be distracted from her attack on the door.  I can't get her to play, and she isn't sleeping in any cosy spots, she just stays by the bedroom door and cries.  It gets better if I'm with her, but I obviously can't be 24/7.

I'm very stressed out, home is not the best place right now and I work in the emergency health services so going a bit crazy now.

She has feliway, she has enough food (dry food is now in a feeder ball as she eats it so quickly - I showed her how to use it and she knows...but when I'm gone, doesn't touch it), she has a heat pad, cuddly toys, hidey holes...everything...but nothing is stopping this relentless pawing and clawing to get out.

I might cry...its 5a.m., I have work again and Freddie has decided he wants to yowl too.

I'm sorry Belle is so unsettled. I'm sure there's an element of separation anxiety involved - being by herself for now must feel strange after having her litter around her.

Have you thought of fitting a screen door in place of the regular door? Stacked baby gates also work well - you can even use both together for extra security. That way, Belle should feel more a part of the household and less alone during this introduction phase.

She might also be helped by an item of clothing that smells strongly of you to curl up with (a t shirt you've got REALLY sweaty in is ideal). Sound might help too - music or a radio/TV left on low volume, or even special 'cat tv' dvds. There WILL be a way through this.

I know you're using Feliway, but if Belle really can't settle then Composure and/or Spirit Essences are worth a go too - just to get through this difficult time.

How are the introductions with Freddie going? It's important not to rush, but don't neglect the joint feedings etc. The sooner she and Freddie get comfortable, the easier it'll be all round.

Hang in there!

Is Belle hissing and growling t the door ONLY when Freddie is near, or all the time.  If all the time, then it's simply that she doesn't like to be confined.  If ONLY when Freddie is near, then it's possible she feels  her kittens are in danger, not realizing they are gone.  That's a tricky one

Are you doing the scent swapping all along, and the eating treats on either side of the door (or maybe with the door slightly ajar, but with a door stop so there is no possibility of either of them squeezing thru?  I DO love the idea of either a screen door instead of a solid door, or the use of baby gates stacked on top of each other so they can see each other, although sometimes in the beginning they shouldn't see each other ALL the time, so using a blanket or something to block off the view on occasion might be necessary.  

I will tell you that last time we did integrations here, our resident female kept attacking the saferoom door where the new "teenagers" were.  We finally figured out that she wanted in that room mainly because that's were she usually hung out until they got there.  It wasn't that she wanted to get to the new cats, she just wanted her space back.  Too bad it took us 5 months to figure it out

So, I had been doing all the introductions as per instructions, let Belle out for some exploring and they crossed paths with no disastrous reactions. A bit of posturing and noise.  Belle then went back to her room for bed time, let her out next day, still some meowing (from Belle) but no fighting.  I'll be honest, Freddie stayed out of her way, but didn't vanish (sat up high on the cat tree, or the window sill out of her way).

Then today I got the above!
Both shared the bed with me whilst I had my pre-night shift nap.  On waking up, Belle sniffed Freddie, decided he was too close and yowled at him, but other than that...pretty much as I'd expect. 
Belle goes back to her room whilst I'm working or not home, but they seem to at least 'tolerate', if not accept the shared space.

I was originally using an old run from my guinea pigs to gate off the spare room door, but Belle found a way to wiggle out (I need to fatten her up!).  Her response to Freddie was worse when she was 'trapped' too.  And she was just as unsettled with the door open, and a blanket covering the bars. 

Will keep monitoring, but (fingers crossed) relations continue to improve!

Those pictures are so great

All you can ask of the pair of them is that they tolerate each other's presence. They don't have to be best buds - just coexist peacefully! :cross: that things continue to go so well - just don't leave them together UNsupervised until you're sure that the truce is permanent

Columbine said:

Those pictures are so great

All you can ask of the pair of them is that they tolerate each other's presence. They don't have to be best buds - just coexist peacefully!

that things continue to go so well - just don't leave them together UNsupervised until you're sure that the truce is permanent

Click to expand...

Exactly that!  It's been 6 years since our last integration, and just yesterday i caught my two who don't like each other laying next to each other (for the FIRST time ever!!!!! )  I was so shocked I grabbed my camera and took a picture so i could prove it to my husband). 

So, Belle and Freddie get closer daily; Freddie attempted to groom Belle on Sunday and received a whack for his efforts.  Later on, she tried to sleep centimetres away from him on the sofa but it didn't last long.

Last night they were just chasing each other ALL NIGHT.  They usually both sleep on my bed, but from 1a.m. all I could hear was kitty thunder as they raced around the house.  They weren't fighting - no growling or hissing- it was just like a game of tag.

am I right in assuming this is them either playing (both young cats) or trying to establish who is 'boss' in their new relationship?

I don't have any advice; I am in need of some myself. But I am following this thread closely, and may need to lower my expectations from cuddle bugs to tolerance. (Both female, one eight months, one six years, very different personalities).
For those new in the process, highly recommend a screen door. Keeps both cats safe but they can get use to the others' scent, appearance and size.

I think the chasing is play for sure :nod: My two love to chase each other around the house....especially when everyone's gone to bed I'm sure it's kitty tag...I've seen mine exit the room with Asha in the lead, then come back through with Shadow in the lead. :lol3: So funny. They'll shout for each other to come and play too :heart3:

I agree that some cats like to chase one another, to play. That may be after they are fully use to one another.
At this stage, Ritz chasing Dahalia (the kitten) while hissing/growling is a sign of frustration and dominance (I hope), not fun. Though to be fair, Ritz didn't like to play even as a kitten.

As long as there is no hissing and growling when they are chasing each other, they are playing...same with wrestling.  Unfortunately, at least in our house, sometimes playing leads to fighting, because one will want to KEEP playing, and the lazy one will want to stop

Freddie and Belle had reached a level of co-existence today where they could eat next to each other and not feel on edge.

Then I decided to clip their claws as it sounded like Belle was tap dancing on my wooden floor.  I have always clipped Freddie's claws, and cats before.  Belle wasn't best pleased, but we got through it.  But Freddie was really difficult and hissing at me, biting.  I figured this was because he didn't want to be held with the new cat around, putting him in a position of weakness.

I don't know if Belle perceived his hissing as a threat towards her, but she laid eyes on him and FLIPPED.  

I pulled them apart, tried to appease with treats, but whenever she saw him she went at him to kill - I've seen cats fighting before but she was something possessed.  

She's back in her 'safe' room and Freddie, bless him, is terrifed.  He's dribbling he's so anxious.  She is purring for me and growling at the door at the same time...

I know I'm gonna have to restart introductions, but is this the massive set back I think it is?  By clipping their claws tonight have I totally ruined any chance of a peaceful relationship? 

This isn't a major setback - its a blip. It sounds like you triggered a redirected agression response (or something similar to it). Sometimes, when one cat flips out, the other doesn't know how to handle it and responds by attack the aberrant behaviour. [article="32390"][/article]

Give them a chance to chill out, and go back a couple of steps. You might find that rubbing them each down with the other's scent plus a little vanilla extract helps them to recognise each other again.

In future, take each of them to a private room for claw clipping!

Thank you.  She really freaked me out, and poor Freddie was petrified.

A night in her own space seemed to calm her down and she wandered out this morning, purring, and went straight too him and rubbed his cheek.  They have slept together on my bed today, back to back.  

Phew.