New Cat for 3 months keeps hissing at resident cat

elsamarie

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Please help.  I got a cat from the Humane Society and she is not taking to our resident cat at all.  It has been 3 months and she keeps hissing and growling at him.  I do not know what else to do.  I have done everything.
 

talkingpeanut

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Please tell us what you have tried so we can advise you better.  What was your introduction process like for them?
 
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elsamarie

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Daisy ( new cat) is 7 years old.  Charlie resident loves Daisy.  He tries to play with her and all she does is hiss & growl at him.

When I got Daisy I put her in our spare guest room...where she still is.  I put a towel under the door and introduced scents by rubbing socks on their faces.  Then I purchase two baby gates where they can see each other....current situation.  I have never forced any one onto each other.  I feed Charlie by her door and she eats on the other side.

What am I doing wrong?  I let Daisy out to walk around but she hates Charlie.
 

talkingpeanut

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@Red Top Rescue  Can you please advise here?

It sounds to me like you might have moved a touch too quickly.  I would go back to no visual contact until they are totally comfortable eating on either side of a door.  Also, is Daisy walking around the house when Charlie is also out?
 
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elsamarie

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I truly appreciate your you helping me.  Yes.  I have not moved to quickly.  The recommendations were based upon out Cat Vet Doctor.  Daisy is walking around the house but when she sees Charlie she freaks out.  Charlie runs to here door every morning.  He even brought his favorite toy when day.  He has played in her room and stopped to watch and look at her reaction
 

talkingpeanut

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It is still possible that you moved too quickly, even if you followed the vet's estimated time line.  With cat introductions you have to move entirely at the pace of the cats.  Daisy is not feeling ready to interact with Charlie.  This means that they should never see each other at this point.  You can feed them on opposite sides of a door, moving the dishes closer and closer until there is no reaction from Daisy.  Then do the same with a covered gate, and then just a baby gate or screen door.

Daisy should still get time to explore the house every day, but Charlie should be contained in another room and out of sight while she does.  She just needs some more time.  I know it's hard not to feel impatient.
 
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elsamarie

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Thank You!  I just feel so badly for her.  Thank you again for your advice.  I truly appreciate it.
 

di and bob

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Three months is not long at all in a cat's world. It sounds like everything is going normal to me. My cats did not get along for almost a year and now are doing fine. I've also found that females can be 'divas' in a household, even though they don't outright attack another cat, they rule with an iron paw and will keep the boys at bay. I have often thought the 'perfect' family is two boys to play together and a female to keep them in line! 
   Watch your little girl for agitation, dilated eyes, swishing tail, raised fur, and back off and take the resident cat away from her. She is scared and bewildered in her new surroundings and will be on edge for at least 6 months. One thing to do is to give her a high place to get away, she will observe from a safe distance and that will help. On top of a dresser or table would do,( they will usually lay anywhere you put a small bath mat or towel) my Chrissy had a bed on top of the fridge where she could go when it became too much and that really helped keep the peace. All the luck!
 
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elsamarie

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Thank you very much.  WOW!  6 months is a long time.  Charlie adores her....he runs to her door.  Daisy I will keep at a distance.  I will let her walk around on her own with Charlie in another room and visa-versa.  She has a tower, dresser to jump up to but she goes under the bed.  I will stop having Charlie enter her room.  

Thank you again!. I never realized the complexity.
 

talkingpeanut

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Daisy is probably overwhelmed by Charlie, even though he just wants to love her. One user has been posting on her introduction saga. Hopefully she can help you!

@Losna
 
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elsamarie

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Thank you so much!!  
 

red top rescue

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Keeping Daisy and Charlie separate by site swapping is a great way to go.   Let each have the run of the house half the time, and the other half they can be in the "safe room."  If you have two spare rooms, they wouldn't even have to share the safe space, only the house at different times.  Daisy may be one of those girls who REALLY wants to be an ONLY CAT.  That is not unusual in females who start out as only cats.  It may be that the best you will ever achieve is for Daisy to tolerate Charlie and not be upset my him.  You may want to add a boy playmate for Charlie.  Surely a rescue can point you towards boys that get along with other boys and like to play. 

My cousin took in her mother's cats when her mother went into a nursing home, and one of those cats would never adjust to my nephew's neutered male cat.  They quickly made her a palace of her own, and she preferred to stay there.  That lasted three years until my nephew moved away, taking his cat with him.  Now finally the old girl is comfortable roaming the house with the housemates she always knew, all older females like herself.
 
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elsamarie

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Thank you so much for your advice and past experiences.  
 

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I hope you can get this sorted out- and I'm sure you will in time -but have you considered being a foster home for Daisy until she can find another home? Some rescue females can be only-cats and prefer it that way, even if you do nothing wrong. I think by back tracking and going slower you will be able to get her acclimated. I wish you luck either way!
 
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elsamarie

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Thank you so much.  I m going to take it slower.  I have grown SO attached to her.  She is so precious!!!  Thank you again!!
 
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