In the Introduction Process and Need Advice!!!

marielos212

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We adopted a 2 year old male (Servo) about 5 weeks ago and are in the process of introducing him to my 4 year old female (Kookie).

We have done everything by the book. Gave Servo a safe room. Started feeding on either side of the door. Once that wasn't a problem, we started opening the door just a tad so they could see each other. Servo hissed and growled once then was totally fine. Kookie didn't do much, she was just curious. We tried this for a few days and then moved on to giving them treats with a gate in between them. For a couple of days everything was going well then out of nowhere, Kookie won't go near the gate even with treats being offered to her.

Today, I lured her with some baby food, once she got close and saw Servo, she hissed and ran away.  Five minutes later, she is back to her normal self, playing and eating.

What do I do now? I have Feliway diffuser downstairs where she spends most of her time and I use the spray right before feeding them and in his room. We also purchased Jackson Galaxy's essences I use both PeaceMaker and Nervous Nelly for my girl and Peacemaker for him.

I am tempted to just let him out of the room and seeing what happens. I don't think she will attack but she will run away.  She is such a scaredy cat!!! Help please. 
 

betsygee

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We adopted a cat and were able to introduce him to the other two within a couple of days with none of the introduction process (I'd never even heard of proper cat introductions then!)  Now we have an older cat we're trying to introduce to the younger ones and we've been at it for a year.  

Not that yours will take that long, of course, but it's just to say that each cat is so different.  Five weeks really isn't that long.  It might work to let Servo out, but if Kookie freaks out and runs, it could take time to build her confidence again.  

Do your kitties like to play?  If you have two people, one can be on each side of the gate with a wand toy or something like that, and play with each cat so they can do something fun near each other.  See how they react to that. 

Here's an article on introducing cats, with some other links at the bottom, that may help.  
 

calicosrspecial

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I think betsygee is exactly correct. 

By the way, this is normal, the existing cat is like "who is this?" and they fear their territory is being challenged. So building Kookie's confidence is important.

You can use play, food/treats, and height to build confidence. And of course attention and love.

Also, you might want to do some scent swapping and site swapping. With play and food/treats and height if possible.

Also when they see each other and if they get a little funny  use play to distract them. So if Kookie starts worrying about Servo use bestygee's advice and play with both of them. Then give treats.

Can Kookie be held? If so, I like to hold the cat and have them watch the other cat playing below them. The height helps them feel safe and I think it builds their confidence.

What you are experiencing is normal. Kookie is just wondering why this new guy is here. And she needs to feel confident that the only thing that is going to change is that she has a new friend.

Please let us know how it goes and if you have questions. Good luck and thanks for saving a cat.
 
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marielos212

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Thank you so much for taking the time to reply!!!

The frustrating thing is she was doing so well and it just feels like she took a step the wrong direction for now apparent reason. I recently installed some shelves and have been working with her to use them with treats. She isn't so much food motivated and she will play for a few minutes but not as much as I would like her to play. I tried doing the site swapping by leaving his door open and having her wander in but she never did so I physically put her in his room, she was so stressed out I let her out after a couple of minutes.

CalicosRSpecial - We have a loft area that overlooks our living room, I'm going to try having her up there while he roams the house! Thank you for the idea. :)

Betsygee - A year?! You are incredibly patient! Has it taken that long because of the age difference? Do you keep them separated?
 

calicosrspecial

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marielos212,

Not that food motivated and not really play motivated. That makes it a little tougher. Try to make sure you do spend time with her even away from Servo. It should help that she knows she is still special and loved.

Great that you have a loft that she can watch from. That could help her realize that he is not a threat.

Can she be held? I have already held my cat near the gate so that she can see him and she can be above him. It worked for me but not sure if it is best for the new cat.

Time might just be needed. You may have to just keep on trying to feed them on both sides of the door and gate and just let her get use to him. It can take time sometimes.

I am trying to think if there was anything else I have done and will let you know if I think of anything else.

Good luck, it will work out.
 

betsygee

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Just be careful picking her up while Servo is around. If she does get agitated, you don't want to get scratched. As you can tell, there are plenty of different things to try. Another thing we do is to put Hannah in a harness and leash and let her walk around the house with the other cats around. She is the aggressor of the bunch so that way, she can run around, they can all sniff and see each other, but she can't go after any of them.

Re our story, I don't want to hijack your thread with the long story. ;) I do have a separate cat room and catio so Hannah lives in there when she's unsupervised, and then we get her out when we're home to try to acclimate her to the house and other cats. It's complicated. :lol3:

Hopefully your cats will get used to each other much more quickly. :nod:
 
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marielos212

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Just got back from a short vacation while my husband took care of the kitties!  I needed the break. :)

While I was gone, Servo started trying to eat some of our plants and cords which is new. What could that be about? I'm think I am going to get him to wheat grass to munch on and hopefully that fixes that issue. Any tips on what to do with the cord issue?

I was going to ask if getting harness would work as well! I've also read about getting playpen and putting the new kitty in there while the resident cat roams the house but that just seems cruel to Servo?
 

calicosrspecial

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Is Servo still in his own room?

He may just be bored with eating the cord. I would try to remove any cords. Sometimes they mistake a cord or something for a play thing. The plant issue is something I have not run into. I would ask your vet about that as it may be something like a vitamin deficiency or something but I just do not know as I have not encountered this.

I would try doing some scent swapping with Kookie. Get the scent of Servo on an old shirt and then place it by her food and near where she sleeps. You want to associate Servo with something good. I would also continue with the door/gate introductions. See if you can get Kookie near the gate. But if that is not possible scent swapping should help. 

I don't think the playpen idea is cruel or a bad thing. It is kind of site swapping idea. The only issue is if Kookie feels threatened in that Servo is taking more territory. If Kookie can be in a cat tree or something above the playpen.

Any other updates on their interactions?

Just keep trying to build Kookie's confidence. 

If Kookie is looking into the room and Servo seems to be "funny" then try to distract Servo and get his attention away from Kookie. That way breaking that focus Kookie should be more comfortable with him.

Wish I could be more help on the plant eating but others or your vet should be able to help.
 
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marielos212

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He is still in his room most of the time but the cords he is trying to chew on are around the house when I left him roam freely. I play with this guy at least four times a day but I guess boredom could still be a factor since the majority of time he is in his room. 

Haven't been able to do much on the interaction since I was out of town, my husband tried but she wouldn't go near his door. I'm thinking I will try the harness idea while she is up on her shelves and see how that goes... I will keep trying! :)
 

calicosrspecial

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It probably is boredom since a cord is almost like a toy.

I would try the harness idea with her up high. If he starts focusing on her then distract him with a toy or something. Just so she knows he is not "after" her. If she can see that he is there and not bothering with her that should be helpful.

Please keep us up on the progress. Good luck. 
 
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marielos212

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We tried letting Servo out with a harness while Kookie was up on her shelf. He didn't notice she was there because she was in super stealth mode but it was obvious she was stressed out! She watched while we played with him and gave him treats. Gave her treats as well but was too focused on him to even look at them. This morning we tried opening the door just a bit with a doorstopper while we fed them both. She started eating, he noticed she was there and looked interested so we perked up and meowed and she hissed and ran away.

Ahhh... doesn't seem like any progress with her. When do I take the next step? Meaning, when do I just let him out? Should I keep doing this till she doesn't seem so nervous to see him on her shelf?
 
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marielos212

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Servo is getting restless is that room. He meows constantly even in the middle of the night and scratches at the door. I feel terrible he is in there. I have been letting him out to roam the house, then when Kookie wants out of the room she is in, he will run to her room and wants in. Since I work from home, I am able to play with him and spend time with him through out the day but that doesn't seem to be enough for him anymore.

We are starting to wonder if this will ever work :(
 

betsygee

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Six weeks isn't that long a time, really.  Sometimes it can take much longer.  

Also, trying the harness or feeding through the door and things like that needs to be done consistently--trying it just once or twice isn't enough.

It's a tough call as to 'when' to try to put them together, but at some point you'll want to let him out and see what happens.  If you think it's time--try it.  Make sure each cat has a place to run to if they're scared and have a towel or blanket handy to throw over one or both cats if they really get into it.  You don't want to stick your hands or arms into the middle of a cat fight!  
 
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marielos212

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What do I do about him meowing constantly? I am beginning to wonder if I should take him to a vet to check him out... He used to sleep through the night now he gets up at 1AM and starts then. I play with him before bed and feed him and that doesn't help. I play with him in the morning and as soon as i leave, he starts meowing non stop. 

I feed Kookie her dry food only on the other side of the door, she loves her dry food so its a treat for her and she only gets it up there. I will keep trying the harness and see how that goes. 
 
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marielos212

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I just found blood on Servos fur!!! Off to the vet we go! Poor baby! I knew something wasn't right. 
 

calicosrspecial

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Good luck on the vet visit. I hope all is well with him.

What Kookie is doing is very normal. I agree with betsygee, it takes multiple experiences before it goes smoother. Just keep doing what you are doing (harness with Kookie up high, try to feed Kookie while he is down there playing, feed at the door, etc). When Kookie realizes he is not a threat she will accept. But it does take time in this segment of the process.

Wishing Servo the best at the vet. Let us know how it went. Good luck.

We'll get to the introduction process again after we know how the vet went.
 
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marielos212

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Took Servo to the vet, they couldn't find where the blood came from! So frustrating... they did a urine sample and all seemed good and she didnt seem to be concerned with a fecal sample. Any suggestions? I haven't seen blood since.

Update on progress: Yesterday, I went out and purchase a big cat tree for Servo and changed his safe room to a room that doesn't have a Queen size bed so it could fit. Today, I gave Kookie her  normal dry food outside his room and like every other day Servo was on the other side of the room meowing to get out but this time Kookie launched at the closed door and hissed. Which is not her normal self at all! She normally stays and doesn't care or she runs away.  Right now, Servo is outside while Kookie is in our room, he always sits and meows at the door where she is and I can hear her launching at the door and hissing. This aggressive side of Kookie is totally out of character. I am worried now!

On the other hand, how do I get this little guy to stop constantly meowing?!?! I ignore it but its starting to make Kookie anxious
 

betsygee

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Kookie may be reacting to his scent being different from the vet visit.  I have not experienced this myself but have seen many stories about cats being aggressive to other cats when they've come home from the vet.  

Does Servo have a TV or radio in his room to keep him company?  That may help with the meowing.

Glad to hear Servo checked out okay at the vet's.  Where was the blood you found?  Perhaps he scratched himself on something?  

Hang in there...this kind of process can be very frustrating, I know.  
 
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marielos212

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The radio is a good idea! I'm going to give that shot. He meows starting at 1AM too, maybe if its low enough it wont bother us while we sleep.

The blood was on the inner side of his back leg which is why I thought maybe after he peed he got some on his fur. 
 
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