In the Introduction Process and Need Advice!!!

Servo is in a different room than before when Kookie launched at the door and hissed? If so, I wonder if Kookie thought it was another cat (a potential threat to her) not knowing it was Servo. But she should have known by his sound but maybe she was worried something was harming Servo in there? It could be the vet visit scent as betsygee mentions especially because Servo is still new and separated. Did Kookie spend a lot of time in the room that Servo is now in? It may be a loss of territory situation. The meowing could be creating anxiety with Kookie. Sometimes even doing everything by the book it just takes time. When Kookie no longer fears or view him as a threat it settles down. Just keep going through the process. Are you doing any scent swapping? Feeding by the door is great but maybe Servo's  scent by where Kookie sleeps as well? Hopefully others can also add to this if I am missing something.

Thank you, ladies! I really really appreciate all your quick responses. I've been having anxiety over this whole thing and had no-one to turn to. 

Any ideas on what to do to get him to stop meowing so much? He meows when he is in his room and when he is out... 

I just got a call from the vet, they felt bad that they couldn't find anything so they are offering me a free visit back to get some blood work and a phone call with a behaviorist! Hopefully we can get some answers as to why he meows so much!

You are welcome.

I am guessing he is meowing so much because he is bored and also he may want to interact with Kookie. He probably wants attention. Does he meow only when he is alone or on his own (not being played with etc)?

Though it could be that he isn't feeling well (though the vet seems to think that is not the case).

I would try to play with him and tire him out if possible. If time is an issue I would try to find a toy of some kind that he can play with on his own. But they tend to get bored with those fairly quickly sadly. Try to pay a little more attention to him, try to tire him out, and try to just hang out with him if at all possible. Hopefully one of those will reduce the meowing.

You mention that you have some anxiety. Sometimes cats can pick up on our energy. I know it is easier said than done but try to be as calm and confident as possible. The cats tend to absorb our energy and reflect that energy. It could be the cats are feeling a little bit of that anxiety. If you can get them to purr by petting them I tend to think it helps relieve stress in both humans and cats. Especially when they can smell each others scent.

Hopefully others have more suggestions as well. Hang in there, it should work out. Good luck.

That is the frustrating part since I work from home I spend so much time with him and I play with him at least 4 times a day. Before bed, I do our final play session then give him the rest of his dinner.  The first four weeks were great, he just slept till we woke up now he wakes up starting 1AM and on.... Which is why I think there is something going on with him. (and by the way, I NEVER go in his room when he meows at night) Today I also noticed he didn't even touch his breakfast till noon. He normally devours his food. He meows while in his room and while roaming the house, sometimes he also meows when I'm in his room playing. 

I have a call with the vet tomorrow and I think I will get him blood work just to rule it out. Since he was a stray, who knows what the poor guy has been through. 

You are totally right about the anxiety, I need to get it under control because I do notice a different in Kookie.

I will check back once I have more answers. Thanks again!!!

He might just be ready to be with Kookie. If he was a stray for 2 years I am sure he was part of a colony with friends. Some cats are very social and they miss that cat interaction. I have all ferals, they were all part of colonies and then they were quarantined during the health and introduction process. They get pretty anxious to get out and be with the other cats. Servo could be going through this as well right now. He's like, "I smell another cat, I want to play with her now".  Of course, Kookie is like "this is my territory and I am not so sure about this new guy. I loved my life the way it was". In my experience I have found it isn't the new cat that is tough to integrate it is the existing cats because they are so set in their ways and her comes this "outsider". Now I deal with ferals which are part of colonies so I have never had a kitten with early human interaction so that might be why this is my experience.

I personally would really try to focus on Kookie, to get comfortable that Servo will not hurt her or be anything but a positive in her life. If you can continue playing with him in her view I think it would be helpful to her. If she would join in it would be gold but I think I remember she is not that play motivated.

I think Servo is ready to be out but we need to get Kookie comfortable. Did you do some scent swapping at all yet? I think that should be utilized with Kookie (Servo's scent). And then have her watch Servo play (if possible) and just keep that up with the feeding by the door.

Hang in there, it will work out. it sounds like both cats are good cats and not mean so they will come around. There are always the little hisses and dust ups but if Servo was on the streets he should know what that means and know how to deal with it. Once they get the mutual respect and who is boss things do work out. Kookie just needs to know that he doesn't mean to hurt her, she has been an only cat for a while I am guessing so she just has to remember what it is like to be with another cat.

I will start the scent swapping today! The little guy isn't feeling well.... I have another vet appt for tomorrow, he threw up today yellow stuff and just seems really lethargic and not eating like he normally does. Hopefully the blood work can give us some answers.

Also, I bought a crate today. Once he is feeling better and we can get the vet smell off of him, I will try to introduce them that way. Kookie now knows when she is on her shelf and I go upstairs that Servo is coming out so she jumps off!

In the meantime, I am setting him up in the basement for tonight. I need to get some sleep! 

marielos212 said:

 
I will start the scent swapping today! The little guy isn't feeling well.... I have another vet appt for tomorrow, he threw up today yellow stuff and just seems really lethargic and not eating like he normally does. Hopefully the blood work can give us some answers.

In the meantime, I am setting him up in the basement for tonight. I need to get some sleep! 

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I think another vet visit with blood work is a very good idea.  Poor baby.  And you are taking such good care of them both--you're a good cat mom.  

Thank you!!! 

We tried the crate idea yesterday and Kookie just ran away every time, now she wont come downstairs. I had to take her litter box upstairs to make sure she didn't poop or pee in our room. Servo was in the basemen last nightt so i could get some sleep and now he is back in his safe room meowing non stop and she is under our bed and wont come out. 

We are actually talking about rehoming this little guy which breaks our hearts!!! What else can we do?  Is it a terrible idea to put Kookie in the crate and have him be around her?

Maybe it's too many changes all at once.  How about taking a break on the introductions for a day or two--until you can get Servo to the vet anyway and see if he's got anything going on medically.  

Yeah, that is a good idea. I will take him in and see what happens. This is making us so sad! Both our babies are unhappy and the thought of giving him up is just so hard to think of.

Poor Servo. I hope the vet visit goes well. I am glad you are taking him in since he threw up something yellow and is not eating and not being himself. I hope they find the issue.

I don't think you are going to have to rehome him. It will work out, sometimes it just takes time. It will be tough for him to find a better home than he is in right now. Kookie just needs to get use to another cat, know that he will not hurt her, or limit her food, territory, etc. 

I don't think putting Kookie in a crate and having Servo around is a good idea. It is best not to take away territory from an existing cat if possible. It is best to have Servo limited and let Kookie be able to go to him. That gives her more power and should give her more confidence and security. Having Kookie see Servo and not not be threatened by him will help a lot. Eventually she will not be so afraid of him.

Blood work came back normal. He is a healthy boy! He just wants to be around us. 

After the vet visit, Kookie was sitting on the window sill facing the backyard so I put Servo on a leash and let her see him through the glass while he was wondering in the back yard, that way she couldn't smell the vet scent on him. She lasted for a both a minute hissed and ran away.

Right now he is wandering the house with the leash on just in case Kookie comes down stairs... Oh the joy of being a cat parent

So glad he is ok. Did the vet have an idea why he was off his food and why he threw up?

Keep up the scent swapping ( as long as Servo doesn't have anything). Makes sure it is by good things (like food, or petting/love). Associating good stuff with Servo's scent should help.

They'll get there, just keep up doing what you are doing. Sometimes it just takes some time for the existing cats.  Good luck. 

Nope, no ideas. He does seem better. Maybe the constant meowing was taking a toll on him too.

When she is scared, she will go in our closet on a shelf up high... Would it be a good idea to watch him from up there or is getting into her 'safe zone' not a good idea? I have blocked off the bed so she can't get underneath.

Glad he is better. Could just be stress.

I like that she goes high but not all that happy it is in the closet on the shelf. The problem is she may feel trapped in that closet. When they feel trapped it can cause issues. Glad you blocked the bed off. We want her to go high, not hide under things. Can you close off the closet? We want her to know the whole house is her safe zone. That Servo will not hurt her.

I would love it if she would go up in her loft and look down on Servo when he is playing or up on a cat tree.

I would really try the scent swapping. Really important to associate his scent with good things.

This is trickier but we'll figure it out. Any other interactions? Does she show any interest in Servo's room? I really hope that she can just watch him and see that he is not going to bother with her (in a negative way).

It has to be on Kookie's terms. We can give her all the opportunities to get comfortable but she has to come around on her own. I am assuming Servo is being good. Usually the new cat tends to be good and the existing ones have to take some time to get acclimated. They have someone coming into their territory so it is a bit more shocking since they were Queen of the palace.

Well, we ended up hiring a cat behaviorist to help and she flat out told us to re home Servo. His stress level was getting worse and worse and Kookie was just not budging. The sweet guy we knew was starting to complain and bite when we pick him up to put in back in his safe room after wandering the house for an hour or so. I couldn't find anyone to take him so I took him to the Humane Society yesterday. 

It has been a rough couple of days but I feel we made the best decision for him. I just hope he finds a good home soon. This has been a huge learning experience and obviously Kookie is just meant to be an only cat.

Thank you both for all your advice and support. 

Maria

Thank you for checking back in.  I'm so sorry to hear this, for all of you.  I, too, hope Servo finds a good home soon, but you sure did everything you could do.      I hope Kookie returns to her normal self soon and your home can get back to normal.  Please don't be a stranger.  There are always things to learn and friends to make on this site.    

Kookie spent most of yesterday under our bed and today she is back to her normal self.

To add insult to injury, after coming home from the Humane Society, I found an injured baby rabbit in our backyard. The poor guy had a cut on the back of his head and seemed disoriented. This morning, I went to check on him and didn't see much improvement so I took him to a Rabbit Rehabilitation Center. Ah, what a day!!! 

Thank you again for everything! I will stay in touch.