Need some help Mr GV

mr gv

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Sybil is resident chocolate tabby of 11 years indoor outdoor and stays in yard now. Bottled raised her from the start and thinks I am just a big ugly Mom cat.

Tigger was abandoned two 1/2 months ago when they moved, tiny female outdoor sweet thing. Brought her in and took her to the vet for shots with clearing eye infection. Here is where help is needed. Tigger has her own room kept them isolated 3 weeks then put a screen door on the room so they could see each other. Feed each 10 feet apart with screen closed. Sybil hisses at the sent or site of Tigger.I have let them rome each others territory and played  with each separately in eachothers site. Let them out to meet and fur flue. Sybil hisses and growls still after 2 1/2 months Tigger is interested in Sybil and dosn't seem to want to fight but is on guard. Sybil has been a nerves wreck for six weeks.

Is this tormenting both cats and would it be it their best interest to find Tigger a new home. I don't see any signs of behavior changes in Sybil to think they will ever get along in the same room. I have tried most suggested when introducing new cats. Has anyone tried this with the results I am getting.
 

Columbine

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Hi, and welcome to TCS :wavey:

Basically, you're trying to go too fast too soon with introductions, and Sybil is simply overwhelmed. For now, you need to be working with a solid door, so that scent is the only stimulus you're working with. Do a lot of scent swapping (explained in the article below), and do not move forward until Sybil is, at least, indifferent to Tigger's scent.

Then move on the joint feeding - just as you have been, but with a solid door. Only when they can both eat in a relaxed manner right up by the door can you start introducing the visual.

Again, this needs to be VERY gradual. Start with maybe an inch at the bottom of the screen door (a sheet of cardboard or a blanket is the easiest way to block the door at this stage). Once they're OK with that, raise the cardboard/blanket another inch, etc etc. Yes, this is a slow process, but it's tried and tested. Far better to take baby steps than overwhelm the cats and stress them out. Cat to cat introductions typically take months, not weeks, so be prepared to be patient and go at their pace.

Feliway diffusers can really help with stress levels, so they're well worth a try. If that isn't enough, you could look at trying Sybil on some Composure (a natural, food based calmer) to ease this transition for her.

Hang in there, and stay patient. There's every chance that this will work out :vibes:
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mr gv

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Columbine

Thank you for the advice. I am still working with a solid door with occasional screen door. Retrofitted screen door to work with interior solid door. Following the directions suggested here but thought the process would be moving  forward after 8 weeks. Just thought the evil twin would have left buy now. I will keep with it and try the fairmone spray and different diet for Sybil. Will have to do research on that one. .

Warm Regards,

Mr GV
 

hbunny

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@Mr GV   Don't give up.  I have 2 boys that I thought one was dead-set on killing the other.  It took 7 months of doing what you are doing, but they are now buddies.  They have a VERY different timetable than our expectations.  Don't give up!  I have two threads on here about our process too if you want to look them up.

My two eat together, sleep together, maybe not best friends, but they are decidedly roommates.  It just took a lot of patience and time.  We learned the hard way through the process that what we consider a long time, they definitely do not!

We followed the methods Columbine posted above, with a few adaptations to our situation (my elder cat was aggressive to the extreme).  It works!
 
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