Here's one for the behavior experts....

The brief background: We got two kittens and raised them together, then seperated them (due to a move) after about a year. Dante, my cat, was an only cat for about 3 months before we brought Lily home for him, his new "sister" and playmate.

So, ever since we bought Lily home, Dante doesn't really play anymore! He used to roughhouse with his littermate, and chase balls, and run around being a big ol spaz..... but he wont do any of those things with Lily. When we FIRST brought her home he tried, but she wasn't acclimented yet and would have none of that. But now SHE tries to get him to play with her, and he wont! He just sits there and watches, or sleeps. She runs around the house and attacks our feet (arugh!) because he wont wrestle with her. She chases balls for hours and he just watches. When we get out the "red dot" they will both chase it for about 5 minutes, but then Dante lays down and Lily continues to chase it. When we get out Dante's favorite "poof on a stick" (someone else here called it a fishing pole) he will bat at it until Lily comes up to join, and then he stops....

I don't think he's sick..... he seems healthy and cuddles and loves on me like he always did. Do you suppose he just doesn't LIKE Lily? Or that maybe he misses he littermate and is depressed that Lily is not her?

Over the past few days this has started to trouble me. I'm worried that he's not getting enough activity and that he might be unhappy. The main reason we got Lily was for Dante!

Anyone ever have this happen when they brought a new cat home? Will he just snap out of it or is there something we can do?

What is the age difference between Dante and Lilly??

Katie

I'm not an expert so I'm not going to offer any advice. I did think you might like to know about a story I have read very recently. It is a fabulous book called The Cats of Moon Cottage. It is a true story and begins off about her old cat. She brings home a new kitten and the regular one feels as though he has had his face pushed out and won't have anything to do with it. The old one is male the new kittie a female. But the kitten never gave up and kept on trying to make friends. It took a while but eventually they were inseparable and even slept together. So I do hope the same thing happens for you.

What is the age difference between Dante and Lilly??

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Dante is about 1.5 years old and Lily is about 2. They are very close in age and both still very young. Dante is about twice Lily's size, though. But Lily is remarkably close in size (and coloration) to his littermate that he was so close to growing up, so I don't think it is size (or age) related.

Cilla - that is a cute story, thank you! I hope Dante doesn't feel that way... I kind of doubt it. My boyfriend doesn't really pay any attention to Lily at all and he always loves on Dante. I think Dante will always know that he is our favorite (we tell him all the time! LOL!). He always gets his treats first, I always pet him first, and he gets to sleep on my lap whenever he wants, which Lily never does. We *try* to make sure he feels like he's still the top cat. And this doesn't seem to bother Lily - she still gets attention from me (when she's being nice) and I play with her a lot and they both have lots of toys and are spoiled rotten.

Perhaps I missed this...but, how long has Lily lived with you?

how long has Lily lived with you?

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Ummm... about 2 or 3 months now I'd guess. (I have a terrible memory for dates!)