- Joined
- May 9, 2004
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Hello, I introduced myself here some time before the arrival of our adopted cat, second cat to the household. And now I'm beating myself up soundly for believing the instructions I got at the shelter instead of at least thoroughly looking through the tips that are given here!!! Now I don't know whether to laugh or cry at the instructions they gave me, and we're in some trouble.
To make a long story short, I put the cats (Emma, 11 and Nellie, 5 or 6) together much too quickly. Emma was frightened and hissed every time they saw each other, and went to hide. Nellie seemed respectful at first, said and did nothing, but after two days she started to follow Emma when she was leaving the situation, and attack her. She even started caterwauling at Emma. I have told her no when she is being aggressive, and removed her from the situation, but I feel it's not a solution. Unless I close a door between them, she will go right back and harass Emma. Her behavior towards people is lovely, although somewhat different from what I'm used to. She follows me around a lot, is very vocal, friendly, and wakes very easily from her sleep if I change what I'm doing. I realize this is either her own special personality or a result of all the changes she has had to go through. It would be a big surprise if she felt 100% secure immediately, after all. It's impossible to really know at this stage what is really her and what is a part of the adjusting process.
So, what on earth should I do now?? I feel so stupid for not giving them WAY more time with the introduction. So is there any way I could start over, put Nellie in her own room and so on?? I was just so happy to see her move around freely in the apartment after being confined to a cage at the shelter. Please help, I thought I was a sensible cat owner but feel like a miserable failure!
To make a long story short, I put the cats (Emma, 11 and Nellie, 5 or 6) together much too quickly. Emma was frightened and hissed every time they saw each other, and went to hide. Nellie seemed respectful at first, said and did nothing, but after two days she started to follow Emma when she was leaving the situation, and attack her. She even started caterwauling at Emma. I have told her no when she is being aggressive, and removed her from the situation, but I feel it's not a solution. Unless I close a door between them, she will go right back and harass Emma. Her behavior towards people is lovely, although somewhat different from what I'm used to. She follows me around a lot, is very vocal, friendly, and wakes very easily from her sleep if I change what I'm doing. I realize this is either her own special personality or a result of all the changes she has had to go through. It would be a big surprise if she felt 100% secure immediately, after all. It's impossible to really know at this stage what is really her and what is a part of the adjusting process.
So, what on earth should I do now?? I feel so stupid for not giving them WAY more time with the introduction. So is there any way I could start over, put Nellie in her own room and so on?? I was just so happy to see her move around freely in the apartment after being confined to a cage at the shelter. Please help, I thought I was a sensible cat owner but feel like a miserable failure!