Kitty Inconsistencies

Hi, are there any behavioral people in the house?

I have been introducing a new cat to my resident cat. For the most part, things are going OK -- not "great" but not "bad" either.

Sometimes, though, the new kitty (Napoleon) tends to "harass" the older kitty (Cassie). She'll get up to walk into another room and he'll follow her. Sometimes, it seems like hero worship. Other times, it seems like he wants to play. Often, it seems like he wants to be a typical "little brother" -- trying to annoy his big sister.

She is very solitary, she's very vocal about not wanting to be bothered. BUT it seems like she can tolerate him, as long as he's on the other side of the room, not following her around, not bothering her, etc. But of course, I am concerned because when he's like this, it's very stressful to her. She is a very laidback sweet kitty, but he is pressing his luck with her, even as he communicates her boundaries with him.

Like I said, he is not like this all the time. But you would think, he should *know* by now, when she's not in the mood to play, she's not in the mood!!!

FYI, they've only been together for about 2 weeks, after an initial quarantine period of about 2.5 weeks. Please give me any feedback on harassing kitties. Thank you very much.

Take it from me she'll show him his boundries when she's had enough!

Sophie my youngest is just over 1 year old and Rosie is just over 3, and Sophie still torments Rosie after a year, but having said that they play chase with each other all the time, but when Rosies had enough sophie gets a bop on the head from her

They may just be playing?!, because i'm sure she would let him know with a growl or a hiss, and they havent known each other very long so if theres no growling etc... from her i wouldn't worry.

Oh and Rosie let Sophie walk all over her, especially when she was a kitten!

LOL My kitties are both 6 years old, and have been together since they were kittens. My Trent STILL doesn't know when Ophelia doesn't want to play! It will probably take more than 2 weeks for your kitten to really learn his boundaries with the resident kitty.

Originally Posted by rosiemac

Take it from me she'll show him his boundries when she's had enough!

Sophie my youngest is just over 1 year old and Rosie is just over 3, and Sophie still torments Rosie after a year, but having said that they play chase with each other all the time, but when Rosies had enough sophie gets a bop on the head from her

They may just be playing?!, because i'm sure she would let him know with a growl or a hiss, and they havent known each other very long so if theres no growling etc... from her i wouldn't worry.

Oh and Rosie let Sophie walk all over her, especially when she was a kitten!

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Hi RosieMac -- cute kitties!!! Once I figure out how to get my pics up, i will def post a few of my loveys.

Don't get me wrong, she will growl, hiss at times. Just not all the time. LIke your kitties, she will play when she's up for it. They run around the house like a herd of elephants LOL. Last night, though, she got up to just walk around and he started to chase her and she wanted NOTHING OF IT. And he kept pursuing her. That's what concerns me.

Like I said, he's the one pressing the buttons, not her. She's vocal about just sometimes it doesn't bother her. ^shrug^

RosieMac, I see you have a calico too -- which one is which? Who gave who the problem? I've heard from this board, my vet, behavior specialists, etc that calicos are pretty hard to deal with changes. Cassie (the calico) is pretty resilient. She's been through some tough times in her short life . But she manages to bounce back with each and every challenge to be a lovey dovey. She's my baby

Rosie is the tortie and Sophie is the black and white ( the tormentor).

From what you've just described there i honestly wouldn't worry because that sounds like you were talking about Rosie and Sophie! These two sound like a herd of elephants in this house every night when they play chase, especially after 10.p.m when it's nearly bedtime

The time to worry is when fur starts flying or they yell out like their hurting.

They often give each other little nips with their teeth when they play but you never hear a sound from them, but sometimes Sophie bites her that little bit too hard and Rosie will give a little whimper, but as soon as she does Sophie backs off.

I know torties are known for having an attitude, but not sure about calicos and Rosie can sometimes, such as when she sits in front of the monitor?, i'll gently " try" and move her over but she'll turn around and snap at me as if to bite but she doesn't, but she has got a loving side to her as well She just doesn't like being told thats all

RosieMac, was Rosie (the cat!) depressed at all after introducing Sophie? Cassie seems a little depressed. She responds to treats and snacks and catnip like she used to, but she is kind of blah most the time. She will get up and they will chase each other around the house. But she's seems p!ssed at Mom and Dad for bringing this crazy stranger into her element LOL.

Everyone who's done this tells me it takes a long time. I am fully prepared for it to take a long time, because the little guy has grown on me. I just get upset when he chases her around when she's like "I'm the star of the show, OK!?!" LOL I am just glad someone else doesn't think I'm crazy and has gone through this too!!!

It really sounds perfectly normal and they will find their balance soon. I have several cats here that will occassionally push the envelope with each other, but it doesn't last very long because the more dominant cat will always prevail. You can try distracting the pursuit with an interactive toy, but really, I wouldn't worry about it at all. Now if they go airborne and roll then you have a problem.

In a way possibly?!. but only for a couple of weeks until she warmed to Sophie.

Rosie hissed and growled at both Sophie and myself, and when i put my hand out to her after a couple of days she growled at me and batted me with her paw as if to say " I hate you!! ". I sobbed because thats what i was worried about, but i wouldn't give up!.

Rosie would stay up in her room all day and that wasn't her at all but i went up every hour on my own just to sit with her, and talk to her telling her how much i loved her, and like you gave her treats.

Curiosity got the better of her, and she would watch Sophie from a distance, then 2 weeks later i found this!.

So don't give up yet because it's still early days

I really appreciate all your feedback...Really, I don't feel so bad. There are sometimes that Cassie will lay on me at night, not purring because she's still mad at me LOL. But she does it to protect me. So I know the "old" Cassie is still in there. And yes, like your Rosie, she is very intrigued by Napoleon. I know curiosity will get the best of her.

There you go then!, very similar isn't it.

They'll be fine just you see