Hi Guys! I need help! My 2 Girls won't get along!!!

tcarsley

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Hi Guys!

You all seem so wonderful! I really hope someone can help! My cats are my kids! I lost my sweet baby Giggles in June. He was 18 years old and died of complications from seizures and cardiomyopathy. He was a miracle baby! He lived 3 years longer than the doctors thought. I miss him terribly!

Anyway, that just left me and Lulu. Lulu is 14, fat and happy. Well that is until Gigi found her way into my heart and our home. When I went to the Goodwill to drop off some clothing, this adorable kitty was walking around the parking lot. There was a litterbox and food outside. The lady told me that the owners of the flower shop were going to have to get rid of her in 2 days. Evidently, she lived in the shop and it was closing down. So, I picked her up and took her to the vet to get checked out and brought her home. She is 7 years old, really sweet and cuddly to people and not even a flea on her. Luckily she is the picture of health. That is the last positive part of the story.

I am having real problems getting them to like each other. I seperated them for about 1 or 2 weeks and then put them together. I seperated them at night, after being woken up by a couple cat fights. It was all verbal for a while, until it started getting progressively more physical. I noticed that Lulu would drip drops of urine on the table when Gigi just walked by. One day, Gigi chased her up on a table and they started rolling around, knocking things over and screaming. I seperated them immediately until the next day. Then, I did something really stupid! I put Lulu in the carrier and put her in the room with Gigi. This is Lulu's home and she was the one that was scared. Gigi attacked the carrier and the screams were horrible. When I opened up the carrier in another room, Lulu was soaked! She was so scared, she had urinated all over herself. I felt terrible! You can't imagine how upsetting it was. I felt like I had let her down.

After consulting my vet and my sister (who has about 20 cats from rescue), I followed their advice and seperated them again for a good while before starting the introduction all over again. That was 2 months ago. Here's where the trouble begins. I live in a 1 bedroom apartment and have been rotating them every day. Each one gets to sleep with me every other night and spends the day with me every other day. There is A/C, TV, food and a litter box in each room. I spend equal time with both. Gigi has really settled in, but Lulu is still terrified. Today I held Gigi in my arms and brought her in the room to show Lulu. It wasn't so bad. So, I tried it again later tonight and they both went crazy! This has been gong on for 3 months and I am at my wits end!

Gigi & Lulu will live here forever! I don't believe in things not working out. I could never give her away. I believe that once you adopt a baby, they are yours till the day they die. I am going to make this happen, but I NEED HELP!

PLEASE! PLEASE! I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT!!!
 

stampit3d

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Good morning...and welcome to TCS to you and your Girls!
I`m wondering if you are doing the sent exchange with the cats so that they will accept one another more easily? (So they will smell more alike?)
If not ,and you want to learn about it...go to the BEHAVIOR forum, then down to "Have a behavior problem-look here first". Then pick "Introducing a new cat to your old cat".
This post is by Hissy, and she is very cat-knowledgeable!!!!
Good luck to you and your kitties.
See you on the forums!
Linda
 

purity

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Originally Posted by tcarsley

Gigi & Lulu will live here forever! I don't believe in things not working out. I could never give her away. I believe that once you adopt a baby, they are yours till the day they die. I am going to make this happen, but I NEED HELP!
First, welcome to TCS


Second, that is the most wonderful attitude
Bless you for taking Gigi into your heart and home!

I haven't had to introduce cats so I can't offer any advice, but I would suggest you copy and paste your intro into the behaviour forum, you'll get more help there. Good luck
 

susanmly

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Bless you for trying to make this work! I have 2 cats I have the same problem with. This has been going on for probably 4 years, in the beginning it was horrible just like you described. Now they just tolerate each other, I don't think they'll ever be best buddies. And occasionally they get into a big squabble but it's just something I have to deal with, because like you- I would never give one of them away. Good luck to you!
 

purity

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Have you tried Feliway? It may help LuLu to feel less anxious
 
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tcarsley

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Originally Posted by Purity

Have you tried Feliway? It may help LuLu to feel less anxious
No, but I am open to anything. Is it a drug, spray, pill? Where do I get it and what does it do?
 
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tcarsley

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Originally Posted by susanmly

Bless you for trying to make this work! I have 2 cats I have the same problem with. This has been going on for probably 4 years, in the beginning it was horrible just like you described. Now they just tolerate each other, I don't think they'll ever be best buddies. And occasionally they get into a big squabble but it's just something I have to deal with, because like you- I would never give one of them away. Good luck to you!
Thanks! Misery loves company!
At this point, I would be grateful for at least toleration. What steps did you do to finally get them together even at a toleration level?

Any advice would be great
 

kumbulu

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I know a few people who have tried it with great sucess. It's a bit pricey initially but the refills are reasonably priced. Put it this way, when my friends cats are acting up a bit and they don't know why, they eventually think to check the plug-in and it's empty! Putting a new one in restores the peace.
 
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tcarsley

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Originally Posted by stampit3d

Good morning...and welcome to TCS to you and your Girls!
I`m wondering if you are doing the sent exchange with the cats so that they will accept one another more easily? (So they will smell more alike?)
If not ,and you want to learn about it...go to the BEHAVIOR forum, then down to "Have a behavior problem-look here first". Then pick "Introducing a new cat to your old cat".
This post is by Hissy, and she is very cat-knowledgeable!!!!
Good luck to you and your kitties.
See you on the forums!
Linda
I figured since they both took turns laying all over my bed, they would smell each other that way. Is that enough or do you think I should go further?
 
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tcarsley

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Originally Posted by Kumbulu

I know a few people who have tried it with great sucess. It's a bit pricey initially but the refills are reasonably priced. Put it this way, when my friends cats are acting up a bit and they don't know why, they eventually think to check the plug-in and it's empty! Putting a new one in restores the peace.
Sounds great! $40 is a small price for my sanity!
Anyway, I'll keep you updated.

Thanks again!
 
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tcarsley

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Originally Posted by CoolCat

Hi and welcome to TCS!!!!!!!!


I hope soon put pic´s of your lovely girls!
..


See you on the forums !!!
How do I post pics?
 

blueyedgirl5946

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Welcome to The Cat Site. I hope you find a solution to the problem with the cats.
 
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