Someone please explain this to me.

I let Mugs out again to get him and Otis used to eachother, Otis decided to go from the livingroom to a bedroom, Mugs followed chase, cornered Otis but didnt pounce or strike, Otis struck at him but didnt hit, Mugs went almost behind him and went to pat his rear by the tail, Otis hissed and took off, Mugs chased, and I followed, Mugs is a huge cat, Otis is what I would call normal size. Mugs had Otis backed up, Otis, ears back, hissing and striking, all of a sudden, Mugs sits down, lays down, and rolls over on his back licking his front paws. Otis stayed coiled up ready to fight, hissing and snorting. More like a huffing sound. I went over and with a soothing voice reassured both of them. Didnt do much. Otis stayed that way, and Mugs just layed there with his belly showing to Otis, he almost fell asleep. Was there a winner? Was Mugs submitting?

Usually when there is stress between 2 cats with hissing involved and a cat goes over on his back exposing his belly .... it usually means .... "I dont want to fight but Im willing to, if I have to and I will fight with all 4's" .... they may need some more time separated ......

Thank you, thats what I was thinking, Otis had ruled the roost since he was young and probably won't share that easily, I put Mugs back in the bedroom with his stuff and I'll try again tomorrow. I think they've had enough excitment for one day...lol

Thanks again
Christian

Have you read any of the introducing cats threads on here? Theres a lot you can do for example letting them sleep on towels and then swapping them out and letting them sleep on the others towel. Smell is so important to cats .... and if you can just get them used to each others smell .... its a start ......

Thats all I can think of off the top of my head but if u do a search.... you can find a lot of helpful info .... and good luck ..... transitioning 2 cats can be stressful sometimes !!!!

I'll try that, Im also going to pick up a screen door bottom and put it in the doorway with one on one side,and one on the other. That way they can check eachother out, sniff,and get a good look without tearin into a brawl. I gave them a little more time tonight, Mugs is still mellow, but when he approaches Otis, Otis is not having it. Im always close and will reach in. A bite and scratch is no biggie for me. So far a nice loud yell splits them up and Mugs heads for the bedroom. The calm between them lasted a little longer tonight than it did this afternoon. I do however have a big towel ready if I need to wrap one of them up. The other thing is Mugs has no front claws, Otis does. And Mugs has lived as the only cat his entire life. If Otis gets those claws in him once I feel this situation will turn around real fast. I'd rather avoid that though.

Above all, this is apparently more a play game than war game, they on good way to becoming good pals.
Cats often play quite rough, almost like human boys, and everything in best friendship.
Mugs the stronger one, but he dont want to misuse his bigger strenght as he accept the other as becoming pal.

Not friends as yet, but living together and pals.

Well today was better, still some hissing, and growling, but less. Mugs still layed down and rolled over after Otis started up. It just seems odd since Mugs is older and 2.5 times the size of Otis...and scary looking.

Size doesn't always matter. My Scarlett (7 pounds) wins over cats twice her size in my house all the time and I mean all the time. Don't let that part scare you.

Originally Posted by Momofmany

Size doesn't always matter. My Scarlett (7 pounds) wins over cats twice her size in my house all the time and I mean all the time. Don't let that part scare you.

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It is much better now, they are starting to get along, theres still some skuffles now and again, but at least I can let the 2 of them wander the house without thinking one will end up missing an ear. The hissing and growling has all but stopped. And Otis, the smaller resident cat, still backs up Mugs , who is huge! almost all the time. Mugs looks exactly like the cat in your avitar..