I too could not surrender Mia, even if her presence has created turmoil in my home. But there are things that can definitely be done differently...there is always something else to try. I can completely understand why you're hanging on to her, and your decision to not re-home her yet again.
Here's what I would start off with:
-Completely quarantine Mia in an area of the home that the other pair are either not interested in, or don't hang out in regularly. This should be a space where the pair do not have access to Mia...preferably with a door. Set Mia up in there with litterbox, food dish, bedding (blankets, towels, cat bed, whatever...this is important), water bowl, scratch post, toys, etc. This is HER space!!!
-Leave Mia in room for 2-3 weeks, with NO access to resident kitties...no contact should be made with other cats. Make sure resident kitties are being showered with attention, and Mia gets short and meaningful interaction sequences with you as well.
-After 3 weeks, swap bedding with Mia and resident kitties. Begin moving her food bowl by the door of her space. Also, begin moving resident kitties' food bowls by Mia's door. Do this for another 5-7 days. Remember to swap that bedding! You can also rotate toys among them, as another way to pick up scent.
-Begin placing Mia out for short time periods with resident kitties. If hostility (not play aggression) mounts, remove Mia back to her room. Shower resident kitties with lovin'.
-Continue bed swapping and moving food dishes closer and closer to Mia's door. If at any time, resident kitties are laying beside her door, let Mia come out for a visit, closely monitoring the hostility levels. If it gets ugly, she goes back.
-Gradually begin increasing Mia's "out" time...let resident kitties investigate her space too at this point.
This will take a lot of patience, and effort...and this will also take TIME. What you're doing is completely re-integrating Mia and starting the introduction process over. I cannot stress how much time and how gradual this needs to be...generally the slower, the better.
Good luck! This will work!!!! Don't give up on this little girl, or your other kitties either.
Here's what I would start off with:
-Completely quarantine Mia in an area of the home that the other pair are either not interested in, or don't hang out in regularly. This should be a space where the pair do not have access to Mia...preferably with a door. Set Mia up in there with litterbox, food dish, bedding (blankets, towels, cat bed, whatever...this is important), water bowl, scratch post, toys, etc. This is HER space!!!
-Leave Mia in room for 2-3 weeks, with NO access to resident kitties...no contact should be made with other cats. Make sure resident kitties are being showered with attention, and Mia gets short and meaningful interaction sequences with you as well.
-After 3 weeks, swap bedding with Mia and resident kitties. Begin moving her food bowl by the door of her space. Also, begin moving resident kitties' food bowls by Mia's door. Do this for another 5-7 days. Remember to swap that bedding! You can also rotate toys among them, as another way to pick up scent.
-Begin placing Mia out for short time periods with resident kitties. If hostility (not play aggression) mounts, remove Mia back to her room. Shower resident kitties with lovin'.
-Continue bed swapping and moving food dishes closer and closer to Mia's door. If at any time, resident kitties are laying beside her door, let Mia come out for a visit, closely monitoring the hostility levels. If it gets ugly, she goes back.
-Gradually begin increasing Mia's "out" time...let resident kitties investigate her space too at this point.
This will take a lot of patience, and effort...and this will also take TIME. What you're doing is completely re-integrating Mia and starting the introduction process over. I cannot stress how much time and how gradual this needs to be...generally the slower, the better.
Good luck! This will work!!!! Don't give up on this little girl, or your other kitties either.
