- Joined
- Jul 15, 2012
- Messages
- 8
- Purraise
- 1
I recently added a new cat to our home and now my original cat is being a scardy cat.
Here's the back story. We'd found Bella as a 6-8 week old stray kitten six years ago. She didn't get much social interaction beyond our small family and no interaction with other cats. She seemed very aggressive to any passing cats on the other side of the window. Fast forward a few years, and she seemed to mellow. She no longer freaked out about cats around our new hiss and became much more friendly. She never was one to hide and always approaches any new people.
Three weeks ago we adopted at 3 legged 2 year old cat named Molly. We followed strict introduction protocols: complete separation for 1 week, associating smell with food, slowly moving to cracked door, site swapping, supervised interactions. All that time Bella seemed to be the aggressor, always the one to instigate a hiss or growl.
Now, things have progress very well and the two seem to tolerate each other. The problem is anytime there is a stare down or hiss fear, Bella always backs down first. Molly had taken over sitting on the couch with us. Bella may start out in the couch but if Molly jumps up and growls Bella immediately scampers. She doesn't run and hide, but she won't re-approach either. Is this still normal, or is there something we can do to help Bella stand her ground?
Here's the back story. We'd found Bella as a 6-8 week old stray kitten six years ago. She didn't get much social interaction beyond our small family and no interaction with other cats. She seemed very aggressive to any passing cats on the other side of the window. Fast forward a few years, and she seemed to mellow. She no longer freaked out about cats around our new hiss and became much more friendly. She never was one to hide and always approaches any new people.
Three weeks ago we adopted at 3 legged 2 year old cat named Molly. We followed strict introduction protocols: complete separation for 1 week, associating smell with food, slowly moving to cracked door, site swapping, supervised interactions. All that time Bella seemed to be the aggressor, always the one to instigate a hiss or growl.
Now, things have progress very well and the two seem to tolerate each other. The problem is anytime there is a stare down or hiss fear, Bella always backs down first. Molly had taken over sitting on the couch with us. Bella may start out in the couch but if Molly jumps up and growls Bella immediately scampers. She doesn't run and hide, but she won't re-approach either. Is this still normal, or is there something we can do to help Bella stand her ground?
