Hi all!
I introduced a 13 week old male intact kitten ("NewCat") to my 2 year old male neutered cat ("HomeCat") over the course of a month and I'm not sure how to read their interactions at this point or how to move forward.
I started things slow using a mix of Jackson Galaxy's and Mieshelle Nagelschneider's methods. In summary, NewCat has his own home base (my bedroom/bathroom) while HomeCat gets the rest of my apartment. I swapped scents (and still do) using socks, other items, and brushing. I have Feliway plug-ins and sprays. Fed cats on either side of door then through covered baby gate, then fed treats on opposite sides of uncovered baby gate. Progressed to play time through uncovered baby gate. Cats would sniff each other through the gate, HomeCat would trill at NewCat, and both cats seemed to want to interact without the gate.
Ungated supervised interaction time started off fine. HomeCat was a bit apprehensive about NewCat tumbling around, understandably. NewCat was also apprehensive about HomeCat's size (NewCat is 2.5 lb. and HomeCat is 15 lb.). This didn't hinder them from eating treats together or playing with wand toys. NewCat even rubbed his head against HomeCat's a few times. The problem is that HomeCat is getting more and more disinhibited and has begun treating NewCat like a toy or prey. It started with HomeCat stalking and chasing NewCat. Progressed to HomeCat cornering NewCat to bat and bite NewCat - including biting at NewCat's tummy. HomeCat isn't hissing or growling during the attacks his ears are upright. His pupils are dilated but no whites showing. He doesn't seem to be using his claws and he hasn't caused any injuries, but the attacks do look aggressive. NewCat is scared of these attacks. NewCat would respond by running, hiding, rolling on his back and hissing/growling/puffing. I always try to intervene before physical contact or escalation. HomeCat doesn't do this all the time - only when he's in an alert mood. Otherwise, he's fine to nap in the same room as NewCat.
After a negative interaction, I move the cats back to gated interactions only for a few days. Again, they play through the gate, trill, and seem to want to meet. Both meow and try to get to the other's side of the gate. However, HomeCat inevitably tries to stalk/chase/bat/bite NewCat at some point during supervised ungated interactions.
My question is - where do I go from here? Here's a link to the kitties interacting through the gate as they're back to gated interactions only. Am I misreading the interaction? Is HomeCat being aggressive in the video? I think he's being playful but his pupils are dilated. His tail is normally low so that's not out of the ordinary.
Many thanks in advance!
I introduced a 13 week old male intact kitten ("NewCat") to my 2 year old male neutered cat ("HomeCat") over the course of a month and I'm not sure how to read their interactions at this point or how to move forward.
I started things slow using a mix of Jackson Galaxy's and Mieshelle Nagelschneider's methods. In summary, NewCat has his own home base (my bedroom/bathroom) while HomeCat gets the rest of my apartment. I swapped scents (and still do) using socks, other items, and brushing. I have Feliway plug-ins and sprays. Fed cats on either side of door then through covered baby gate, then fed treats on opposite sides of uncovered baby gate. Progressed to play time through uncovered baby gate. Cats would sniff each other through the gate, HomeCat would trill at NewCat, and both cats seemed to want to interact without the gate.
Ungated supervised interaction time started off fine. HomeCat was a bit apprehensive about NewCat tumbling around, understandably. NewCat was also apprehensive about HomeCat's size (NewCat is 2.5 lb. and HomeCat is 15 lb.). This didn't hinder them from eating treats together or playing with wand toys. NewCat even rubbed his head against HomeCat's a few times. The problem is that HomeCat is getting more and more disinhibited and has begun treating NewCat like a toy or prey. It started with HomeCat stalking and chasing NewCat. Progressed to HomeCat cornering NewCat to bat and bite NewCat - including biting at NewCat's tummy. HomeCat isn't hissing or growling during the attacks his ears are upright. His pupils are dilated but no whites showing. He doesn't seem to be using his claws and he hasn't caused any injuries, but the attacks do look aggressive. NewCat is scared of these attacks. NewCat would respond by running, hiding, rolling on his back and hissing/growling/puffing. I always try to intervene before physical contact or escalation. HomeCat doesn't do this all the time - only when he's in an alert mood. Otherwise, he's fine to nap in the same room as NewCat.
After a negative interaction, I move the cats back to gated interactions only for a few days. Again, they play through the gate, trill, and seem to want to meet. Both meow and try to get to the other's side of the gate. However, HomeCat inevitably tries to stalk/chase/bat/bite NewCat at some point during supervised ungated interactions.
My question is - where do I go from here? Here's a link to the kitties interacting through the gate as they're back to gated interactions only. Am I misreading the interaction? Is HomeCat being aggressive in the video? I think he's being playful but his pupils are dilated. His tail is normally low so that's not out of the ordinary.
Many thanks in advance!
