Hello.
Six months ago I got a kitten, Nami - she is beautiful and we are truly bonded. She made herself at home from day one and it has been completely smooth sailing. We decided to get a kitten to keep her company when out at work all day as she is a very social kitty. Unfortunately I did not know about cat introductions. As a child growing up we had multiple cats and rescued newcomers periodically and I never remembered there being any problems, we just let them integrate at their own pace and there was never any fighting... So here was my first mistake.
When I brought home 8 week old Toffee I set his carrier down and opened the door. He was purring and welcomed my hand coming in to give him a fuss. Then in comes Nami. She went in for a sniff and even tried to lick him - all was going well. Until the brave baby started hissing at her. She backed off a bit and slowly approached him again. More hissing. He then swatted at her, starting the war we have now. She decided to sit on top of his carrier and circle it, sniffing and trying to work up the courage to try and befriend him again. Unfortunately he swatted, and she swatted back. I immediately panicked and took the baby in to my bedroom to figure it out. It was at this point I googled and immediately got upset thinking I had ruined their relationship forever by not giving them slow introductions.
Not to be discouraged, I started off as if I hadn't introduced them at all. I have done scent exchanges, room swaps and they happily feed either side of the door. They both meow at each other and lie either side playing footsie and looking at each other. This is often paired with purring. I have tried opening the door a crack and they are desperate to get at each other. There has been no more hissing. I thought they were ready to be introduced, my second mistake. Nami immediately jumps on top of baby Toffee, her whole body covering his and pins him. At first they are purring and it seems like play and possibly a show of dominance. It almost looks as if she is mounting him. When she has him on his back she is relentless - she is even nibbling on his neck and legs. I'm not sure if she is biting down. There are no argumentative noises except sometimes Toffee will quietly squeek. If he manages to wriggle away she will follow and immediately repeat the process. So a towel gets thrown over them and separated again - back to square one. This has happened about three times now. We get to the point I think it will be okay and the same thing happens.
Am I doing something wrong? Is this just normal behaviour? Both can't handle being alone so someone has to sleep in the living room with either kitten and it is causing a stressful environment generally. Both cats separately do not seem at all stressed or sad, both are very loving and playful and comfortable. I can't handle their fighting for more than a minute or two before separating - maybe I am not giving them long enough to settle their differences? Please help me!
Apologies for the lengthy post and thank you in advance.
Cassie
Six months ago I got a kitten, Nami - she is beautiful and we are truly bonded. She made herself at home from day one and it has been completely smooth sailing. We decided to get a kitten to keep her company when out at work all day as she is a very social kitty. Unfortunately I did not know about cat introductions. As a child growing up we had multiple cats and rescued newcomers periodically and I never remembered there being any problems, we just let them integrate at their own pace and there was never any fighting... So here was my first mistake.
When I brought home 8 week old Toffee I set his carrier down and opened the door. He was purring and welcomed my hand coming in to give him a fuss. Then in comes Nami. She went in for a sniff and even tried to lick him - all was going well. Until the brave baby started hissing at her. She backed off a bit and slowly approached him again. More hissing. He then swatted at her, starting the war we have now. She decided to sit on top of his carrier and circle it, sniffing and trying to work up the courage to try and befriend him again. Unfortunately he swatted, and she swatted back. I immediately panicked and took the baby in to my bedroom to figure it out. It was at this point I googled and immediately got upset thinking I had ruined their relationship forever by not giving them slow introductions.
Not to be discouraged, I started off as if I hadn't introduced them at all. I have done scent exchanges, room swaps and they happily feed either side of the door. They both meow at each other and lie either side playing footsie and looking at each other. This is often paired with purring. I have tried opening the door a crack and they are desperate to get at each other. There has been no more hissing. I thought they were ready to be introduced, my second mistake. Nami immediately jumps on top of baby Toffee, her whole body covering his and pins him. At first they are purring and it seems like play and possibly a show of dominance. It almost looks as if she is mounting him. When she has him on his back she is relentless - she is even nibbling on his neck and legs. I'm not sure if she is biting down. There are no argumentative noises except sometimes Toffee will quietly squeek. If he manages to wriggle away she will follow and immediately repeat the process. So a towel gets thrown over them and separated again - back to square one. This has happened about three times now. We get to the point I think it will be okay and the same thing happens.
Am I doing something wrong? Is this just normal behaviour? Both can't handle being alone so someone has to sleep in the living room with either kitten and it is causing a stressful environment generally. Both cats separately do not seem at all stressed or sad, both are very loving and playful and comfortable. I can't handle their fighting for more than a minute or two before separating - maybe I am not giving them long enough to settle their differences? Please help me!
Apologies for the lengthy post and thank you in advance.
Cassie