I am totally on Cloud Nine, had to ramble a bit. Sophie and Jack just met each other for the first time, and I can't believe how well it went!
We weren't even prepared for them to have a face-to-face yet...my Feliway wasn't delivered yet, and we haven't even had a chance to do a proper scent-exchange (Jack has only shown real recovery from his URI in the past 36 hours or so, and I hadn't wanted to transfer germs along with scents!). But letting Sophie SEE Jack has eased her stress very significantly, so tonight, the PLAN was to let them see each other through a baby gate (last night, we let her see him in his carrier, but that really stressed HIM out).
Well, Soph had other ideas. I let down my guard for one second, and she pushed right past one edge of the gate and into the living room where Jack was hanging out. I was really shocked, I expected some real show of dominance from Sophie, but she was very hesitant, whereas Jack is a natural dominant type, totally unruffled and pigheaded and a complete show-off. There was no initial hissing, spitting, pawing, biting, growling, anything...just two kitties sniffing at each other (with Sophie making an occasional retreat if Jack got too close for comfort).
An hour or nearly-constant follow-the-leader ensued. Jack would pretend to ignore her and walk around the house; she followed like a little black shadow. Then they'd switch, with her walking around, and Jack following. The only time she'd hiss or paw at him was if he got too pushy trying to sniff at her; she's still hesitant around him and doesn't want him right up in her face.
Eventually Sophie got too worked up and DID start hissing and growling at him more, so I separated them and put them in their respective rooms for the night (Soph with me, Jack back in his bathroom). And their relationship will take some work, there's no doubt. But they were already hesitantly "playing" a bit (until one or the other got a little too nervous), and I can really see the potential for a great kitty friendship here!
Incidentally, I knew Jack was a vocal cat (Sophie rarely makes a sound, and her chirps and meows are relatively soft)...but wow, when he gets going, he sounds like a Siamese! I've never actually heard a cat with a "voice" like that in person...like a baby/toddler vocalizing. It's somewhat eerie, but very cute. I've always found talkative kitties extremely charming, so it won't bother me (although I do hope he doesn't plan to have conversations with Sophie or I while we're trying to sleep!). Definitely not sure what any of it MEANT either...I assume nothing aggressive since *none* of his body language (tail, ears, eyes) was showing fear or aggression in the least.
So very, very pleased, and proud of my two babies right now!
We weren't even prepared for them to have a face-to-face yet...my Feliway wasn't delivered yet, and we haven't even had a chance to do a proper scent-exchange (Jack has only shown real recovery from his URI in the past 36 hours or so, and I hadn't wanted to transfer germs along with scents!). But letting Sophie SEE Jack has eased her stress very significantly, so tonight, the PLAN was to let them see each other through a baby gate (last night, we let her see him in his carrier, but that really stressed HIM out).
Well, Soph had other ideas. I let down my guard for one second, and she pushed right past one edge of the gate and into the living room where Jack was hanging out. I was really shocked, I expected some real show of dominance from Sophie, but she was very hesitant, whereas Jack is a natural dominant type, totally unruffled and pigheaded and a complete show-off. There was no initial hissing, spitting, pawing, biting, growling, anything...just two kitties sniffing at each other (with Sophie making an occasional retreat if Jack got too close for comfort).
An hour or nearly-constant follow-the-leader ensued. Jack would pretend to ignore her and walk around the house; she followed like a little black shadow. Then they'd switch, with her walking around, and Jack following. The only time she'd hiss or paw at him was if he got too pushy trying to sniff at her; she's still hesitant around him and doesn't want him right up in her face.
Eventually Sophie got too worked up and DID start hissing and growling at him more, so I separated them and put them in their respective rooms for the night (Soph with me, Jack back in his bathroom). And their relationship will take some work, there's no doubt. But they were already hesitantly "playing" a bit (until one or the other got a little too nervous), and I can really see the potential for a great kitty friendship here!
Incidentally, I knew Jack was a vocal cat (Sophie rarely makes a sound, and her chirps and meows are relatively soft)...but wow, when he gets going, he sounds like a Siamese! I've never actually heard a cat with a "voice" like that in person...like a baby/toddler vocalizing. It's somewhat eerie, but very cute. I've always found talkative kitties extremely charming, so it won't bother me (although I do hope he doesn't plan to have conversations with Sophie or I while we're trying to sleep!). Definitely not sure what any of it MEANT either...I assume nothing aggressive since *none* of his body language (tail, ears, eyes) was showing fear or aggression in the least.
So very, very pleased, and proud of my two babies right now!
