Hi
My hubby and I got a rescue cat 6 months ago (Bonnie - female + neutered) - she was aged about 7 months and was very timid. No one at the center knew anything about her background
When we brought her home she hid in a corner behind a bookcase for the first 2 weeks - she would come out and eat / use her litter but wouldn't socialize with us at all and jumped at the slightest sound
Over the months she got a lot better (Feliway helped) and although we can't pick her up (she scratches to get free) we can pet her (me more than hubby) and she isn't as jumpy (however if she gets really scared she has a safe hiding place under the spare bed).
2 weeks ago the rescue center had an appeal as they had 30 kittens to re-home. To cut a long story short we ended up with a 3 month old male (Clyde - not yet neutered). He is full of life and really loving.
For the first week he lived in a dog crate in our bedroom whilst Bonnie had the run of the house.
The bedroom door was left open at night so she could come in if she wanted
When I Clyde for his jabs the vet (who knows how timid Bonnie is) suggested Zylkene - so she is now on these as well
After a week we started putting Clyde in a carry case and letting them eat together
We have also been swapping bedding and petted one then the other to mingle smells etc
At the first feeding session she hissed at him but otherwise ignored him.
Then a couple of days ago he managed to escape when they were feeding and Bonnie turned tail and fled up to her safe place. She came back after about 15-20 minutes (we had put Clyde back in our bedroom by then) but she was very jumpy
Now if we try to feed them together and Clyde looks at her she runs away (not always to her safe place but at least into a different room) - its heartbreaking as I love them both and although I know they may not be best friends I would at least like to be able to let them both roam the house and know that Bonnie isn't cowering in fear somewhere.
The strange thing is that she doesn't seem to mind his smell - just his movement...
Does anyone have any ideas ... will it get better?
Thanks
My hubby and I got a rescue cat 6 months ago (Bonnie - female + neutered) - she was aged about 7 months and was very timid. No one at the center knew anything about her background
When we brought her home she hid in a corner behind a bookcase for the first 2 weeks - she would come out and eat / use her litter but wouldn't socialize with us at all and jumped at the slightest sound
Over the months she got a lot better (Feliway helped) and although we can't pick her up (she scratches to get free) we can pet her (me more than hubby) and she isn't as jumpy (however if she gets really scared she has a safe hiding place under the spare bed).
2 weeks ago the rescue center had an appeal as they had 30 kittens to re-home. To cut a long story short we ended up with a 3 month old male (Clyde - not yet neutered). He is full of life and really loving.
For the first week he lived in a dog crate in our bedroom whilst Bonnie had the run of the house.
The bedroom door was left open at night so she could come in if she wanted
When I Clyde for his jabs the vet (who knows how timid Bonnie is) suggested Zylkene - so she is now on these as well
After a week we started putting Clyde in a carry case and letting them eat together
We have also been swapping bedding and petted one then the other to mingle smells etc
At the first feeding session she hissed at him but otherwise ignored him.
Then a couple of days ago he managed to escape when they were feeding and Bonnie turned tail and fled up to her safe place. She came back after about 15-20 minutes (we had put Clyde back in our bedroom by then) but she was very jumpy
Now if we try to feed them together and Clyde looks at her she runs away (not always to her safe place but at least into a different room) - its heartbreaking as I love them both and although I know they may not be best friends I would at least like to be able to let them both roam the house and know that Bonnie isn't cowering in fear somewhere.
The strange thing is that she doesn't seem to mind his smell - just his movement...
Does anyone have any ideas ... will it get better?
Thanks