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- Feb 7, 2017
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Hi.... Looking for reassurance, I guess, or additional tips maybe??
Our resident female cat, Marbles, is 16 mos now and hasn't seen another cat since she was 9 weeks old.
Just adopted a chill little 6-mo-old male 5 days ago. He's barricaded in the living room out of sight. He's sweet and lovey and totally submissive to other cats. He came from a foster who had 4 or 5 other cats and played and got along with them all fine.
Marbles has been concerned about what is going on behind the barricade. We've done some scent-swapping with items back and forth. She sniffed the items with interest, without any negative reaction. I gave it 3 days before trying to have them eat on either side of the (covered) gate. Succeeded, last night. Each ate, no hissing.
Today we site-swapped them. He strolled around the room and was fine. Marbles sniffed around his room forever and was irritable when doing it- we tried 3x to pick her up and she hissed at us- she never does that- especially to me! Then we fed them on either side of the gate with a teeny sliver of space left open to see through. Marbles locked eyes with him and full-on hissed. Tried to poke her paw through the gate, but no arched back or ears back at least. She couldn't focus on eating. I had to move her dish back like 6 feet before she'd eat. And covered the gate back up.
She's now been irritable all day. She nips at us when we try to pet her much and she looks tense and won't settle.
I bought a Feliway diffuser just now. Just hoping that she will eventually calm down? Husband, who never wanted a 2nd cat- but gave in for me - although he loves this kitten, is really upset that Marbles is upset and grumpy. Foster told us to take 3-5 days to introduce them; he thinks I'm taking it too slowly. *I'm* afraid it will take forever!
Reassure me that first impression doesn't mean she'll never warm up to him and will be miserable forever?? I know it's usual for cats to be hissy and defensive at first, but I still am upset for our first baby... would love to hear anyone's experiences.
Thanks...
Our resident female cat, Marbles, is 16 mos now and hasn't seen another cat since she was 9 weeks old.
Just adopted a chill little 6-mo-old male 5 days ago. He's barricaded in the living room out of sight. He's sweet and lovey and totally submissive to other cats. He came from a foster who had 4 or 5 other cats and played and got along with them all fine.
Marbles has been concerned about what is going on behind the barricade. We've done some scent-swapping with items back and forth. She sniffed the items with interest, without any negative reaction. I gave it 3 days before trying to have them eat on either side of the (covered) gate. Succeeded, last night. Each ate, no hissing.
Today we site-swapped them. He strolled around the room and was fine. Marbles sniffed around his room forever and was irritable when doing it- we tried 3x to pick her up and she hissed at us- she never does that- especially to me! Then we fed them on either side of the gate with a teeny sliver of space left open to see through. Marbles locked eyes with him and full-on hissed. Tried to poke her paw through the gate, but no arched back or ears back at least. She couldn't focus on eating. I had to move her dish back like 6 feet before she'd eat. And covered the gate back up.
She's now been irritable all day. She nips at us when we try to pet her much and she looks tense and won't settle.
I bought a Feliway diffuser just now. Just hoping that she will eventually calm down? Husband, who never wanted a 2nd cat- but gave in for me - although he loves this kitten, is really upset that Marbles is upset and grumpy. Foster told us to take 3-5 days to introduce them; he thinks I'm taking it too slowly. *I'm* afraid it will take forever!
Reassure me that first impression doesn't mean she'll never warm up to him and will be miserable forever?? I know it's usual for cats to be hissy and defensive at first, but I still am upset for our first baby... would love to hear anyone's experiences.
Thanks...