I'm having a lot of trouble getting my two cats to get along.
I've had Tara for about 3-4 years now, she's around 5 years old. She was a feral/stray beforehand. She's always been a good cat, but last spring, she seemed to be getting bored. She stopped playing with her toys and started destroying things. My vet suggested another cat, and I agreed, since I know I'll be busier down the road and have less to time to spend with her.
So I got a kitten around July 4th. I kept Tara and her totally apart and only let them sniff each others towels/blankets until the end of July. Then I started putting Drusilla (new kitten) in her carrier and putting it in Tara's suite (she's confined to the two top floors for several reasons, namely because my Grandmother lives with me and has a habit of leaving pills laying around and doesn't watch to make sure the kitties don't jump in/on the oven when she's cooking). Tara hissed and hid. I tried this for months. If I let Drusilla out of her carrier and Drusilla got anywhere near Tara, Tara would attack her. I installed Feliway, nothing changed.
Drusilla's has been confined to the downstairs spare bedroom the whole time. But she's getting big (6 months old now), and its not that big of a room. The Kitty Suite is three large rooms, and the entire empty attic and its got so much more space plus large windows, two cat trees, and more toys than they could want. Drusilla is obviously getting annoyed with being kept in a small, windowless room, and she's become quite destructive by throwing herself at the door and ripping up the carpet. I can't let her have the run of the downstairs for safety reasons, so I think its really important they get to the point of tolerating each other so they can both enjoy the comfy kitty suite I put together just for them. I'd hoped they would just avoid each other until they got along, but it seems impossible. Drusilla runs around and explores, and if she gets near Tara, Tara attacks. Drusilla is extremely curious of Tara, and doesn't stay away. I'm terrified if I just let them loose together, they will fight and seriously hurt each other.
So, advice? I've tried everything I know and its not working.
I've had Tara for about 3-4 years now, she's around 5 years old. She was a feral/stray beforehand. She's always been a good cat, but last spring, she seemed to be getting bored. She stopped playing with her toys and started destroying things. My vet suggested another cat, and I agreed, since I know I'll be busier down the road and have less to time to spend with her.
So I got a kitten around July 4th. I kept Tara and her totally apart and only let them sniff each others towels/blankets until the end of July. Then I started putting Drusilla (new kitten) in her carrier and putting it in Tara's suite (she's confined to the two top floors for several reasons, namely because my Grandmother lives with me and has a habit of leaving pills laying around and doesn't watch to make sure the kitties don't jump in/on the oven when she's cooking). Tara hissed and hid. I tried this for months. If I let Drusilla out of her carrier and Drusilla got anywhere near Tara, Tara would attack her. I installed Feliway, nothing changed.
Drusilla's has been confined to the downstairs spare bedroom the whole time. But she's getting big (6 months old now), and its not that big of a room. The Kitty Suite is three large rooms, and the entire empty attic and its got so much more space plus large windows, two cat trees, and more toys than they could want. Drusilla is obviously getting annoyed with being kept in a small, windowless room, and she's become quite destructive by throwing herself at the door and ripping up the carpet. I can't let her have the run of the downstairs for safety reasons, so I think its really important they get to the point of tolerating each other so they can both enjoy the comfy kitty suite I put together just for them. I'd hoped they would just avoid each other until they got along, but it seems impossible. Drusilla runs around and explores, and if she gets near Tara, Tara attacks. Drusilla is extremely curious of Tara, and doesn't stay away. I'm terrified if I just let them loose together, they will fight and seriously hurt each other.
So, advice? I've tried everything I know and its not working.