Things have been crazy lately. I just fully moved in with my boyfriend halfway across the country. I had spent a couple months with him before with only some of my stuff, but now I have brought everything with me. Prior to the move, I lived with my parents and with my cat that I adopted since she was 9 weeks old. She's kind of a skittish cat, but she's very affectionate and loving toward me. I believe she's skittish because the shelter told me they found her in a cardboard box on the side of the road, so whatever her life was before must have traumatized her. I did not have her with me in the first couple of months living with my boyfriend out here. My parents told me that after I left, she changed and seemed to be more stressed out. When I came back for the rest of my stuff, she gave me the cold shoulder at first, but then eventually warmed up to me again.
Meanwhile, in those couple of months with my boyfriend, he already had a dog and that was it. Then after about a month, we had two kittens brought to us. We were only expecting one. We didnt really mind, as we tried to bring the kittens and the dog together. It took a while, but the kittens are only at the level of barely tolerating our dog. Also, the kittens are siblings and were very playful and affectionate, especially with each other.
Now, after being gone for two weeks to move all the rest of my stuff in and bringing my original cat over, our house feels like a warzone. My older cat was originally freaked out by our affectionate dog because he was so excited to see us and went a little crazy. Dogs being dogs, he went up to her carrier and nudged her around to sniff her, which she wasn't too thrilled about and growling ensued. Well, the kittens came around and heard the growling, thinking she had beef with them. The older cat was just curious about them, but one of the kittens struck her. Now scared and panicked, when the other kitten approached her, she struck the kitten in fear because the kitten was growling at her too.
But here's where it gets worse. One of the kittens has gone so crazy and scared, I dont even recognize this kitten anymore. She will growl at nothing. She will growl at her sibling now. Now the two kittens hate each other as well. The older cat is just confused because she's in a new environment with new faces. She's scared and nervous. When things calm down or when she's away from the kittens for a while, she's very clingy and vocal with me. She follows me everywhere. But when she sees the kittens, she doesn't do anything unless she feels threatened. Most of the time she walks away, but sometimes she strikes when the kittens are really upset with her. And now while the older kitty is stressed, she takes it out on me and will strike me if I try to pet her.
We literally dont know what to do. All of these cats hate each other now and all I can do is blame myself for taking the older cat out of her comfortable environment. I've heard about the wall plug-ins that diffuse pheromones but that's all I can think of and I dont even know if they work. I dont want to get rid of any of them either. I just need something.
Meanwhile, in those couple of months with my boyfriend, he already had a dog and that was it. Then after about a month, we had two kittens brought to us. We were only expecting one. We didnt really mind, as we tried to bring the kittens and the dog together. It took a while, but the kittens are only at the level of barely tolerating our dog. Also, the kittens are siblings and were very playful and affectionate, especially with each other.
Now, after being gone for two weeks to move all the rest of my stuff in and bringing my original cat over, our house feels like a warzone. My older cat was originally freaked out by our affectionate dog because he was so excited to see us and went a little crazy. Dogs being dogs, he went up to her carrier and nudged her around to sniff her, which she wasn't too thrilled about and growling ensued. Well, the kittens came around and heard the growling, thinking she had beef with them. The older cat was just curious about them, but one of the kittens struck her. Now scared and panicked, when the other kitten approached her, she struck the kitten in fear because the kitten was growling at her too.
But here's where it gets worse. One of the kittens has gone so crazy and scared, I dont even recognize this kitten anymore. She will growl at nothing. She will growl at her sibling now. Now the two kittens hate each other as well. The older cat is just confused because she's in a new environment with new faces. She's scared and nervous. When things calm down or when she's away from the kittens for a while, she's very clingy and vocal with me. She follows me everywhere. But when she sees the kittens, she doesn't do anything unless she feels threatened. Most of the time she walks away, but sometimes she strikes when the kittens are really upset with her. And now while the older kitty is stressed, she takes it out on me and will strike me if I try to pet her.
We literally dont know what to do. All of these cats hate each other now and all I can do is blame myself for taking the older cat out of her comfortable environment. I've heard about the wall plug-ins that diffuse pheromones but that's all I can think of and I dont even know if they work. I dont want to get rid of any of them either. I just need something.
