- Joined
- Jun 25, 2008
- Messages
- 67
- Purraise
- 1
Hi all,
I am having issues with a new addition to my home. I called and arranged to meet with the owner of an 8 year old intact male Tom named Brisco, who belonged to an 87 year old lady who could no longer care for him. Unfortunately, after a few weeks, Brisco is forcing me to consider giving him away myself.
I've done my usual work in trying to "introduce" Brisco to my home and current kitty, another 8 year old male (neutered) by putting him in a room by himself (he has been there ever since, naughty cat!) and letting him get used to Plucky's scent. Brisco just seems insanely high strung however. He has aggressively bitten me 3 times, once in the forehead and twice in the left hand. I learned that he had also bitten a member of the PREVIOUS family that tried to adopt him. He has rubbed up against my leg, and arched his back to brush up against my hand, meowing, then simply screamed and hissed and launched himself at my arm, all 4 claws sank into my arm, and he bit- hard!!- into my thumb. Just now- again - he lunged at my face while I was kneeling down to feed him. In the minutes before, he had been sitting quietly and purring, no outward signs of stress or aggression.
I can tell he is having issues adjusting, and I can understand why; an intact male, in an apartment that stinks of another cat, with a 49 year old man replacing his beloved 87 year old mama. I get it. But he has been here now, in seclusion, for almost 4 weeks. I visit him frequently, try to talk to him, play with him, make a bif show of feeding him so he knows where the goddies come from...but he is still highly nervous and worries me. He acts like a normal cat most of the time, and he even purrs and stretches out on the door, meowing for me to let him out. If I do, he will go as far as the kitchen, turn around, and go back to the closet he is sleeping in. I have to confess...I am afraid to even touch him now, and will not lean down or crouch or sit in the room with him. I remain standing, keep my hands to myself, and simply talk to him as gently as I can.
I am at a loss. Should I give him a few more weeks and try again to let him out? Or is he simply not a good fit for my home?
I am having issues with a new addition to my home. I called and arranged to meet with the owner of an 8 year old intact male Tom named Brisco, who belonged to an 87 year old lady who could no longer care for him. Unfortunately, after a few weeks, Brisco is forcing me to consider giving him away myself.
I've done my usual work in trying to "introduce" Brisco to my home and current kitty, another 8 year old male (neutered) by putting him in a room by himself (he has been there ever since, naughty cat!) and letting him get used to Plucky's scent. Brisco just seems insanely high strung however. He has aggressively bitten me 3 times, once in the forehead and twice in the left hand. I learned that he had also bitten a member of the PREVIOUS family that tried to adopt him. He has rubbed up against my leg, and arched his back to brush up against my hand, meowing, then simply screamed and hissed and launched himself at my arm, all 4 claws sank into my arm, and he bit- hard!!- into my thumb. Just now- again - he lunged at my face while I was kneeling down to feed him. In the minutes before, he had been sitting quietly and purring, no outward signs of stress or aggression.
I can tell he is having issues adjusting, and I can understand why; an intact male, in an apartment that stinks of another cat, with a 49 year old man replacing his beloved 87 year old mama. I get it. But he has been here now, in seclusion, for almost 4 weeks. I visit him frequently, try to talk to him, play with him, make a bif show of feeding him so he knows where the goddies come from...but he is still highly nervous and worries me. He acts like a normal cat most of the time, and he even purrs and stretches out on the door, meowing for me to let him out. If I do, he will go as far as the kitchen, turn around, and go back to the closet he is sleeping in. I have to confess...I am afraid to even touch him now, and will not lean down or crouch or sit in the room with him. I remain standing, keep my hands to myself, and simply talk to him as gently as I can.
I am at a loss. Should I give him a few more weeks and try again to let him out? Or is he simply not a good fit for my home?