Hello! Two weeks ago I adopted two cats from a shelter, Boo and Rosi. Boo is two years old, and he was given to the shelter by his previous owner. Rosi is six years old, she was found as a stray, and she is missing one eye. Both were previously declawed.
I got two cats, instead of one, so they would have company while my husband and I are at work all day--but so far, these two guys don't like each other at all! I am new to cat ownership, and I'd like to know if their behavior is normal.
Rosi hisses and growls at Boo anytime he comes near her. At first Boo was scared of her, but over time he's gotten bolder. It seems that he wants to play. He walks toward her, meowing, while she hisses; then she runs, and he chases her.
It seems that, instead of their fights getting less frequent over time, the fights are getting more frequent. It's getting to where they can't be in the same room together, without it ending with Rosi running away and Boo running after her.
It's Rosi that I'm worried about--she's hiding under the bed as I type this. She's a very sweet cat, and of course I took her home from the shelter to giver her a peaceful life, not to have her constantly on the run!
Is this fighting normal? Do you think it will get better? I read the stickies on cat aggression, but most of the info seemed to be for introducing old cats to new cats, and I adopted these two at once. Is there anything I can do to help them get along? The vet said that I should just stand back and let them work it out on their own, but I hate to see Rosi hiding so much.... Thank you!
I got two cats, instead of one, so they would have company while my husband and I are at work all day--but so far, these two guys don't like each other at all! I am new to cat ownership, and I'd like to know if their behavior is normal.
Rosi hisses and growls at Boo anytime he comes near her. At first Boo was scared of her, but over time he's gotten bolder. It seems that he wants to play. He walks toward her, meowing, while she hisses; then she runs, and he chases her.
It seems that, instead of their fights getting less frequent over time, the fights are getting more frequent. It's getting to where they can't be in the same room together, without it ending with Rosi running away and Boo running after her.
It's Rosi that I'm worried about--she's hiding under the bed as I type this. She's a very sweet cat, and of course I took her home from the shelter to giver her a peaceful life, not to have her constantly on the run!
Is this fighting normal? Do you think it will get better? I read the stickies on cat aggression, but most of the info seemed to be for introducing old cats to new cats, and I adopted these two at once. Is there anything I can do to help them get along? The vet said that I should just stand back and let them work it out on their own, but I hate to see Rosi hiding so much.... Thank you!