- Joined
- Feb 22, 2015
- Messages
- 7
- Purraise
- 4
Hello, first time poster, but it's the first time I've ever been at a complete loss with cat behavior!
About 2 1/2 weeks ago, I brought home Nymeria, a 1 year old, 3-legged female cat. I felt like I did enough research to ensure a smooth introduction with Tybalt, my resident male (about 5 years old, has all his legs). Tybalt seems totally fine with the new cat. He will eat right up against the door with Nymeria on the other side and not react at all, and even with the door cracked slightly he will just look curiously but then go back to eating. As far as I can tell he is eager to meet Nymeria and is ready for the companion. He is absolutely the chillest cat and has shown none of the warnings signs of feeling like his territory is being infringed upon.
Nymeria is a completely different story, she certainly isn't "chill" with Tybalt. She was brought into the animal shelter in December and was spayed at that time, then in early January she had the surgery to remove her left back leg, so I know she's had a tough couple of months. As far as I could tell from the shelter staff, Nymeria has never had full use of her leg and she gets around great without it and is just a sweet love bug to me. She has warmed up to me so much in just the few weeks we've had her, laying in my lap and purring constantly, looking for pets and attention. However, for the first week whenever Tybalt would come up to the door she would hiss aggressively and usually run away, although once or twice she charged at the door. Tybalt never hissed back and just meowed confusedly, occasionally pawing at the door but then walking away. After a week of feeding them on either side of a closed door, Nymeria was able to eat right up against it with Tybalt on the other side with no hissing or growling. I thought this was great progress for her! I figured the next step would be to back the bowls up and crack the door open very slightly to allow them to see each other just a bit when they're eating. We're in this stage right now and we're making progress with getting Nymeria close to the open crack in the door when she eats, but if she looks up and sees Tybalt she'll hiss and run away. (Tybs, again, doesn't care, except that he seems a little uneasy when he gets hissed at, but doesn't respond anyways).
However, last night we had a little "incident." I knew Tybalt couldn't get through because he's much to large (12 pounds, to Nymeria's 5), but apparently Nymeria could! I suppose even if I knew she could fit through, I certainly didn't think she would WANT to get out with Tybalt roaming around. Apparently I was wrong because I woke up to screaming bloody murder and violent hissing. I sprung out of bed and saw Nymeria huddled up against a chair in the living room and Tybalt sitting a few feet away. I think she was trying to get into the bedroom where I was sleeping but Tybalt intercepted her (if we don't let Tybalt sleep with us, he makes sure that we don't get any sleep at all, so we lock Nymeria out at night and let her have it during the day). I wrapped Tybalt up in a blanket and as soon as I picked him up Nymeria ran into the bedroom and jumped onto a window ledge she likes to sleep on. I checked over Tybalt and he was a little bushy, but otherwise had no aggression at all. He didn't hiss or claw at me or even try to get away, he just seemed confused by the situation. I checked him over and made sure Nymeria hadn't hurt him then I want in to check on Nymeria. She seemed a little rattled but also had no aggression. She didn't hiss or move away from me, and I was able to pick her up and move her back into her "secure room." I gave her some love and she started purring and cuddling up with me again.
So now I'm really confused on what steps to take next. From everything I've seen, neither cat is really wanting to fight or be aggressive, but Nymeria just keeps hissing and yelling at Tybalt, which makes him come over and investigate. I'm also worried that if we just let them meet Tybalt could hurt her due to his size and also that the area of the amputation is still almost completely shaven, so she doesn't have protection from potential claws or teeth. I know this hasn't been a lot of time for them, but I just want to know I'm on the right track! I can keep feeding them with the door cracked, closing it when they're unsupervised, but a part of me feels like I should do something to get them to interact face to face and this might get rid of Nymeria's fears faster than keeping them separated since I don't think either wants to fight and Tybalt isn't having any territory issues. Maybe I should introduce a gate or screen in a couple days? I'm just totally new to this whole introducing cats thing!
As a brief aside, Nymeria has an odd habit of randomly hissing and yelling (like she's going to fight another cat), but then spinning around and going after her tail. She stops after a few seconds and hasn't done any damage to it, but it really freaks me out! I looked up feline Hyperesthesia but she doesn't seem to have any other symptoms. Her skin isn't twitchy, she doesn't mind having her back and tail pet, and doesn't harm herself in any way. I'm not sure if this is some misplaced frustration at not having a leg? Or maybe she goes after her tail because she forgets and thinks it's another cat? This is just one really strange cat, but she is just so loving I couldn't help falling in love.
I appreciate any and all input, I know it's been a lot to read bit I figured the more info I put, the better advice I can get!
Thank you!
Here's Nymeria showing off her shaved booty!
About 2 1/2 weeks ago, I brought home Nymeria, a 1 year old, 3-legged female cat. I felt like I did enough research to ensure a smooth introduction with Tybalt, my resident male (about 5 years old, has all his legs). Tybalt seems totally fine with the new cat. He will eat right up against the door with Nymeria on the other side and not react at all, and even with the door cracked slightly he will just look curiously but then go back to eating. As far as I can tell he is eager to meet Nymeria and is ready for the companion. He is absolutely the chillest cat and has shown none of the warnings signs of feeling like his territory is being infringed upon.
Nymeria is a completely different story, she certainly isn't "chill" with Tybalt. She was brought into the animal shelter in December and was spayed at that time, then in early January she had the surgery to remove her left back leg, so I know she's had a tough couple of months. As far as I could tell from the shelter staff, Nymeria has never had full use of her leg and she gets around great without it and is just a sweet love bug to me. She has warmed up to me so much in just the few weeks we've had her, laying in my lap and purring constantly, looking for pets and attention. However, for the first week whenever Tybalt would come up to the door she would hiss aggressively and usually run away, although once or twice she charged at the door. Tybalt never hissed back and just meowed confusedly, occasionally pawing at the door but then walking away. After a week of feeding them on either side of a closed door, Nymeria was able to eat right up against it with Tybalt on the other side with no hissing or growling. I thought this was great progress for her! I figured the next step would be to back the bowls up and crack the door open very slightly to allow them to see each other just a bit when they're eating. We're in this stage right now and we're making progress with getting Nymeria close to the open crack in the door when she eats, but if she looks up and sees Tybalt she'll hiss and run away. (Tybs, again, doesn't care, except that he seems a little uneasy when he gets hissed at, but doesn't respond anyways).
However, last night we had a little "incident." I knew Tybalt couldn't get through because he's much to large (12 pounds, to Nymeria's 5), but apparently Nymeria could! I suppose even if I knew she could fit through, I certainly didn't think she would WANT to get out with Tybalt roaming around. Apparently I was wrong because I woke up to screaming bloody murder and violent hissing. I sprung out of bed and saw Nymeria huddled up against a chair in the living room and Tybalt sitting a few feet away. I think she was trying to get into the bedroom where I was sleeping but Tybalt intercepted her (if we don't let Tybalt sleep with us, he makes sure that we don't get any sleep at all, so we lock Nymeria out at night and let her have it during the day). I wrapped Tybalt up in a blanket and as soon as I picked him up Nymeria ran into the bedroom and jumped onto a window ledge she likes to sleep on. I checked over Tybalt and he was a little bushy, but otherwise had no aggression at all. He didn't hiss or claw at me or even try to get away, he just seemed confused by the situation. I checked him over and made sure Nymeria hadn't hurt him then I want in to check on Nymeria. She seemed a little rattled but also had no aggression. She didn't hiss or move away from me, and I was able to pick her up and move her back into her "secure room." I gave her some love and she started purring and cuddling up with me again.
So now I'm really confused on what steps to take next. From everything I've seen, neither cat is really wanting to fight or be aggressive, but Nymeria just keeps hissing and yelling at Tybalt, which makes him come over and investigate. I'm also worried that if we just let them meet Tybalt could hurt her due to his size and also that the area of the amputation is still almost completely shaven, so she doesn't have protection from potential claws or teeth. I know this hasn't been a lot of time for them, but I just want to know I'm on the right track! I can keep feeding them with the door cracked, closing it when they're unsupervised, but a part of me feels like I should do something to get them to interact face to face and this might get rid of Nymeria's fears faster than keeping them separated since I don't think either wants to fight and Tybalt isn't having any territory issues. Maybe I should introduce a gate or screen in a couple days? I'm just totally new to this whole introducing cats thing!
As a brief aside, Nymeria has an odd habit of randomly hissing and yelling (like she's going to fight another cat), but then spinning around and going after her tail. She stops after a few seconds and hasn't done any damage to it, but it really freaks me out! I looked up feline Hyperesthesia but she doesn't seem to have any other symptoms. Her skin isn't twitchy, she doesn't mind having her back and tail pet, and doesn't harm herself in any way. I'm not sure if this is some misplaced frustration at not having a leg? Or maybe she goes after her tail because she forgets and thinks it's another cat? This is just one really strange cat, but she is just so loving I couldn't help falling in love.
I appreciate any and all input, I know it's been a lot to read bit I figured the more info I put, the better advice I can get!
Thank you!
Here's Nymeria showing off her shaved booty!