- Joined
- Jan 25, 2016
- Messages
- 27
- Purraise
- 7
Our 9-year-old, 8-lb princess golden tabby has forgotten her early days here when she shared the house with a dignified old tuxedo dude who loved her and she returned the affection. He's been gone for several years and she wants to continue to be the only cat in the house.
Our daughter rescued a gorgeous cat from a shelter in Kodiak, Alaska, a couple of years ago. Probably half Maine Coon, he got all the Maine Coon plush fur and he's twice the size of our little golden girl; he also wants to be the only cat in the house.
Daughter was transferred last summer from Kodiak to Honolulu, where the blond flash in the double fur coat got sick in the heat and humidity, growing lethargic, not eating, and losing weight. Aftr six months of decline, the vet said get him off the island. "MOM!!!!!!!!!"
So, we took him in last month. Knowing both cats, we anticipated a tough introduction and prolonged break-in period, but we've successfully integrated many cats and a few dogs into the household over the years. We thought we knew how to do it. We had the safe room, the separate food and water stations, litter boxes, and bedding spots.
The poor little guy had endured 20 hours in a travel crate with food, water, and a fleece blankie whch reeked of ammonia by the time we collected hm for the further 3-1/2 hours it took to drive home from the airport.
When we got home, I unlocked the door and headed immediately for the prepard safe room, not aware that the resident cat had winkled open a door and got into the entry room, definitely not part of the plan.
Simultaneously, my husband forgot the whole plan in his desire to free the new cat from the urine-soaked crate and popped the lock on the crate.
New cat (neutered male 2-year-old) dashed at resident cat (neutered female 8-year-old known to be high-strung and skittish). Resident cat crouched, hissing, spitting, and growling, but not rolling in submission. New cat reached out, delivering three quick swats to the little girl's butt. She shrieks and flees into the house proper, diving under the bed.
We capture the newbie and take him to safe room, but it's all beside the point now.
Five weeks later, they have yet to agree to disagree and let each other be, even if at opposite ends of the house. He's a bully, stalking her specifically to harrass her. She's only too happy to instigate conflict by growling and hissing for no reason, just because she saw him pass by the room she's in, safely behind a fort of pillows. That draws him into the room to respond and I'm in the middle with a squirt bottle.
I began using Rescue Remedy Pet drops about three days ago. We get through about six or seven hours at night without uproar, but I spend the rest off the day shuffling cats from one isolation zone to another, letting one out while the other comes in by a different door. I'm exhausted and while I don't mean to complain, these stubborn cats are not even the biggest problem I have right now, but they aren't contributing anything to improving the various situations we find ourselves in right now.
Obviously, my 8-year-old tabby beauty isn't going anywhere. We've become very attached to the big guy, a gorgeous pale blond flash of fur and muscle and don't want to have to look for a suitable home for him, which would be very hard to find in our area.
I need suggestions/advice/recommendations/success stories about integrating two cats who can't stand to be in the same room together. I'm not looking to make them BFFs, they don't have to cuddle and groom each other they way other cats have. I just want cordial hatred and mutual avoidance.
HELP!
Our daughter rescued a gorgeous cat from a shelter in Kodiak, Alaska, a couple of years ago. Probably half Maine Coon, he got all the Maine Coon plush fur and he's twice the size of our little golden girl; he also wants to be the only cat in the house.
Daughter was transferred last summer from Kodiak to Honolulu, where the blond flash in the double fur coat got sick in the heat and humidity, growing lethargic, not eating, and losing weight. Aftr six months of decline, the vet said get him off the island. "MOM!!!!!!!!!"
So, we took him in last month. Knowing both cats, we anticipated a tough introduction and prolonged break-in period, but we've successfully integrated many cats and a few dogs into the household over the years. We thought we knew how to do it. We had the safe room, the separate food and water stations, litter boxes, and bedding spots.
The poor little guy had endured 20 hours in a travel crate with food, water, and a fleece blankie whch reeked of ammonia by the time we collected hm for the further 3-1/2 hours it took to drive home from the airport.
When we got home, I unlocked the door and headed immediately for the prepard safe room, not aware that the resident cat had winkled open a door and got into the entry room, definitely not part of the plan.
Simultaneously, my husband forgot the whole plan in his desire to free the new cat from the urine-soaked crate and popped the lock on the crate.
New cat (neutered male 2-year-old) dashed at resident cat (neutered female 8-year-old known to be high-strung and skittish). Resident cat crouched, hissing, spitting, and growling, but not rolling in submission. New cat reached out, delivering three quick swats to the little girl's butt. She shrieks and flees into the house proper, diving under the bed.
We capture the newbie and take him to safe room, but it's all beside the point now.
Five weeks later, they have yet to agree to disagree and let each other be, even if at opposite ends of the house. He's a bully, stalking her specifically to harrass her. She's only too happy to instigate conflict by growling and hissing for no reason, just because she saw him pass by the room she's in, safely behind a fort of pillows. That draws him into the room to respond and I'm in the middle with a squirt bottle.
I began using Rescue Remedy Pet drops about three days ago. We get through about six or seven hours at night without uproar, but I spend the rest off the day shuffling cats from one isolation zone to another, letting one out while the other comes in by a different door. I'm exhausted and while I don't mean to complain, these stubborn cats are not even the biggest problem I have right now, but they aren't contributing anything to improving the various situations we find ourselves in right now.
Obviously, my 8-year-old tabby beauty isn't going anywhere. We've become very attached to the big guy, a gorgeous pale blond flash of fur and muscle and don't want to have to look for a suitable home for him, which would be very hard to find in our area.
I need suggestions/advice/recommendations/success stories about integrating two cats who can't stand to be in the same room together. I'm not looking to make them BFFs, they don't have to cuddle and groom each other they way other cats have. I just want cordial hatred and mutual avoidance.
HELP!