Hi everyone,
I am hoping I can find some help on this forum. I have two cats, both just over a year old. They are a male (Fry) and a female (Tilly) from the same litter so have always been extremely close. They are both neutered.
About a month ago, someone in my neighbourhood shot Fry in the leg at point blank range with an air rifle. As you can imagine, I was gutted. The vet only just managed to save the leg and after several surgeries (and with more to come in the future), Fry is now back home with a huge cast on his leg.
When Fry first went to the vet Tilly looked everywhere for him, waited by the catflap for him and was clearly distressed by his absence. Now he is back she is terrified of him. She will not go near him (or even come in the room he is being kept). There have been a few chance encounters, all resulting in Tilly hissing and/or growling and then doing a runner out the catflap. Fry has been home for about 3 weeks now but things have not improved with Tilly.
I appreciate Fry doesn't smell or even look like Fry but, given how badly his leg was broken, and that he will require firther surgeries, it is likely he will be in a cast for months to come. After all the heartache, the last thing I want is for Tilly to leave but I am at a loss as to what to do about it. Should I not even bother trying to get her used to him while he is in the cast? Should I keep her in the house for a while so she is forced to confront him but can't run away? Will she work out it is Fry when the cast comes off and he stops stinking of the vet or will it have been too long by then?
Any advice would be much appreciated, thanks
I am hoping I can find some help on this forum. I have two cats, both just over a year old. They are a male (Fry) and a female (Tilly) from the same litter so have always been extremely close. They are both neutered.
About a month ago, someone in my neighbourhood shot Fry in the leg at point blank range with an air rifle. As you can imagine, I was gutted. The vet only just managed to save the leg and after several surgeries (and with more to come in the future), Fry is now back home with a huge cast on his leg.
When Fry first went to the vet Tilly looked everywhere for him, waited by the catflap for him and was clearly distressed by his absence. Now he is back she is terrified of him. She will not go near him (or even come in the room he is being kept). There have been a few chance encounters, all resulting in Tilly hissing and/or growling and then doing a runner out the catflap. Fry has been home for about 3 weeks now but things have not improved with Tilly.
I appreciate Fry doesn't smell or even look like Fry but, given how badly his leg was broken, and that he will require firther surgeries, it is likely he will be in a cast for months to come. After all the heartache, the last thing I want is for Tilly to leave but I am at a loss as to what to do about it. Should I not even bother trying to get her used to him while he is in the cast? Should I keep her in the house for a while so she is forced to confront him but can't run away? Will she work out it is Fry when the cast comes off and he stops stinking of the vet or will it have been too long by then?
Any advice would be much appreciated, thanks