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- Feb 18, 2016
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Lucy, my 7 month old Maine Coon got spayed yesterday. She is currently at the vets recuperating. I need some advice on how to best reintroduce her to my 8 year old Sparky. They both live with me in a small studio apartment. The only room I can put one into, to separate them, is a small bathroom. When I originally introduced them I kept her in the bathroom for a day or two and did the scent swapping and feeding on either side of the door.
Sparky does not get along too well with Lucy. He is an ornery guy and a bit unpredictable. I got Lucy at 3 months and it has not been particularly smooth. This is regrettable since I got her to replace his older brother who passed 3 months earlier. I wanted her to provide companionship. They have many moments in which he is completely oblivious to her and leaves her alone. He can walk right next to her and not care. When they eat they are 4 or 5 feet apart and he does not seem to care about her. I can play with them both at the same, with birds on wands and they even bump into each other as they try to catch them. Sometimes they are both found on my couch sleeping no more than 2 feet apart. Other times he chases her around the apartment, up and down the cat tree and if he catches her he wrestles her and seems to bite her neck. She struggles away. Sometimes, she turns around and jumps him. Other times she lies on her back in a submissive posture. Often, without any apparent provocation he charges her and swats at her and hisses or screeches. Yet, after a lunge at her he retreats.
He has never expressed any real hateful violence towards her. No blood has ever been shed or fur gone flying. I am not sure if what they do is rough play or what. She at times stands right up to him, as when she will charge him and jump him (I’ve witnessed this 1/2 dozen times) and other times seems wary of him. She might choose to walk across the room via the couch if he is laying down in front of it. She’ll sometimes walk behind him warily. Yet, she is getting much bigger and as she does she seems more courageous. In short, while I would love to see them hugging and grooming each other, I am content the way things are now. She seems happy and outgoing; although, she clearly respects him.
Knowing how difficult introducing them has been, I am worried about the reintroduction. I do not want him wrestling with her or too much chasing if she is weak and vulnerable from the surgery.
I’m also hopeful her wound will heal sufficiently so that I can ditch the E Collar. Of course I’ll have to watch her with and without it and not ditch it until her wound is pretty well healed and she is not licking it too much. Her stitches are inside and self dissolving. With that in mind these are the steps I’ve taken so far. I would like any advice on what else to do and how.
She got spayed yesterday, Friday, and I am having her boarded at the vets until Monday after I come home from work. This will keep her almost 4 days under their care and enable her to heal somewhat. I visited her this morning and she is doing well. Once I take her back I am keeping her in a neighbors apartment for another 2 or 3 days at most. I do not want to impose on my neighbor, but I do want to give her time to stretch her legs and not be confined to the vet’s cage.
After that, it is back home, almost a week from the surgery. I intend to keep her in the bathroom for a day, but it will be very difficult to do that for days on end. I’ll need the bathroom myself, to shower etc., and it is small and she is getting large and very acrobatic.
While she is at the neighbor’s home I can do the scent swapping thing with towels or washcloths. I’ll continue that when she comes home. I’ll need some step by step advice on who gets what scent swapped, how often, and any other tips. I’ve heard about the use of vanilla drops and some other things.
Any ideas on this is greatly appreciated. I’ve had 3 other females spayed in my lifetime, but never had the dynamic at home with the other cat as I do know. I want to do it right. Thanks.
Sparky does not get along too well with Lucy. He is an ornery guy and a bit unpredictable. I got Lucy at 3 months and it has not been particularly smooth. This is regrettable since I got her to replace his older brother who passed 3 months earlier. I wanted her to provide companionship. They have many moments in which he is completely oblivious to her and leaves her alone. He can walk right next to her and not care. When they eat they are 4 or 5 feet apart and he does not seem to care about her. I can play with them both at the same, with birds on wands and they even bump into each other as they try to catch them. Sometimes they are both found on my couch sleeping no more than 2 feet apart. Other times he chases her around the apartment, up and down the cat tree and if he catches her he wrestles her and seems to bite her neck. She struggles away. Sometimes, she turns around and jumps him. Other times she lies on her back in a submissive posture. Often, without any apparent provocation he charges her and swats at her and hisses or screeches. Yet, after a lunge at her he retreats.
He has never expressed any real hateful violence towards her. No blood has ever been shed or fur gone flying. I am not sure if what they do is rough play or what. She at times stands right up to him, as when she will charge him and jump him (I’ve witnessed this 1/2 dozen times) and other times seems wary of him. She might choose to walk across the room via the couch if he is laying down in front of it. She’ll sometimes walk behind him warily. Yet, she is getting much bigger and as she does she seems more courageous. In short, while I would love to see them hugging and grooming each other, I am content the way things are now. She seems happy and outgoing; although, she clearly respects him.
Knowing how difficult introducing them has been, I am worried about the reintroduction. I do not want him wrestling with her or too much chasing if she is weak and vulnerable from the surgery.
I’m also hopeful her wound will heal sufficiently so that I can ditch the E Collar. Of course I’ll have to watch her with and without it and not ditch it until her wound is pretty well healed and she is not licking it too much. Her stitches are inside and self dissolving. With that in mind these are the steps I’ve taken so far. I would like any advice on what else to do and how.
She got spayed yesterday, Friday, and I am having her boarded at the vets until Monday after I come home from work. This will keep her almost 4 days under their care and enable her to heal somewhat. I visited her this morning and she is doing well. Once I take her back I am keeping her in a neighbors apartment for another 2 or 3 days at most. I do not want to impose on my neighbor, but I do want to give her time to stretch her legs and not be confined to the vet’s cage.
After that, it is back home, almost a week from the surgery. I intend to keep her in the bathroom for a day, but it will be very difficult to do that for days on end. I’ll need the bathroom myself, to shower etc., and it is small and she is getting large and very acrobatic.
While she is at the neighbor’s home I can do the scent swapping thing with towels or washcloths. I’ll continue that when she comes home. I’ll need some step by step advice on who gets what scent swapped, how often, and any other tips. I’ve heard about the use of vanilla drops and some other things.
Any ideas on this is greatly appreciated. I’ve had 3 other females spayed in my lifetime, but never had the dynamic at home with the other cat as I do know. I want to do it right. Thanks.
It's always such a great feeling when they start respecting each other's space and evolve ways to live together in harmony 
No chasing is indeed a very good sign. Good boy Sparky! :heart4: And well done you, too for staying patient through what can be an intensely frustrating process. Great job :high5: :bigthumb:
:high5::hobbes:
