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- Feb 19, 2017
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Resident cat keeps his distance from new cat
Hello I'm new to this forum, hope someone can help.
I have a 3 years old neutered male cat Nuri living with me as the only cat since he was 2 months old. He is a cool guy, good natured, welcomes guests, but allows only a handful of people pet him. Even with me, he chooses where, when and how long. But he wants to always be in the same room with me and sleeps at an arm's length on or next to the bed.
I just got a 9 months old spayed female calico kitty Afet 24 hours ago. She used to be feral, but has grown very attached to me since I found her in summer in our apartment's garage, fed her for a month although, she would not come out from under the cars or out of the garage. She must have had a frightening experience. Gradually she got used to the yard and allowed me petting her. We got her spayed, neighbors temporarily kept her indoors during the cold months, lost most of her timidness and seems like a normal kitty a bit on the shy side. We are now having tough time putting her out in the yard again. So here she is trying to be the second cat for the past 24 hours.
I have done the scents exchange during the past few weeks while she was at the neighbor's via towels and my clothes, playing with both of them before and after interacting.
The little one is set up in a separate room now in line with the recommended protocol and seems quiet happy and relaxed. In fact, she is curious about the rest of the house and at the door each time I go in.
The problem or challenge is the resident cat. Other than that specific room, the whole house belongs to the resident cat. However, he created a danger zone that starts in the corridor a couple of meters from the room and will not even go through that zone to other rooms. He sensed something is going on in that room and goes to the door for a few seconds then runs back tail down. No hissing or growling just running back timidly. Meanwhile, new kitty pleasantly meows at him each time she gets a visit. Rest of the time, he is either watching birds or sleeping in the living room which is his safe zone as if it's business as usual. The problem is I can't get him to eat even a few meters away from the door. Once I picked him up and took him to the food bowl close to the door and he hissed so I let him go. Also, I think he is scared to use his litter box which is in a bathroom somewhat close to the new kitty room. Thankfully, he has not eliminated anywhere else either. It's been 24 hours, he has peed just a bit only once and no poop for 36 hours. (He is normally very regular once a day and several trips for pee).
How can I make him go more to the door of new kitty and eat and play there? Should I add a third litter box away from the danger zone or wait some more since adding that will separate them even more?
It seems like they will lead separate lives in the same house. Of course it's been 24 hours, maybe I'm expecting too much.
Is this an ok start considering no hissing or growling? Or a sign of things will get worse or take a very long time? I have not done this ever before so I have no basis for comparison.
I can't find Feliway or similar stuff where I live. So all I can do is behavior adjustment.
Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Hello I'm new to this forum, hope someone can help.
I have a 3 years old neutered male cat Nuri living with me as the only cat since he was 2 months old. He is a cool guy, good natured, welcomes guests, but allows only a handful of people pet him. Even with me, he chooses where, when and how long. But he wants to always be in the same room with me and sleeps at an arm's length on or next to the bed.
I just got a 9 months old spayed female calico kitty Afet 24 hours ago. She used to be feral, but has grown very attached to me since I found her in summer in our apartment's garage, fed her for a month although, she would not come out from under the cars or out of the garage. She must have had a frightening experience. Gradually she got used to the yard and allowed me petting her. We got her spayed, neighbors temporarily kept her indoors during the cold months, lost most of her timidness and seems like a normal kitty a bit on the shy side. We are now having tough time putting her out in the yard again. So here she is trying to be the second cat for the past 24 hours.
I have done the scents exchange during the past few weeks while she was at the neighbor's via towels and my clothes, playing with both of them before and after interacting.
The little one is set up in a separate room now in line with the recommended protocol and seems quiet happy and relaxed. In fact, she is curious about the rest of the house and at the door each time I go in.
The problem or challenge is the resident cat. Other than that specific room, the whole house belongs to the resident cat. However, he created a danger zone that starts in the corridor a couple of meters from the room and will not even go through that zone to other rooms. He sensed something is going on in that room and goes to the door for a few seconds then runs back tail down. No hissing or growling just running back timidly. Meanwhile, new kitty pleasantly meows at him each time she gets a visit. Rest of the time, he is either watching birds or sleeping in the living room which is his safe zone as if it's business as usual. The problem is I can't get him to eat even a few meters away from the door. Once I picked him up and took him to the food bowl close to the door and he hissed so I let him go. Also, I think he is scared to use his litter box which is in a bathroom somewhat close to the new kitty room. Thankfully, he has not eliminated anywhere else either. It's been 24 hours, he has peed just a bit only once and no poop for 36 hours. (He is normally very regular once a day and several trips for pee).
How can I make him go more to the door of new kitty and eat and play there? Should I add a third litter box away from the danger zone or wait some more since adding that will separate them even more?
It seems like they will lead separate lives in the same house. Of course it's been 24 hours, maybe I'm expecting too much.
Is this an ok start considering no hissing or growling? Or a sign of things will get worse or take a very long time? I have not done this ever before so I have no basis for comparison.
I can't find Feliway or similar stuff where I live. So all I can do is behavior adjustment.
Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.