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- Feb 28, 2024
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As the title says, I fear I (unintentionally) rushed my initial introduction with my 2 cats and now I am concerned I have ruined it forever. Everyone here is so experienced and wise so I wanted to see what you all thought
For a brief background: I had a resident (only resident by a few weeks) 2 year old, semi-feral male cat and i adopted a 2 year old (also former semi feral) cat who had been with a foster for over a year. Resident cat is very timid, fearful and shy. He was unfixed (he is now-about 1.5 months out) when I got him and has since made leaps and bounds in his personality (once all of this parasites, cystitis and other issues were fixed). New cat is a female who is quite literally the most affectionate cat (towards people) that I have ever had. Her foster had a total of 10 cats and her info said she was good with cats which is why I selected her
I followed the Jackson Galaxy introduction technique but I wasn't sure how to gauge what the "move on to the next step when they are ready" meant so I was using hissing and relaxation in each others presence as my guide. Since they both were doing so well, they were in each others presence without a barrier within 4 days. The first time they were in each others presence (apart from me playing with her like crazy and giving him treats) they were laying in the same room with each other and slow blinking so I was like "oh yay i'm one of the lucky ones where they like each other right away"...boy was I wrong
Since then, New cat has progressively chased (at first I thought it was playing-I no longer do since she chases him from second story all the way down to the basement and her ENTIRE hair on her body is puffed. It absolutely seems aggressive). These attacks ALWAYS happen when Resident is not paying attention (so sleeping, has his back turned, playing with something else). Because of this I had to scale way back, moving to the closed door feeding together, then visual access etc after each incident. There have been probably 6 at this point. So far no fur has flown and no actual fight because he just runs for his life while she chases him down like a velociraptor. She is just SO much more confident than he is-I thought it would help him but it's been the opposite. If they are allowed together for more than 15 minutes or so, she WILL attack at some point
I am no longer allowing them any access to each other without a barrier since the most recent attack, which caused me to lose my temper and yell and clap loudly to get her to leave him alone (only time I have ever done that and I felt horrible). Resident cat (who is being bullied) will lay in her presence but does hiss and growl a little bit-probably because of the unpredictable and constant attacks.
My question is multi: is what I am describing concerning? Is this an issue that will exist long term? These cats are both FIV+ and the thought of sending her back to her foster (where she was for over a year-I fear due to her special needs) would absolutely destroy me. She also needs a very expensive (but essential) surgery which we are set up to do this week for ear polyps, but I fear if I send her back she won't be able to get it as the adoption organization simply can't afford it. I just want them to be happy and coexist but I am afraid I ruined their chances at this forver. By the way, we are currently in 2.5 weeks since bringing New cat home. Is this just too early to tell? I want hope right now more than anything. Any advice you can give is so appreciated
For a brief background: I had a resident (only resident by a few weeks) 2 year old, semi-feral male cat and i adopted a 2 year old (also former semi feral) cat who had been with a foster for over a year. Resident cat is very timid, fearful and shy. He was unfixed (he is now-about 1.5 months out) when I got him and has since made leaps and bounds in his personality (once all of this parasites, cystitis and other issues were fixed). New cat is a female who is quite literally the most affectionate cat (towards people) that I have ever had. Her foster had a total of 10 cats and her info said she was good with cats which is why I selected her
I followed the Jackson Galaxy introduction technique but I wasn't sure how to gauge what the "move on to the next step when they are ready" meant so I was using hissing and relaxation in each others presence as my guide. Since they both were doing so well, they were in each others presence without a barrier within 4 days. The first time they were in each others presence (apart from me playing with her like crazy and giving him treats) they were laying in the same room with each other and slow blinking so I was like "oh yay i'm one of the lucky ones where they like each other right away"...boy was I wrong
Since then, New cat has progressively chased (at first I thought it was playing-I no longer do since she chases him from second story all the way down to the basement and her ENTIRE hair on her body is puffed. It absolutely seems aggressive). These attacks ALWAYS happen when Resident is not paying attention (so sleeping, has his back turned, playing with something else). Because of this I had to scale way back, moving to the closed door feeding together, then visual access etc after each incident. There have been probably 6 at this point. So far no fur has flown and no actual fight because he just runs for his life while she chases him down like a velociraptor. She is just SO much more confident than he is-I thought it would help him but it's been the opposite. If they are allowed together for more than 15 minutes or so, she WILL attack at some point
I am no longer allowing them any access to each other without a barrier since the most recent attack, which caused me to lose my temper and yell and clap loudly to get her to leave him alone (only time I have ever done that and I felt horrible). Resident cat (who is being bullied) will lay in her presence but does hiss and growl a little bit-probably because of the unpredictable and constant attacks.
My question is multi: is what I am describing concerning? Is this an issue that will exist long term? These cats are both FIV+ and the thought of sending her back to her foster (where she was for over a year-I fear due to her special needs) would absolutely destroy me. She also needs a very expensive (but essential) surgery which we are set up to do this week for ear polyps, but I fear if I send her back she won't be able to get it as the adoption organization simply can't afford it. I just want them to be happy and coexist but I am afraid I ruined their chances at this forver. By the way, we are currently in 2.5 weeks since bringing New cat home. Is this just too early to tell? I want hope right now more than anything. Any advice you can give is so appreciated