I am!!! I have had my two kitties sequestered for almost 10 days. One kitty had a little "bug" but is over it and 100% healthy. The other new kitty is getting a little rambunctious, even though we let him out (when the resident is in her own space) to roam around a bit each day.
We did everything by the book -- got two blankets with each cat's respective scent on it. Switched them up. Got resident kitty to sniff the blanket and she was real curious...no hissing or growling or anger. She was genuinely curious, right?
They have even taken to playing "paws" under the door! We put a shoelace under the door for them to play and they coo to each other, paw at each other, even sort of look at each other (obstructedly of course) under the door crack. We even give them treats that are real stinky so they hear and smell each other eating the yummy stuff. BOTH LOVE TREATS LOL. Again, no hissing, growling or meanness. It seems like a genuine curiosity.
NOW here's the kicker. Cassie (resident cat) is pretty laid back, she lays around a lot, is sort of a drama princess, needs to be on her "perch" relaxing (because she doesn't relax enough, right?
). Napoleon is a bit of a spaz, but in a very cute way. Anyway, he's tried his darndest to get out of the room when we go through the doors.
Now when or if she happens to catch of glimpse of him...OK that's when she gets p'd off! She starts meowing to me and will attack my hand. Nothing too major, but I know she's a little agitated. I don't know if she realizes this is the guy she's been smelling, sniffing, cooing at, playing with...
A few weeks ago, when we initially tried to gradually intro them, he got out, surprised her and she FLIPPED out on my boyfriend, who she got so aggressive with, it had him running to the shelter and talking to all kinds of animal behaviorists.
We have both of them again, trying to do everything by the book, but I know it's going to be her with the issues.
We plan on feeding them on opposite sides of the door, on their respective blankets with the intermixed scents, to get them to come together in a positive manner.
Although I just feel it will be a disaster when they do meet face to face.
*SIGH*
Now to give a little background, having a temporary screen door in place is not an option. I live in an city apartment dwelling, and there's no way I can do this (unless someone knows of an option I can use). Plus, he's a jumper, we had two baby gates stacked on top of one another and he managed to jump over both!!!
So as you can tell, I am a nervous wreck. I just need some advice to calm down my jittery nerves. Has anyone had an initially resistant cat who eventually came around?
My vet also recommended anti-anxiety meds. What was your experience in using this?
Thanks so much for listening, I wasn't expecting this to be that long, but it is!!!
We did everything by the book -- got two blankets with each cat's respective scent on it. Switched them up. Got resident kitty to sniff the blanket and she was real curious...no hissing or growling or anger. She was genuinely curious, right?
They have even taken to playing "paws" under the door! We put a shoelace under the door for them to play and they coo to each other, paw at each other, even sort of look at each other (obstructedly of course) under the door crack. We even give them treats that are real stinky so they hear and smell each other eating the yummy stuff. BOTH LOVE TREATS LOL. Again, no hissing, growling or meanness. It seems like a genuine curiosity.
NOW here's the kicker. Cassie (resident cat) is pretty laid back, she lays around a lot, is sort of a drama princess, needs to be on her "perch" relaxing (because she doesn't relax enough, right?
Now when or if she happens to catch of glimpse of him...OK that's when she gets p'd off! She starts meowing to me and will attack my hand. Nothing too major, but I know she's a little agitated. I don't know if she realizes this is the guy she's been smelling, sniffing, cooing at, playing with...
A few weeks ago, when we initially tried to gradually intro them, he got out, surprised her and she FLIPPED out on my boyfriend, who she got so aggressive with, it had him running to the shelter and talking to all kinds of animal behaviorists.
We have both of them again, trying to do everything by the book, but I know it's going to be her with the issues.
We plan on feeding them on opposite sides of the door, on their respective blankets with the intermixed scents, to get them to come together in a positive manner.
Although I just feel it will be a disaster when they do meet face to face.
*SIGH*
Now to give a little background, having a temporary screen door in place is not an option. I live in an city apartment dwelling, and there's no way I can do this (unless someone knows of an option I can use). Plus, he's a jumper, we had two baby gates stacked on top of one another and he managed to jump over both!!!
So as you can tell, I am a nervous wreck. I just need some advice to calm down my jittery nerves. Has anyone had an initially resistant cat who eventually came around?
My vet also recommended anti-anxiety meds. What was your experience in using this?
Thanks so much for listening, I wasn't expecting this to be that long, but it is!!!