This is another shade of "newcomer and resident cat issues". I rather have no problems with what's going on but I'd appreciatte opinions.
I've had 5 yr-old Madam for over a year now; actually I adopted her 11/03 from my shelter. We didn't have other pets then so she gained confidence rapidly_she was very shy but overcame it_she was declawed by previous owner, consequently had some litterbox issues but nothing major, seems to be a most well behaved cat. And affectuous.
Then last Nov we took in 2 feral kittens from the colony we manage thinking we'd find a home for them later on, now I'm not so sure since they've bonded with us very well but if there's a good home they can go.
The introduction went awry the 2nd day as they escaped their cage and ran smack into Madam just as she was using the litterbox.
So we started all over again, letting them out slowly until after a couple of weeks they were eating together if not playing together.
Now they are OK but Madam behavior has changed quite a bit. I wished she'd ignore them but she growls and hiss and runs from them. Wich makes it only worse as they'd chase her, specially off favorite spots. They have 2 kitty ledges now but they have to have the one where she's at (and I guess they fit but M wouldn't sit with them). She spends most of the time now holed up in our bedroom and looks so sad
I'm glad I work at home so I carry around with me her toys and play with her and she softens, poor baby. She even looks frail! (maybe b/c the kits are so robust and full of energy I never noticed before)
Anyways, I don't think the situation will change until the kittens are gone..but I wondered would the fact that she's declawed and maybe was brought up as a housecat (she's overcaming her dry food habit, absolutly hates meat! wich makes me think she was on df_Wal-Mart & Science Diet_ since an early age) make her neurotic/antisocial? I suppose so, right? Or, maybe ther's something wrong with her personality that didn't show up before..I hate to think I hurt her bringing in the kittens though I didn't know.
Apologies for the long post & thank-you
I've had 5 yr-old Madam for over a year now; actually I adopted her 11/03 from my shelter. We didn't have other pets then so she gained confidence rapidly_she was very shy but overcame it_she was declawed by previous owner, consequently had some litterbox issues but nothing major, seems to be a most well behaved cat. And affectuous.
Then last Nov we took in 2 feral kittens from the colony we manage thinking we'd find a home for them later on, now I'm not so sure since they've bonded with us very well but if there's a good home they can go.
The introduction went awry the 2nd day as they escaped their cage and ran smack into Madam just as she was using the litterbox.
So we started all over again, letting them out slowly until after a couple of weeks they were eating together if not playing together.
Now they are OK but Madam behavior has changed quite a bit. I wished she'd ignore them but she growls and hiss and runs from them. Wich makes it only worse as they'd chase her, specially off favorite spots. They have 2 kitty ledges now but they have to have the one where she's at (and I guess they fit but M wouldn't sit with them). She spends most of the time now holed up in our bedroom and looks so sad
Anyways, I don't think the situation will change until the kittens are gone..but I wondered would the fact that she's declawed and maybe was brought up as a housecat (she's overcaming her dry food habit, absolutly hates meat! wich makes me think she was on df_Wal-Mart & Science Diet_ since an early age) make her neurotic/antisocial? I suppose so, right? Or, maybe ther's something wrong with her personality that didn't show up before..I hate to think I hurt her bringing in the kittens though I didn't know.
Apologies for the long post & thank-you