Sorry long... I'm having a hard time introducing two cats and more advice would be appreciated.
- Resident cat 5yo, female, desexed very chilled and has happily lived with other cats most of her life.
- Stray cat adopted at ~8 months old in December so ~1 year old now. Was pregnant at the time. Pregnancy was terminated and is desexed.
Started out with usual introduction process, separate rooms, feliway diffuser, lots of toys and blankets, swapping scents, playing opposite ends of same room. 2-3 play sessions with the stray each day. Started out ok but stray started gaining in confidence and aggression. Started chasing resident cat and swatting her etc to the point we have to physically stand between her and the other cat if they are in the same room.
Stray started gaining aggression towards humans as well. Doesn’t like to be touched much and would play far too rough. We started hissing at her or saying ow and giving time outs when she got too rough. Is now getting better on accepting touch as well but will still bite if you position your hand wrongly (i.e across her vision rather than to the side).
After 1 month implemented centry calming collar on the stray. Feliway still available. Big improvement with the collar in her aggression towards us so started feeding the cats on opposite sides of a closed door and gradually moving closer then moved to a lattice. After 2 months we have gotten to the point where they will eat on opposite sides of a lattice.
In terms of personality the stray has gotten so much better. She is very energetic but a bit skittish and quick to aggravate (gets over stimulated easily and is very particular about how you touch her). Doesn't like to be picked up much but follows me from room to room. She doesn't like to be by herself for too long.
HOWEVER... the stray will NOT stop chasing the resident cat if they are in the same room. I have to physically stand between them at all times. Distracting with treats or toys might work for 30 seconds but that's it. Resident cat won't defend herself so the stray isn't getting ‘put in her place’. She just runs away witch incites further chasing.
I have to keep the stray locked in a separate area of the house during the day when I’m at work and at night which isn't good for her, she's bored and likes company. I don't need them to be best friends I just want them to tolerate each other!
What else can I do to get the stray to see the resident cat is not a threat/not to be chased? Also have started the stray on clomicalm about 2 weeks ago and are still making the effort to give her 2 or 3 play sessions per day.
Is there anything else I can do or just give it more time (it's been over 4 months now)? I believe the aggression may be fear based from being a stray and having to defend herself, but my cat has never attacked or hissed at her and they will quite happily eat on opposite sides of the lattice (although the stray moves away as soon as she’s done).
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from Pets https://www.reddit.com/r/Pets/comments/behs0f/help_with_introducing_cats/
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