Hey! Just looking for some insight and advice here. My fiance and I adopted a cat from the shelter a couple months ago--let's call him Dusty. He's about 1-2, formerly a stray, and neutered. Playful and quite friendly, at least with humans. We only intended to have one cat, but through a stroke of fate, we've just ended up taking in a second one--let's call him Mittens.
Fiance & I both already knew Mittens, who is another male cat--probably about 2-3, not neutered (I know, that's the first thing on our list after the pandemic softens up). He was the "pet"--and I use that term loosely--of someone we both have known for a long time, kind of a family friend type of relationship; but we were appalled when we found out the guy only used Mittens as a mouse catcher and otherwise kept him locked in a cage most of the day and barely interacted with him ever. We sort of made him our care project for the past few months, offering to babysit him on and off just so he could also get some attention and affection once in a while. At one point we asked to adopt him, but his owner declined. He just recently changed his mind and reached out to us to tell us that we could take him if we wanted. Of course we said yes.
Now, Mittens is by nature a pretty relaxed and quiet cat. He likes the occasional petting session and playtime, but otherwise is quite independent and basically keeps to himself--probably owing to the fact that he never really got attention before we came along. However, this time when we brought him home and introduced him to Dusty, he was pissed. Especially at my fiance, who had spent the most time with Mittens and had grown close to him. After briefly introducing the cats, we have separated them for the time being so that they can slowly adjust to each other. There was a bit of hissing and growling, but fortunately no attacks or physical altercations, and although they don't seem to like each other (at least yet), they aren't trying to fight each other or anything. Dusty is still fine with us, but Mittens is acting like he has been betrayed. Hissing at fiance and I, refusing to be petted, etc. Is there anything that we can/should do to ease the tension and help him trust us again while getting him used to his new home? I just want to make this as easy a transition for him as possible.
Sorry that this was so long! But if you've read this far, thank you very much! :) Any advice is welcome!
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from Pets https://www.reddit.com/r/Pets/comments/gluq5l/introduced_our_cats_one_is_now_acting_like_he/
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