This picture sums up my recent mood. You know what happened? I got what I wanted and now I'm having second thoughts. I always pestered my mom that I am so bored when she is not at home and that she should find me a friend OR turn me loose on the outdoors. Well, she got me a little friend and so far I hate her! I am so busy hissing, growling, chasing, pouncing and putting the bitey on her that my mom says, she is not going to help me blog 'til things have settled down a bit. Hopefully I can still come and visit!****************
Mom here: The new one is a street-wise kitten from a rescue-organisation, which behaved very friendly the first hours. Naturally, Siena growled at here the first evening. The second day the new one growled and hissed back. On the third day, Sunday, Siena began chasing her, holding her down and biting her. I try to get the little one some rest and supervise that things don't get too serious. I am a bit anxious though, that they won't settle down some day and that Siena will really hurt her. The newbie doesn't hide or something and comes purring towards me, but I noticed that she is stressed because she smells a bit "strong"- like if her glands were transpiring anxiety. I brush and stroke them alternatly and feed them separatly... I prepared myself theoretically but now I'm unsure if I should intervene or let them sort things out. If you'd share your experiences with me, I would be so happy...
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22 comments:
First of all, congratulations on your new addition! Sometimes it can take weeks for a cat to accept a newcomer, and a slower introduction can sometimes be less stressful (ie: put the new kitty in a separate room, and let Siena sniff under the door for a day or so. Then, after a day or two, have them switch rooms so each can have time to sniff the other's scent. Gradually allow supervised visitation.)
All cats are different. Some will accept another cat right away, some take a few days or weeks, and some just come to a grudging tolerance of each other.
Good luck! I'm sure things will sort themselves out in time.
That's exciting news! Daisy's right it's good to give the new one her own room, a safe place to go to and keep them separated for a while. And after a while you can feed them on opposite sides of the door too, with it a bit open if that works so they associate each other with pleasurable things like food. We let ours venture into or out of the room a little when the hissing stopped, but don't rush it.
What's happening there sounds very normal. Indy and Zoe weren't comfortable around each other for a few weeks, but now they're great friends. They'll work it out, but go slow. And congratulations on the new little one!
We totally agree with Daisy and Zoey and Indy! Also, I am not sure if you have Feliway where you are, but it has helped us a bunch with new kitties. It is a simulated feline pheromone that helps to calm cats in these situations.
Siena, try and give her a chance....I know it is hard going from the only child to having a sibling.
~The Creek Cats~
PM here~ First off, how exciting you have a new addition!! We have had Banshee for 12 days now and today if the first day that she has been out of her room all day so far. I gave her her own room with beds, food and litter. For the first few days I just went to visit her and the cats just smelled her under the door. If the cats were outside or in another room with the door closed, I let Banshee out to explore the house. I switched beds too after a few days so they could check each other's smell out. They suggest meetings with the new cat in a carrier but i couldn't stuff Banshee back into one. They saw each other through a small crack in the door and when they weren't swearing, I gave then treats that they ate with the door open a bit. This moved to Banshee coming out for a few minutes at a time, to hours. She then spent the mornings out and the afternoons in her room. Back out for an hour at supper. Now that she has been out all day and they are sleeping and kind of ignoring each other. She will be just going back in her room at night and if we go out. They still hiss at each other if they get too close but they are making out pretty good.
Yikes! Sorry I am so long winded.
Good Luck!
Danica
Everykitty has already given such grand advice that we will simply say - Concatulations on the new addition!
Cats can be slow to accept a new comer. Daisy has most of the really good advice already. Cats need their own space and that will allow your second cat to create a space that is hers and allow her a more anxiety free area. Also this will put her on a better footing with Siena because now the intruder cat will have her own territory too.
Wow! Well, we are certainly still "warm" from our own experience over here! Today is exactly 4 weeks since Tama-Chan came. It took almost three weeks for her and Sen-Chan to start playing (and Tama to stop hissing at him constantly). Our vet recommended a product called "Felifriend" which apparently sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. We didn't need to use it in the end but you could try.
The "holding down" thing is Siena trying to establish that she is the boss. As long as she doesn't actually hurt the kitten, you should apparently leave them to it. That's what I was told to do with Sen-Chan. He still does it a little, and Tama-Chan screams and screams, but he never harms her.
Siena, dear, we hope you can relax a bit and will get used to the kitten.
#1 and the French Gang
Oh boy!! A new kitty!! This is exciting.Siena,relax a bit. Your Mom still loves you,she just wanted you to have a friend :)
I see you are getting lots of great advice. I hope things work out!!!!
Purrs Mickey
Wow, Siena, you have a new sibling. We kinda thought as much when you thought you heard elephants. Glad you have plenty of good advice from various kitty friends. Me, I have been an only cat for most of my life. The only other time I had to share was when I had 2 kittens myself. That wasn't the same as having a new sibling all of a sudden.
When we got Nemo we didn't really have another room with a door to put him in so they kinda fought for awhile. We did have a curtain hanging between rooms and they would often play with each other through the curtain until they finally were able to play nicely face to face. Patches still only tolerates him but we don't have any major issues either. It can just take lots of time and hopefully they can enjoy one anothers company.
-Patches and Nemo's mom
I am an "only kitty" so I can't give any advice (it appears that you have gotten some excellent advice from others). Hopefully, the two of you will be best buddies soon.
Sorry I haven't visited lately, mom has been getting home pretty late and uses that as an excuse!
Mommy I'd like you to read this entry. An only cat house is a good thing, no need for a kitten sister.
Now we know you are the sweetest of cats Siena so I'm sure all these words of advice are good but I say make sure she knows who's boss. If it doesn't work out you can come live here.
Don't be too stressed sweet girl.
Don't fret Sienna and Sienna's Mum! It can take a good long while for the order of life to be level and sorted out. There's some very good advice here from everyone. I'd just like to add another shout out for the Feliway diffusers, they have really made a difference in our home when we have er, guests.
Hello to the new kitty!
Whicky Wuudler
Hey Siena, we tagged you for a meme over at our blog. It is fun and might get your mind off of the new addition!!
~The Creek Cats~
Daisy gave you some really good advice. It's important to introduce them to each other slowly. Here's another idea. Put an old sock on your hand and pet one cat, then pet the other. Or use a towel on one and then the other. This will help them get use to each others' smells. Also, keep them apart and only bring them together to feed them or give them treats. They will learn that being together means good things (food, treats). Play with them together. You have to make any time that they are together positive experiences.
Just take it slowly and hopefully things will work out between them. Good luck!
Island Cats' mom
::Illegal Mom Communication:: Hope things are settling down, but I was wondering if Siena has been fixed? Maybe she has teenage hormones making her more aggressive? I don't know that it works that way.
We were lucky Socks accepted us right away. It took Charybdis awhile to realize the BIG CAT (Socks) wouldn't hurt her, but he was very patient and waited for her to come to him. Scylla on the other hand bossed Socks around from the first time she laid eyes on him. Being a very nice cat he put up with her. Mommy says since we were 4 weeks old when she got us he had time to observe us before Scylla started bossing him around. ~Scylla & Charybdis
Sounds as if you got some good advice from the others. Congrats on your fur sibling Siena. I hope you become good friends soon. ~Socks
Oh, my. It can be hard to socialize two or more cats at first. You've got some good advice in comments here.
We still have occasional spats but basically we have learned to live together and be friends.
Percy: As long as you all remember that Crustal is no longer alpha cat here. I am!
WHen Angel invited herself in, I came to meet and greet. She bowed up, growled and hissed at me! In my house. She got to stay a couple of days in the garage till Dr. C could check her out. Then she hid for 2 days in the house. That's when Mom found the sore on her leg. After that and her lady surgery she stayed in a room for a couple more days. Only because it was small amd Mom could catcher her for meds! We chased and tumbled a lot and I did put the bitid to her a couple of times, but not hard. Just to show her who was Alpha cat. We worked it all out.
Siena, it sounds as though you've received a lot of good advice. I know my humans always kept any new adoptions in a room by themselves for up to a week before letting them explore the rest of their new home. The way we were told, the new cat was under a lot of stress in an unfamiliar place, so it was OK to confine it. The humans always spent lots of time with the new addition anyway, giving it attention and love and affection. Hope this helps!
A new friend for you! That's awesome! We are sure you will fell in love with each other soon. But we are sorry for not being able to give you any advice, Pumuckl is Chica's (only) baby, we never faced such a situation.
http://www.messybeast.com/first-impressions.htm
http://cats.about.com/cs/catmanagement101/a/introducecats.htm
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pets_introducingcat
I hope that these links could help you. Though there are extreme cases as that of Ana and Zar. Ana had never had problems to coexist with other cats until Zar came.
Good luck! :-)
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