new kitty

[beckie]

hello,

i need some advice, quickly! about a month and a half ago, i adopted a 6-yr old cat, roo, from a friend who could not keep her anymore. then, a little over a week ago, i adopted a 1-yr old kitten from the animal shelter.

when we brought the kitten, harrison, home, roo got so upset. she didn't attack harrison, but she was mad at me and my roommate. she would hiss and growl at us, even when harrison was not around. she also refused to eat.

we knew this could not continue, so we found information that said we should keep the new cat in a room and let them smell each other under the door. as soon as harrison was behind a closed door, roo was fine again. she still gets upset when we have harrison's smell all over us, but she's getting better. however, we have tried to let roo see harrison by opening the door a little every day, but she gets so upset and has begun to bite the fur off of her right leg. roo has lived with another cat her whole life, so i don't know why she won't accpet harrison at all.

we love our new kitty so much, and won't give either of our cats up. any suggestions on how we can have a happy home again? thanks so much!

[catman1]

Not really but maybe time will make a difference.Roo fells that you belong to her and the other cat is invading her home.Time will sometimes solve your proplem.
Its like being married and your husband brings home another women to share your home.LOL

[Furbaby Mom]

As you already noticed, cats are highly scent oriented. Here's a couple of tricks for the introduction period:

Keep the cats separated as you are already doing. Put a towel, t-shirt, sweatshirt or something out that each cat will lay on. After their scent is highly ingrained on the item, move that item to the room with the other cat. Do this until you see them less threatened by each other's scent (this could take a few weeks).

Rub a dab of vanilla extract on each of their chins, base of neck and base of tail a couple of times each day. If they smell alike, they will be less threatened by each other. Put some on yourself so you smell like them (particularly if Roo is hissing at you).

After you feel they are less threatened, and if you can afford to do this, buy 3 baby gates and put them in the door where Harrison is staying. Not only will they get full scent exchange, but will get constant visual exchange. It is a pain to get in and out of the door, but really cuts the introduction time way down.

This doesn't work with all cats, but Feliway makes a product that you plug in an electrical outlet. It sends out a phermone scent that is calming to many cats. Perhaps install one in a room that Roo likes to hang out in.

Introductions don't always go exactly as planned, but patience with them will usually win out. I have done a lot of feral cat rescue, and introductions with them can be difficult. I've gotten some thru it with this method in 2 hours and others have taken up to 6 weeks. Hang in there!!