Hi everybody - meet sumi, our new arrival! She came last Thursday from the rescue vet, 5 and a half weeks old, found straying in the road. She's doing just great, but I'm so so upset because miso has reacted so violently against her. Not only is miso (8 months, spayed, just diagnosed with moderate asthma, on inhaler) hissing and spitting when she smells sumi through the door, but clawing and hissing at us now too. She's schizophrenic right now, one minute her old adorable loving self, next minute SPITTING at her mommy, and last night clawed my lip. She jumped up on my shoulder, then suddenly turned into a mad cat. The awful thing is, I'm becoming afraid to touch her, and I'm sure she's picking up on this. I know it's very hard for her, and I know I should have got a boy kitten, but I couldn't leave this little darling there, specially as she's so like my old girl Lolita, now a year since she died. Today is the 5th day, and while this is early days yet, I'm saddened to see that miso's attitude has not diminished one iota. I've read where cats accept the newcomer in as little as 4 or 5 days, and I just don't know what to do. I'm at my wits' end. I don't want to see miso's lovely character change - could that happen permanently? I've never integrated two cats before - only took 2 sister kittens together, or had a single cat. Any advice from experienced TDKers would be gratefully received..
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I can't help you at all Eleniki as I have never introduced a new cat into the household but keep strong and don't let Miso see that you are scared of her now. i'm sure there will be others along soon who can give you great advice.
Posted 9 months ago by Moonshadow_NZ #
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Good advice on introducing new cats to one another at:
http://maxshouse.com/introducing_cats.htm
http://www.fourpaws.org/pages/adopting_pages/introducing_cats.html
http://www.cuhumane.org/topics/catcat.htmlDo not attempt to soothe Miso by petting her when she's upset. You will only become the target of her aggression and fear if you do that. Instead, look for those moments when Miso seems to be doing fine; those are the times to pet her and reassure her.
Good luck!
Posted 9 months ago by anncetera2 #
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Thank you for those links Anncetera. sumi is installed in our big back bedroom, where she's happy for now, lots of toys, a scratch post, litter tray, regular visits and food. I just took miso for a walk on her harness, which she would not allow me to put on, even after 30 minutes of good play with no aggression. So I got my partner to put it on her - for some reason she's not as aggressive with him, probably because I'm the one she had bonded more with, so am the traitor.. Your advice not to soothe her is so right - I'm discovering that, and this morning's play was positive because she was in good form to start with. Some people say it can take up to 2 months for a new cat to be even tolerated in the same space.....it's going to be a long summer. I'm bringing sumi down into the living room for an hour or so every day, in her carrier, so miso will just have to get used to her scent and sounds. I'm also sneakily trying to stroke miso after I've been handling sumi, so she'll get the kitten's scent on her own fur. Hope that's the right thing..
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You could let miso into the back bedroom, while sunni is NOT there, and let her poke around for a bit. I also found the Feliway infuser to help... Patience, patience, patience is the key. And encouraging the good behavior in miso!
Posted 9 months ago by nawlins catmom #
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When I introduced Emma to Gracie, I kept wiping them both down with the same scent. Those cleaning wipes that you can get a Petsmart may help. I figured that if they both smelled sort of the same it might help them. What really helped was getting Thierry a couple of weeks later. He has always been the balance between the two girls.
Posted 9 months ago by KYKAT 12 23 #
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The Feliway Diffusers do work miracles. Be careful tho, situations like yours can permanently change a cats personality. Have you tried putting Sumi in a cage in the same room as Miso,so that Miso can see her,but, not harm her? That might help also. If you continue to see no change in Miso's behavior,you might have to reconsider returning little Sumi.
I wish I could offer better suggestions,but,I've been adopted by several ferals over the yrs. that just refuse to accept one another (even w/the diffusers) & have to be kept permanently seperated. I wish you Lotsof Luck tho & hope that Miso will accept Sumi.*waving 'hi' to Anncetera...nice to see you post.
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Oh dear.....I just couldn't return sumi now. I'm in love with her. The Feliway diffuser is not available here, but I wouldn't use it anyway, as miso has asthma, and they take an ambiguous line on asthma and the effect the diffuser might have on it. I've just got some Holly Bach flower remedy for miso, and will put a drop in her food every day. It's for jeolousy, envy, suspicion, aggression. Feral, I did bring sumi into the living room in her carrier several times, and it was a disaster. On the sites Ancetera gave me, they advise not to do that for another week or so. It says one sense at a time, so we've now back-stepped to the scent level. I've rubbed sumi all over with a sock, and have left it on miso's scratch post. She hissed at the sock, but then gave it a thorogh examination. Then I caught her keeping watch outside sumi's door, though she hissed when I arrived, as if to tell me she wasn't curious, only mad! She has been in nicer form today all in all, and I've praised her when she is, and walked away when she's hissed. I'm hopeful!
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you could put vanilla on each of their noses so they can't smell each other. hope that helps...
Posted 9 months ago by Cheri 12/22 #
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Eleniki, I was going to recommend the Bach's Rescue Remedy. I use it for my guys and I know it's helped WWM's Windi as well. The only thing is that I believe it says to give them more than one drop of it. I don't have it in front of me, but I'm pretty sure it recommends 4 drops. I drop it on treats for the boys so I can make sure they get all of it and that the right cat gets it, and sometimes with Bob, I just use the dropper and give it to him straight in his mouth.
Best of luck with your kitties - hope everything works out! -
Yes you're right GreatDane - 4 drops it says. My only doubt is that you're supposed to take these flower remedies diffused in water, and not, I think, with food, so I don't know if it's as effective to put it in a cat's food. I've been putting it in a small amount of water, then putting a teaspoon of the water in her food. Think I'll try the drop straight into the mouth technique now! She's hissing again this morning, just sumi's scent got her going..
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