Friday, July 31, 2009

Last month we got a cat from the Humane Society named Lilly.?

We love her she's sweet and nice except when it comes to our older cat Lucy. All Lilly wants to do is pounce on Lucy. Everyone says let them work it out between themselves, which we'd love to do but when we tried that Lilly kept pouncing and pouncing on Lucy and Lucy was getting hurt. And then Monday Lucy refused to come in for the night (we let Lucy come and go in or out as she pleases during the day but we bring her inside at night). I'm afraid she's going to have enough of Lilly and run away (she was out well past dark Monday night which is something she's never done in her life, and it was cold which always brings her inside). Has anyone had this problem? If so did it work out, and what did you do? I'm getting tired of all the stress!
Answers:
Hi Jennifer.research has shown that a single hostile encounter between two unfamiliar cats/kittens can set the tone for their relationship for a long time to come. Adult cats have a more difficult time with introductions. So to prevent Lilly from getting off on the wrong foot with Lucy, plan to introduce them gradually. Remember to spend plenty of quality time alone with Lucy in order to minimize jealousy and stress. At first, do not allow face-to-face contact between the two cats. Instead, follow these steps:

1. Confine the Lucy to a room (door closed) while Lilly explores the rest of the house. Then switch their places. This allows them to become familiar with each other's scent.

2. Keep the cats in separate but adjoining rooms for several days, continuing to switch places every day. You'll need separate litter boxes at this stage, and depending on the cats' preferences, you may want to continue to maintain two litter boxes for them after the introduction is completed.

3. After a few days, crack open the door separating the two cats. Prop it open a couple inches so they can see one another but can't make full contact. Once they tolerate this limited contact, open the door a bit wider. If they start to backslide, go back to step 2.

4. When the two cats seem comfortable with limited exposure, try feeding them on opposite sides of the same room. Then return them to their separate quarters. After a few days of common mealtimes, they may be ready to share the same living space. Remember to let them set their own pace and never force them to be together. Keep them separated when you are not home to supervise until you're certain they can tolerate each other's presence. It may take several weeks or a month or two before they reach this stage.

Stressed cats tend to feel a lack of privacy with a new pet animal in the home. Consider using a location which is quiet and secure away from the kitten until both have adjusted to being around one another a few months from now. It sounds like your Lucy is having a difficult time adjusting and needs a space of her own until she becomes used to Lilly.

Another note.it's helpful to play with Lucy and if Lilly wants to join in it will help both of them become used to one another. Be sure to offer fair play time to each so there's no jealousy. Cats are naturally territorial and see a new cat as an intruder.
keep lucy in the house until they work it outTHEY WIL WORK IT OUT
iT WILLL take some getting used to a different cat in the house. Remember Lucy, has been there first and she has her revier. She is now feeling the loss cause you took in another cat. I m not sure if that was wise. Now wondering if the cat Lilly is younger one or older one? we have an old cat in our home. Now we gotten a nine week old little kidden.The older one does not care fo r him. Him he is curious he wants to be her buddy. Cause it knows it's his kind. However, it will take time. As for the two dogs we have they gotten used to him. My poodle for a matter of fact plays with him like graczy. So it
s a good workout for both of them. Give it some time. But for Lucy's seak, if it isn't working out bring the other cat back and explain why. Cause I would hate to see that Lucy gets hurt cause she is staying out doors all nite. Good luck.
You're always able to ask for advice in the petsstores or vets.
I agree with Brandi. Keep them together inside until they learn to get along.
They will work it out, either Lucy will just start ignoring her, or Lucy will suddenly become Lucy-fur and whip up on the the new one and make her stop. The new one could just be playing.

For a while, crate the new one at night to give Lucy a break from her.
First of all, everyone is right, they do usually work it out on their own. Just out of curiousity, how old is Lucy and how long has she been the only cat. You have a combination of a young cat that wants to play, and an older cat (age uncertain) that has just had her territory invaded and apparently isn't used to playing. She is upset about the invasion and not used to interaction.

You can't blame a young cat for wanting to play. Try providing some toys as a diversion. A ball with a bell or rattle in it.a fabric mouse doused up with catnip spray.something to vent that energy on, instead of a cat who is not exactly happy to have the company.

It will all work out in time, and the less stressed you feel about it, the more relaxed the cats will feel about it. They do smell the stress pheromes that you release into the air when you are stressed. Ask any animal behaviorist. Animals can actually smell the stress we exude.
Lilly is trying to test Lucy for Dominance and Lucy is deferring to Lilly. We have 4 cats and of those we have an Orange Tabby that has decided that he is the Alpha and will regularly harass our other cat that is actually older than him. But believe it or not you can train a cat. You have to show Lilly that above all YOU are the ultimate Alpha and when she pounces on Lucy take her by the scruff and tell her very forcefully NO! If she does it again, repeat. You can also give her a swat, NOT A BEATING, but a swat. This is how cats work in their own dealings with each other and it helps to establish a hierarchy. You are at the top, Lilly can still be second in command but she doesn't need to attack Lucy non stop. You may also try separating them to give Lucy a break and spend quality time with Lucy without Lilly there attacking her. And yes, they will work it out. Usually kittens are very rambunctious and like most children are testing the boundaries.
You didn't mention if Lilly is still a kitten. If she is, she is going to be very playful and is practicing her hunting skills on Lucy. Can you spend a lot of time playing with Lilly and using up most of her energy so that she will not feel like pouncing on Lucy? You do not want Lucy to feel abandoned by you which she must be feeling right now. Give Lucy lots of attention and love also. If you have to separate the two "kids" at some times, it might be a good idea. I hope that you are not making the two cats share only one cat box. You need to provide 2 boxes for them so that Lucy won't feel crowded out. The same thought applies to their eating bowls and sleeping spots. The two cats should be able to work out their differences as they both adjust, but you can definitely help Lucy with her acceptance by getting rid of some of Lilly's pent up energy. Good luck to you and I think you are an angel for adopting a kitty that needed a home.
You may have to separate them
|It'll take some time but they'll get used to each other. I suggest that when you catch Lilly pounceing on Lucy point your finger at her and say a firm but soft "No." The put her in like a caring case like a timeout.
Lucy needs every bit of extra love and attention you can give her. Most of these answers make sense to one degree or another, EXCEPT if you give Lilly more attention, you are driving Lucy away. Also, depriving Lucy the privelege of going outside will seem like punishment to her, again driving her away. If Lucy has always been an only child, you will either need to give Lilly back or risk losing Lucy..

If you keep both cats, you must show both cats that Lucy is the main cat in your house. The suggestions are all here. Good Luck.
The cats have already met one another so Seatlle's information doesn't really apply here. You must not let Lucy out as she is likely to permanently decamp from the situation.

I just brought a 14 and 1/2 year old rescue cat into my home with my five existing cats. I used Dr. Jean Hovfe's New Beginnings which you can get and learn about at www.spiritessence.com. It is now a week since Zandy came and you would never know they had not existed happily together all their lives.

So don't overlook this method of handling the situation. Your situation has gone on for over a month and flower essences can help animals make adjustments better and more rapidly than that.

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