Interesting situation on how to introduce a jumpy stray to a female who pounces

[Cody Knopp]

but doesn't growl or hiss.? Recently a stray cat adopted me. He is a small orange and white tabby, about the size of a 8-10 month old cat. At first he was very jumpy. He would run and hide whenever I would stand up from being on the floor petting him. He was neutered just over a week ago and tested negative for FILV/Feline luke.

My resident cat is a 2 1/2 year old spayed female whom I've had for over a year now. I know she definitely likes to be the dominant cat for a previous cat that I had.

I've set the new cat up in my bedroom and have moved her and his food and water to opposite sides of the door. I open the door a crack so they can see each other while eating. I've also switched out furniture from the room and have switched them in and out of each other rooms. This has been going on for several weeks now.

Last night the new cat got into the resident cats area and a huge fight broke out. The new one had a cut on his ear that was bleeding after the fight and she had some scratches on her as well. I know this is normal, but it just seems so violent.

Today I decided to do an open door introduction, but this time i had my spray bottle ready. I set down a plat of wet food in the middle of the hallway and let my resident cat start eating from while i open the door and set down the other plate of food so the new one could start eating from it. Every time my resident cat looked like she was going to pounce i shot water at her and it stopped her.

Is it too soon to be fully introducing them? Since he is so jumpy anyway i didn't know if i should get him use to me first and them her or how exactly I should do this.

Another interesting thing is that when she gets ready to pounce on him there is no hissing or growling from her it will all of a sudden just happen. Why is this? Does it mean she accept him, but is just asserting dominance?

Is there anything else that I should be doing them I'm not. I know people are crazy about feliway, but I just don't know about it.

Thanks for all your help.

 

[catgirl1114]

It sounds as though you are doing all the right things,the thing is,there's no guarantee that any cats are going to get on! Perhaps you will have to accept that will need to have their own space.

 

[blackcat]

It all sounds like your doing the correct things yes it looks violent but had she meant it she would have really harmed him by now,the water bottle works but if she meant to attack for real she wouldn't care about the water bottle at all,she would simply carry out her attack,

all she is doing is letting the new cat know she is the boss so is asserting her dominance,it may seem harsh but its how cats work it out,now that she has given him a cut ear(a big fight) things should slowly calm down, as she has let him know she is boss it means a lot to a resident cat that a new one knows this,

so it may have been a few weeks but can take longer,be sure they both have a sleeping area of their own,this way they feel better knowing they can hide when it gets too much,another idea is to wipe the cats body scent(pheromones)from the side of the face and wipe areas with the scent,this way they can check each other out without being face to face,

and swap blankets so they can check smells of each other,i find this does help cats but how you cope now is fine but be patient as it can take a while especially if the resident cat has been with you a few years,after all she is boss and hates any tress-passing cat on her patch of territory,as your aware cats are very territorial,

so be patient and carry on what your doing but never leave them alone together as resident cats can become a bully when alone with a new cat,another thing he has been neutered so smells of the vet another reason for your cat to be angry he smells of the vets and other animals,so yes she is asserting her dominance,

as i said if she was not she could really harm but all she has done is pounce silently,an angry cat would be hissing with ears back,when she pounces watch her tail what does it do,if swishing she is annoyed if the tip is moving she is unsure but if puffed up she is angry,but as she isnt growling i feel she is half way to accepting him,

because she isnt growling,the drawing blood on his ear was her letting him know she is boss,so be very patient it cantake a few weeks to a even a few months,i have been a cat fosterer so have introduced many so have seen this many times,they do eventualy accept and no growling and hissing is a good sign even if it doesnt seem like it now,

all the ones i introduced ended up being friends but would have the odd moment to remind the one who was boss,hope this helps you.