Introducing adult cats - the real experience?
Discussion
So, I'm currently in the situation of moving a female cat (affectionate, nervous rescue) into a house where another male cat (vocal, nervous, territorial) has been living for a year or so. I've obviously followed all the standard advice of keeping them separated for a week and avoiding any contact. We've progressed to the recommended stage of swapping blankets and having them eat on opposite sides of a closed door without histrionics, and are planning an introduction in the coming days. Both have been appropriately snipped/clipped, and Feliway plugins have accounted for a substantial chunk of my life savings. 
The biggest risk is that the male responds aggressively, which is only logical given that it's another cat on 'his' territory. The female is very passive, and wouldn't stand her ground - which could potentially set a difficult precedent. We're committed to the two little sods living together and getting on (unless it's intolerable/unsafe), and have plenty of time to make it work.
I guess having read every guide that Google will find, asking the advice of a vet, and following everything to the letter so far, I was interested in the experiences/advice of those who have done the same. We're avoiding allowing it to become stressful (even though I could see how that would be easy), so that we can make sure we're making the best decisions for the sake of the cats.
The biggest risk is that the male responds aggressively, which is only logical given that it's another cat on 'his' territory. The female is very passive, and wouldn't stand her ground - which could potentially set a difficult precedent. We're committed to the two little sods living together and getting on (unless it's intolerable/unsafe), and have plenty of time to make it work.
I guess having read every guide that Google will find, asking the advice of a vet, and following everything to the letter so far, I was interested in the experiences/advice of those who have done the same. We're avoiding allowing it to become stressful (even though I could see how that would be easy), so that we can make sure we're making the best decisions for the sake of the cats.
It can take a long time to integrate cats so you will need to be patient.
Have a look here - it's a great site:
https://icatcare.org/advice/keeping-your-cat-happy...
Have a look here - it's a great site:
https://icatcare.org/advice/keeping-your-cat-happy...
We’ve introduced adult cats to each other quite a few times. Also kittens to adult cats.
One tip is to use a litter tray and when the dominant cat has a wee collect some on a tissue or cloth and stroke it in to the fur of the less dominant cat.
We’ve found the transfer of scent can have a dramatic effect and suddenly once enemies become best friends.
Never known it not to help!
Good luck.
One tip is to use a litter tray and when the dominant cat has a wee collect some on a tissue or cloth and stroke it in to the fur of the less dominant cat.
We’ve found the transfer of scent can have a dramatic effect and suddenly once enemies become best friends.
Never known it not to help!
Good luck.
wilwak said:
We’ve introduced adult cats to each other quite a few times. Also kittens to adult cats.
One tip is to use a litter tray and when the dominant cat has a wee collect some on a tissue or cloth and stroke it in to the fur of the less dominant cat.
We’ve found the transfer of scent can have a dramatic effect and suddenly once enemies become best friends.
Never known it not to help!
Good luck.
Well, that wasn't the advice I was expecting to hear. That's pretty brutal for the less dominant cat, but we might leave that as a last resort. Thank you.One tip is to use a litter tray and when the dominant cat has a wee collect some on a tissue or cloth and stroke it in to the fur of the less dominant cat.
We’ve found the transfer of scent can have a dramatic effect and suddenly once enemies become best friends.
Never known it not to help!
Good luck.
Surely if you chuck him out, he'll have even more of the hump next time they meet? Just let them get on with it, female/male should sort themselves out.
NB - Based on no experience of adult feline introductions whatsoever. However the local alley cat and ours finally seem to have settled into howling stand-offs, rather than fight and run after two years, so just give it time. I may have helped by "surprising" the alley cat a few times, an evil but fairly dumb plucker.
NB - Based on no experience of adult feline introductions whatsoever. However the local alley cat and ours finally seem to have settled into howling stand-offs, rather than fight and run after two years, so just give it time. I may have helped by "surprising" the alley cat a few times, an evil but fairly dumb plucker.
One thing I wonder is whether we're being too soft, and that the natural order should restore itself. I've never dealt with this before, but perhaps emotional relationships with the animals are clouding our ability to just let them get on with it. I guess that they are just so polar opposite in their reaction to other cats that it makes it challenging to second-guess.
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