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Maz is scared of our new cat...

Anna Kate

Lairian
Joined
May 6, 2016
Messages
28
Points
24
So, my hubs and I have had Maz for about 4 months, and she has settled in really well, and is super snuggly and sweet/ridiculous. She seemed to be getting lonely with no other kitties around, so we rescued a male cat and picked him up on Sunday. Maz is 1 1/2 old, and VERY petite, and our new boy Hercules is 2 1/2 and very large. When we introduced them on Sunday, we put Hercules in his carrier in the middle of the room and let Maz sniff him out. We were planning on just keeping him in the bathroom for a few days, but after a while, when there was no hissing, all seemed well, so we let him out. Maz took a few tentative sniffs at him, and then hissed and skittered off. Whenever they're out together, she stalks him around our apartment and will sniff at him, and then hiss. Herc is COMPLETELY non-plussed by this. He is such a lovebug, all he wants to do is be friends with her. He never ever hisses back or swats at her or anything, he just looks at her and purrs. But, Maz is still freaking out. At first we thought it might just be jealousy, but now I'm pretty convinced she's scared of him, even though he's totally harmless. He's just SO much bigger than she is. And she's normally very vocal, but the past few days she's been almost silent.


For now we've been keeping Herc in a spare bathroom and feeding both of them on either side of the closed door so Maz can get used to his scent, but is there anything else we can do to help them get along? We've been bringing them both out at the same time when both my husband and I are home to supervise, and letting them roam for short bursts. We've tried getting them to play with the same toys together, but he'll go crazy over them, and Maz just sits and watches.


Any tips? Did we royally screw up by letting them meet too quickly? We've only been at this 3 days, so am I asking for too much too soon? I'm trying to figure out where to go from here.
 

captain_tinky

Senior Lairian
Senior Lairian
Joined
Sep 2, 2012
Messages
763
Points
143
hi! you can always trade their blankets so they can get used to the scent too. Another good idea is using feliway it may help her calm down, I use that when we have new cats in the house. Just keep trying they'll take some time, you're doing fine.
 

Kate

Senior Lairian
Senior Lairian
Joined
Aug 28, 2014
Messages
688
Points
148
If it's only been 3 days, I am not surprised to hear that things are still bumpy! I'd say to give it more time. Keep an eye to make sure that Herc isn't getting stressed or aggressive, and just let Maz work out her issues. If she still keeps coming out to see him, I'd say things are on the right track.

Good luck!
 

Yoda mom

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 23, 2012
Messages
24,984
Points
653
@Anna Kate , happy Hercules gotcha! Camt wait to see pics of Maz and Hercules together -
Give it time :) love and patience - it's like a new kid on the playground first day of school :)

I go slow with treats in neutral area l it room -
armed with two da bird pole toys to make it all positive amd at their comfort level -
Kitties each have their own "safe" room they know where to retreat to if too overwhelming -
Some days are better than others while they get acquintated :)

I cross scent putting by each other's dishes amd beds with a little treat on top for positive association :)

some kitties jump right in together - others take more time -

Lots of positve praise , mutual play with wand toys in each hand and treats :)

Looking forward to pics!
 

GoldHazel

Gold Lairian
Notable Member
Joined
Feb 11, 2013
Messages
12,086
Points
653
@Anna Kate no, you didn't screw up at all. Your intentions were great and with a little more time, they will be fine together. I'm glad to hear that it's Maz with the issue and not Herc. This will make the transition faster and easier.

I too say to get the Feliway Diffusers plugged in all around your home and especially areas where the litter boxes are and not too far from feeding bowls, beds, toys, etc.

I find that putting a t-shirt on them slows them down...changes things up as it occupies the mind as a distraction. When I've done that, I've taken catnip spray and spritzed the back end of the t-shirt so that both cats smell identical! That alone can help so what you can even try first is bathing them both so they have the same scent that way before the t-shirts are put on.

One you do all that, take out a wand toy like DaBird and even though Maz just wants to observe, it's a little different now with the shirts on and the catnip spray and bath scents. In no time, I bet it will all work itself out. Of course, while they are together at the beginning once all has calmed down, make sure you are there in case you hear screaming or hissing again.
 

Lilmustangchick

Lairian
Joined
Sep 27, 2019
Messages
47
Points
44
So, my hubs and I have had Maz for about 4 months, and she has settled in really well, and is super snuggly and sweet/ridiculous. She seemed to be getting lonely with no other kitties around, so we rescued a male cat and picked him up on Sunday. Maz is 1 1/2 old, and VERY petite, and our new boy Hercules is 2 1/2 and very large. When we introduced them on Sunday, we put Hercules in his carrier in the middle of the room and let Maz sniff him out. We were planning on just keeping him in the bathroom for a few days, but after a while, when there was no hissing, all seemed well, so we let him out. Maz took a few tentative sniffs at him, and then hissed and skittered off. Whenever they're out together, she stalks him around our apartment and will sniff at him, and then hiss. Herc is COMPLETELY non-plussed by this. He is such a lovebug, all he wants to do is be friends with her. He never ever hisses back or swats at her or anything, he just looks at her and purrs. But, Maz is still freaking out. At first we thought it might just be jealousy, but now I'm pretty convinced she's scared of him, even though he's totally harmless. He's just SO much bigger than she is. And she's normally very vocal, but the past few days she's been almost silent.


For now we've been keeping Herc in a spare bathroom and feeding both of them on either side of the closed door so Maz can get used to his scent, but is there anything else we can do to help them get along? We've been bringing them both out at the same time when both my husband and I are home to supervise, and letting them roam for short bursts. We've tried getting them to play with the same toys together, but he'll go crazy over them, and Maz just sits and watches.


Any tips? Did we royally screw up by letting them meet too quickly? We've only been at this 3 days, so am I asking for too much too soon? I'm trying to figure out where to go from here.
 

Lilmustangchick

Lairian
Joined
Sep 27, 2019
Messages
47
Points
44
When I brought home my second girl I already had her sister that was 9 months old. Lie’la my oldest was so mad at us she chose to stay in the laundry room I put a bed on the washer. She growled and hissed at us. I felt to bad for bringing in another baby. After 3 days she decided to come out. Still growled, hissed and would slap her sister.

About 1 to 1 1/2 weeks these two were inseparable. Give it time.
 
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