So, I am a complete novice at cat introductions as this is the first time I've had a second cat.
So far, it is not following the best case scenario, and I'm writing this on my iPhone as I take Kato on his second walk for the day. He's so rattled that someone is in his bathroom, I'm doing everything I can to expend his stress and energy in order to help him out. But boy is it tiring for me, working two cats when they need to be separate!
Ava turns out to be a purry little love bug, with good self confidence. She is at ease already- but itching to get out of her little room and explore. So we did some site swapping this morning. While Kato was downstairs, Ava came into our bedroom. She had a good explore and hissed at her reflection. Meanwhile, Kato was doing the same. He'd gone through the open door to her room and was hissing away at her smell! I slipped through the door to reassure him, then went to slip back. I was focused on blocking Kato, and I'd forgotten just how small and fast a kitten is! She rushed past my legs and almost collided head-on with Kato. They both got a huge shock, backflips and hisses mid air on both sides, before promptly bolting in opposite directions.
Anyway, I apologised to Kato for the scare, who then padded off downstairs while I settled Ava. She was right as rain, and discovered the food left for her, scarfing into it. Time for walk one of the day!
Kato lollopped off into his garden after his walk, so I went and did some research jobs for husband-man (who is away!), sitting on the floor of the bathroom with phone and laptop. Ava was delighted and jumped all over me, tried to eat the cords to my earplugs etc etc, all the while purring non-stop like a truck. The awkwardness of that sitting position then demanded site-swap number two...relocating Ava and I to the bedroom. More precisely, to my bed, as I was zonked!
Ava was not a quiet little girl over-nght (unlike Kato when he was little). Besides, I was worried about the temperature of her room - freezing. So I was up a few times to turn on the fan heater and comfort her...then go back to bed only to get up again as I was worrying that I'd left the power switch on and for sure she'd tip her water bowl and there'd be an electrocuted kitten on the first night!! Kato was also on alert. I thought he was rather nice actually, as everytime he heard her cries, he'd lift his head from my legs and look. Then if the cries kept on going, he'd jump down off the bed and sit at the door, looking back at me as if to say 'Mum, the kitten's crying. Come-on.'
(So sad that his interest, and perhaps empathy, has been scared away...oh well, my best guess is it just needs time, and positive experiences.)
After a 20min kip with sweet Ava, Kato was crying. So it was obviously time for some attention on him. With Ava back in her room, I thought I'd try some treats and sweeten the association with the new being. Now Kato LOVES treats. But it turned out his fright trumped his love of treats, and I could only coax him to about 3 feet away from Ava's door. He was also moaning and hissing at the smell of Ava on my hands, so we went and had treats at ease in the kitchen - albeit with smelly Ava hands ;)
Tactic two...tap into the love of play. With a door in the way. Solution: feather under the door. Ava would grab it and pull it, Kato would creep closer to the waggling feather, I'd pull it to stop it disappearing...It went on for about 20minutes, by which time Kato was tentatively looking under the door for the little shadow. TENTATIVELY. And that was enough for today I thought...time to expend the stress - 30mins of play with 'Da Bird', and that second walk.
Thankfully, right at this minute, they are now both asleep in their respective beds and rooms. Time for a cuppa and some chocolate for me!
More later...
So far, it is not following the best case scenario, and I'm writing this on my iPhone as I take Kato on his second walk for the day. He's so rattled that someone is in his bathroom, I'm doing everything I can to expend his stress and energy in order to help him out. But boy is it tiring for me, working two cats when they need to be separate!
Ava turns out to be a purry little love bug, with good self confidence. She is at ease already- but itching to get out of her little room and explore. So we did some site swapping this morning. While Kato was downstairs, Ava came into our bedroom. She had a good explore and hissed at her reflection. Meanwhile, Kato was doing the same. He'd gone through the open door to her room and was hissing away at her smell! I slipped through the door to reassure him, then went to slip back. I was focused on blocking Kato, and I'd forgotten just how small and fast a kitten is! She rushed past my legs and almost collided head-on with Kato. They both got a huge shock, backflips and hisses mid air on both sides, before promptly bolting in opposite directions.
Anyway, I apologised to Kato for the scare, who then padded off downstairs while I settled Ava. She was right as rain, and discovered the food left for her, scarfing into it. Time for walk one of the day!
Kato lollopped off into his garden after his walk, so I went and did some research jobs for husband-man (who is away!), sitting on the floor of the bathroom with phone and laptop. Ava was delighted and jumped all over me, tried to eat the cords to my earplugs etc etc, all the while purring non-stop like a truck. The awkwardness of that sitting position then demanded site-swap number two...relocating Ava and I to the bedroom. More precisely, to my bed, as I was zonked!
Ava was not a quiet little girl over-nght (unlike Kato when he was little). Besides, I was worried about the temperature of her room - freezing. So I was up a few times to turn on the fan heater and comfort her...then go back to bed only to get up again as I was worrying that I'd left the power switch on and for sure she'd tip her water bowl and there'd be an electrocuted kitten on the first night!! Kato was also on alert. I thought he was rather nice actually, as everytime he heard her cries, he'd lift his head from my legs and look. Then if the cries kept on going, he'd jump down off the bed and sit at the door, looking back at me as if to say 'Mum, the kitten's crying. Come-on.'
(So sad that his interest, and perhaps empathy, has been scared away...oh well, my best guess is it just needs time, and positive experiences.)
After a 20min kip with sweet Ava, Kato was crying. So it was obviously time for some attention on him. With Ava back in her room, I thought I'd try some treats and sweeten the association with the new being. Now Kato LOVES treats. But it turned out his fright trumped his love of treats, and I could only coax him to about 3 feet away from Ava's door. He was also moaning and hissing at the smell of Ava on my hands, so we went and had treats at ease in the kitchen - albeit with smelly Ava hands ;)
Tactic two...tap into the love of play. With a door in the way. Solution: feather under the door. Ava would grab it and pull it, Kato would creep closer to the waggling feather, I'd pull it to stop it disappearing...It went on for about 20minutes, by which time Kato was tentatively looking under the door for the little shadow. TENTATIVELY. And that was enough for today I thought...time to expend the stress - 30mins of play with 'Da Bird', and that second walk.
Thankfully, right at this minute, they are now both asleep in their respective beds and rooms. Time for a cuppa and some chocolate for me!
More later...