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Cats/A question ab0ut my two cats

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Expert: - 8/13/2011


Question
Hi again Ali,

Thank you so much for your advice on my kitten Dewey with the sniffles. I have great news; Dewey is doing much better! He hardly ever sneezes, and his sniffles went away! :)

I had another question about my adult cat Malia. She is a 5 year old ragdoll, very timid, and very sweet. But, she is still unsure/ hissing and growling at Dewey. He just turned 11 weeks and I have had him for 5 weeks. I kept them isolated for about 2 weeks(except for a little scent swapping). But Malia wants to know where he is, and she likes to be in the same room with him. She loves watching him from about 5 feet distance. But when he get about 4 feet close, she starts to growl. But whatI have noticed resently is that when she growls at him, her ears are never back, and she is "swishing" her tail. And sometimes when he is in one of his really playful moods, he will chase her around the house, and sometimes she gets really annoyed and she will hiss at him, but sometimes she won't even growl at all. So I was just wondering if you thought with time then she might come around and stop hissing at him? Is there anything I can do so that she will be more open to him?

Thank you,
Maria

Answer
Maria,

Introductions take time, it sounds like what you're seeing is normal behaviour so just tough it out and be patient... Just remember that Malia has to teach Dewey the rules of the house because it was after all her house long before it was his! So long as nobody is getting hurt in this situation it's best to step back and allow the cats to figure out where they fit within the household hierarchy now... If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me again - I'm more than happy to help in any way that I can.

Kind regards,

Ali

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Ali

Expertise

I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.

Experience

I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.

Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.

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