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#32
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I would have to confine Willie inside to expose them to each other
inside, otherwise he would simply run outside at first sight of Thug. Willie has never been confined inside. He has always been free to go in and out as he pleases. I don't let the cats in and out. They always have a way to go in and out without having to ask. Of course I could confine him, but it would be like a betrayal of his trust This just appeared on my reader so..... I had assumed that Willie spent a certain amount of time in the house with the door closed - didn't realize he was a 24/7 outdoor cat. Mine come inside at night and stay inside till morning. I can see why you're having a problem - neither wants another adult male cat around and you don't have much control over their environment. Basically, you can't force them to deal with each other until they arrive at a detente unless you're in a controlled environment. The point of an introduction is that neither cat *can* drive the other cat away, as much as they'd like to. If they actually *can* drive the other cat away from the house, then there isn't much incentive to work things out and they won't. You have to decide if keeping Thug is worth putting Willie through the introduction process - INSIDE. You do it as kindly as you can, but there really isn't any other way. It isn't going to happen outside and Willie runs risks if he is driven too far from his familiar territory. Yes, it's hard to confine a cat who isn't used to it, but things have changed, and for the longterm health and survival of both cats, it would certainly be better if they could learn to tolerate each other. I don't think it's impossible, but it will take alot of time and probably a fair bit of discomfort for Willie and for you. I wish there was a better answer, but I don't see how else it can be done. |
#33
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I would have to confine Willie inside to expose them to each other
inside, otherwise he would simply run outside at first sight of Thug. Willie has never been confined inside. He has always been free to go in and out as he pleases. I don't let the cats in and out. They always have a way to go in and out without having to ask. Of course I could confine him, but it would be like a betrayal of his trust This just appeared on my reader so..... I had assumed that Willie spent a certain amount of time in the house with the door closed - didn't realize he was a 24/7 outdoor cat. Mine come inside at night and stay inside till morning. I can see why you're having a problem - neither wants another adult male cat around and you don't have much control over their environment. Basically, you can't force them to deal with each other until they arrive at a detente unless you're in a controlled environment. The point of an introduction is that neither cat *can* drive the other cat away, as much as they'd like to. If they actually *can* drive the other cat away from the house, then there isn't much incentive to work things out and they won't. You have to decide if keeping Thug is worth putting Willie through the introduction process - INSIDE. You do it as kindly as you can, but there really isn't any other way. It isn't going to happen outside and Willie runs risks if he is driven too far from his familiar territory. Yes, it's hard to confine a cat who isn't used to it, but things have changed, and for the longterm health and survival of both cats, it would certainly be better if they could learn to tolerate each other. I don't think it's impossible, but it will take alot of time and probably a fair bit of discomfort for Willie and for you. I wish there was a better answer, but I don't see how else it can be done. |
#34
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I appreciate all of the time and effort that went into these thoughtful
responses, and I know of nothing that can refute your advice. I will try to plan some inside confrontations, but I'm very afraid of the temporary results, even if the long term results work out to being good. I already know how hard it is to have a little kitten accepted, for example. I've introduced new tiny kittens three times, and every time the cat(s) reacted as if I had brought a grave threat into their midst. But within a matter of weeks the kitten is always grudgingly tolerated by my female, and accepted as a buddy by the other male(s). That was what I was expecting after I had the former stray neutered and let him live among us. I thought they would get used to him in a matter of weeks, but I never expected him to be the one who couldn't accept one or more of them. Of course I was just naive. One piece of advice I was given last year was to put Feliway diffusers in the house, and confine the two to a Feliway environment until they got used to each other. I haven't tried this, but I thought maybe if I put a Feliway diffuser in Thug's room, and in the hallway outside his room, maybe I could simply temporarily confine Willie to the hallway, and then coax him into the room, while supposedly both cats are under the calming influence that Feliway is thought to have. Does this alternative seem at all feasible? -cr |
#35
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I appreciate all of the time and effort that went into these thoughtful
responses, and I know of nothing that can refute your advice. I will try to plan some inside confrontations, but I'm very afraid of the temporary results, even if the long term results work out to being good. I already know how hard it is to have a little kitten accepted, for example. I've introduced new tiny kittens three times, and every time the cat(s) reacted as if I had brought a grave threat into their midst. But within a matter of weeks the kitten is always grudgingly tolerated by my female, and accepted as a buddy by the other male(s). That was what I was expecting after I had the former stray neutered and let him live among us. I thought they would get used to him in a matter of weeks, but I never expected him to be the one who couldn't accept one or more of them. Of course I was just naive. One piece of advice I was given last year was to put Feliway diffusers in the house, and confine the two to a Feliway environment until they got used to each other. I haven't tried this, but I thought maybe if I put a Feliway diffuser in Thug's room, and in the hallway outside his room, maybe I could simply temporarily confine Willie to the hallway, and then coax him into the room, while supposedly both cats are under the calming influence that Feliway is thought to have. Does this alternative seem at all feasible? -cr |
#36
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"Calvin Rice" wrote in message m... I appreciate all of the time and effort that went into these thoughtful responses, and I know of nothing that can refute your advice. I will try to plan some inside confrontations, but I'm very afraid of the temporary results, even if the long term results work out to being good. I already know how hard it is to have a little kitten accepted, for example. I've introduced new tiny kittens three times, and every time the cat(s) reacted as if I had brought a grave threat into their midst. But within a matter of weeks the kitten is always grudgingly tolerated by my female, and accepted as a buddy by the other male(s). That was what I was expecting after I had the former stray neutered and let him live among us. I thought they would get used to him in a matter of weeks, but I never expected him to be the one who couldn't accept one or more of them. Of course I was just naive. One piece of advice I was given last year was to put Feliway diffusers in the house, and confine the two to a Feliway environment until they got used to each other. I haven't tried this, but I thought maybe if I put a Feliway diffuser in Thug's room, and in the hallway outside his room, maybe I could simply temporarily confine Willie to the hallway, and then coax him into the room, while supposedly both cats are under the calming influence that Feliway is thought to have. Does this alternative seem at all feasible? -cr Feliway isn't a silver bullet but it can help. W |
#37
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"Calvin Rice" wrote in message m... I appreciate all of the time and effort that went into these thoughtful responses, and I know of nothing that can refute your advice. I will try to plan some inside confrontations, but I'm very afraid of the temporary results, even if the long term results work out to being good. I already know how hard it is to have a little kitten accepted, for example. I've introduced new tiny kittens three times, and every time the cat(s) reacted as if I had brought a grave threat into their midst. But within a matter of weeks the kitten is always grudgingly tolerated by my female, and accepted as a buddy by the other male(s). That was what I was expecting after I had the former stray neutered and let him live among us. I thought they would get used to him in a matter of weeks, but I never expected him to be the one who couldn't accept one or more of them. Of course I was just naive. One piece of advice I was given last year was to put Feliway diffusers in the house, and confine the two to a Feliway environment until they got used to each other. I haven't tried this, but I thought maybe if I put a Feliway diffuser in Thug's room, and in the hallway outside his room, maybe I could simply temporarily confine Willie to the hallway, and then coax him into the room, while supposedly both cats are under the calming influence that Feliway is thought to have. Does this alternative seem at all feasible? -cr Feliway isn't a silver bullet but it can help. W |
#38
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Yes, it seems feasible. Do this periodically for a while and see if
you see some progress. Good luck! |
#39
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Yes, it seems feasible. Do this periodically for a while and see if
you see some progress. Good luck! |
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