Comments on Profile Post by Lyander

Upon arrival new foster kitty (8mo F) was still pretty snippy, new environment and all. Former street cat. Aggro towards our older (~3 yo? M) cat. Now that she's more comfy she tried making friends, but probably because of the poor introduction M cat now goes out of his way to be aggro towards the new baby.

So, cage match between them and loser is forced to swear allegiance, shove them in each others' faces until they get used to it, or just let them be for now?

Let them be. It takes time for them to get used to each other.

I'm reading up on fostering adult cats right now. Am likely overthinking it but still kinda worried, haha.

Yes, they usually do work it out, though it takes time. Sometimes longer than others, so try to be patient...and don't try to reprimand. It doesn't really work for cats.

It could take many months, like my two meows at home. Then again, I do like a meow fighting contest in my honor. I give the winning kitty some treats for the UFC fight.

I actually tried intervening in a fight just now. Younger one was a treasure but older cat basically jumped on my arm and sank his teeth and claws in. Used to it by now, but he's still a little bastard, haha.

Both are asleep about a foot from each other. Fingers crossed.

I'm still hurting badly from the loss of my buddy almost three weeks ago already. I've briefly considered fostering, but I get attached too easily, I don't think I could do it. You are a good man for what you are doing. My gratitude goes out to you from half a world away.

To me pets are like family. I was completely out of it for months after both my grandparents died in '17, so I'll say that you should feel however you need to as long as you can still be you, if that makes sense.

We say "foster" but we initially got the new baby to keep because we felt bad leaving the older cat alone; dachshund is a grumpy old fart, pittie is terrified of him (trauma), and the two malinoises will probably eat him. Safe to say that plan kinda blew up in our faces and now we've got to add all this to the pet politics round here, haha.

It is one of those situations that will sort itself out or not.

Back in 1970s, I and my cat moved into a room in a flat. There was a cat already living there. My cat wanted to be friends, but she slapped him. From that time on he tried to kill her whenever they met. Luckily, it was architecturally possible to keep doors between them at all times.

Otherwise, intercat relationships can range from best of friends to passive annoyance and ignoring. None of my current cats are really friends, despite being mother father and daughter.

That's fair, our two malinoises basically hate each other's guts and we have to keep them in separate yards (they're either sisters or cousins, keep forgetting which). Effective guard team, but no coordination. Cats are both indoor pets mostly, in part due to aforementioned dogs. That makes it a tad harder to keep them separate, so hopefully they learn to get along.

You can try a reintroduction, although it might be too late. Give new cat a room or part of the house and let them smell each other but not see each other. Keep them away for at least 30-60 days. Then let them see each other gradually for another 30-60 days.

Be very gradual. Do not rush things. Ultimately, it took 9 months for my last cat to be integrated. We tend to lose cats to nature and cars. Darwin. Five year survival rate is 50%.

Slow and steady, have the crowd control ready, gotcha. Thanks! Didn't think it'd necessarily be that slow, TIL.

Yeah, nature is fine but I get pissed at cars. Partially fact of life that animals aren't necessarily visible and that drivers are usually in a hurry, but it still bites.