Integrating Cats.... It Has Only Been A Week But Its Stressful!

[jay_tee]

My partner has just moved in with me bringing his cat Ziggy (she is a lovely long haired tabby but her fur makes her look huge She is also extremely vocal! She also only has 3 legs due to an accident so does not move like a normal cat)
I have 2 of my own. One, Oscar is quite laid back about her being here. He gives her a wide berth but is comfortable eating and sleeping in her company. My other cat Jasper will come no where near. He is now away from the house most of the time just popping in to grab some food but he only has to hear her let alone see her and he is out in a panic. Not sure if its the yowls or her size that scares him most.
Is there much I can do to ease the situation and get Jasper to come home and be settled like her used to be or do I just wait and see how the situation progresses? Would a Feliway collar help here?
Any help would be most welcome. Many thanks in advance

[wolf63]

You might find some hints on this website http://www.icatcare.org/advice/how-guides if you already have two cats of your own you know that they can be a pain in the neck/butt/arse when things don't go the way that they want them to go.

They are not the easiest animals to understand.

I hope that you manage to get them to all at least tolerate each other.

:-)

[jay_tee]

Thanks Wolf. We did try the swapping bedding suggestion but appears to have made no difference when the big day came. Even before we could try an introduction at a distance she yowled and he was off!
Maybe he is just a wus! :-)

[wolf63]

My two are brother and sister from the same litter. I thought that they would be lifelong friends and cuddle up and snooze together. At best they tolerate each other and the rest of the time it is WWIII.

Have fun

(the little b******s didn't even get me a mothers day present!) :-)

[jay_tee]

Yeah My two are brothers and get on fine. Always have. I am surprised that the more laid back of my two is the one that is having the problems. He is fine with cats in the street. Just sits there.
I dont want to force the issue but wonder if keeping him in in a room cut off from the others for a while might help. Just dont want to make the situation worse but a bit worried he is not really eating properly.
Appreciate your assistance.

[jay_tee]

Situation not improving at all. Has anyone used Feliway in this sort of situation and did it help? TIA

[Nosha123]

Personally I would have kept her shut in one room to start with. It's their territory and she is the one having to join it
Then you can introduce them with her in a cat box or sniffing bedding
Your two might accept her more if the introduction was done in a more managed way
Feed them apart and provide litter trays for each cat if they use them

[Nosha123]

And yes try the feliway thing! Plug in more than one! And give him a big fuss over whilst ignoring her so he feels reassured

[jay_tee]

Thanks. We had already done the bedding swap. She was in her cat box for the first introduction but because she was in it she was yowling so he bolted for it immediately. She yowls when shut in anywhere and he seems to be scared just of the noise.
Been to see my vet and got the Feliway so hoping it makes some difference.
Thanks again for your response.

[nungate]

This might sound a bit daft but here goes. We've had trouble with one of our cats attacking his best friend any time he's had a short stay at the vet or been to be groomed (he has long hair) what we've found is that we give Max a good brush then use the same brush on Henry, after a couple of times it calms Henry down and they are back to being best friends (next time Max goes anywhere Henry is going too) So I think you could try grooming your partner's cat and then use the same brush for your shy cat, though I agree with a previous poster that it might have been a better plan to introduce her gradually into your household

[jay_tee]

Thanks. Worth a try.