Major Kitty Drama

[days_unfolding]

Much kitty drama. Harlee was growling at Zara last night, so I got Harlee to leave my bedroom and closed the door. Harlee was complaining loudly outside the bedroom door today (the bedroom is her "safe place"), so I finally let her in. She saw Zara and ran out. Zara came out and Harlee hissed at Zara. Now Zara is jumpy. I'm going to go out and get a gate for the bedroom door, and try to get Harlee in the bedroom and let Zara have the rest of the house. That way, Harlee will have her "safe place," and Zara will have more room to run around. I hope that then they'll get to know each other through the gate.


Zara slept on my bed last night!

Comments

[ravengirl.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, cats should be introduced very slowly, usually, living apart and then switching out the rooms over the course of a couple of weeks at the very least. It's actually a bit backward here-- The newer cat would usually be confined to a smaller space in order to help acclimate her to the home and Harlee would have her territory. Harlee, esp. after losing a cat companion recently, is still confused about where her friend is, the one she knows, and now this stranger is in her territory and she likely feels threatened. I didn't see until today that you got another cat already! Wow!

I've learned a lot at the shelter about cat introductions, which would've helped ME a ton when I found this stray cat who is now my Ella!! I hope all goes well for you.

[days-unfolding.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know that you're supposed to keep cats apart as you introduce them, but I didn't have the heart to shut Harlee out of the bedroom, and that's the only place that I could put up a gate. As it turns out, Zara is now in the bedroom, and Harlee has the rest of the house (but Harlee keeps running up hopefully to the bedroom, sees Zara there, and growls).

It probably was a little early to get another cat, but I was really taken with Zara, and was afraid that someone else would adopt her. (Had I known that she has been with the adoption agency for two years, I wouldn't have worried so much. I don't see why others haven't adopted her because she's wonderful!)