Territorial existing cat with new cat

[elr022550]

I have never done a forum chat before so excuse me if this is not correct. However, I’m getting a little anxious and desperate.

I adopted Molly from a rescue. She is 3 to 4 years old and her human passed away and she was put into rescue. She had never been around another pet. She was absolutely fine coming into my home and appeared to want a friend to play with or to be around as she tried to get my sisters Chihuahua to play with her and often watches another kitty out the window who was being walked. She is very low-key and not really a lap cat or anything but just likes to hang out.

About three months after I got Molly, I got from a rescue an app eight year old kitty that had been found at a grocery store. He definitely belong to someone but no one claimed him. They said he was very submissive and sweet and I thought he would be a good match for Molly. When I got him home I did the proper set up for him and he stayed in the guest room for a few days to get adjusted. Molly would sniff around the door etc. but did not appear aggressive. After opening the door and them meeting in the guest room, they seemed OK also.

The issue started when Casper wanted to come out of the guest room. There is a loft outside the guest room and then stairs to downstairs. Molly will be fine with Casper in the loft as long as I am up there and we are just all three hanging out. When Casper tries to go down the steps or outside the room when I am not there, Molly chases him back into his room. She does not fight him and she will hang out in his room but she will not let him out of the room or downstairs without chasing him back to the room. I have tried everything I know and have read everything I know to read. Everyone says to be patient which I’m trying to be but we have been doing this now for two months and I am not sure if I’m going to be able to keep Casper or not though he is just the sweetest. He does not fight back with her and when he tries to explore he will just run from her even though he is bigger than she is. She is a 13 pounder and he is 14 pounds. Not much difference. He is just so submissive that now he pretty much fears her I’m afraid. Again, no fighting, just chasing.

I have also heard that I should shut Molly in a room by herself for a few days and let Casper have the run of the house but I really hate to do that. I was hoping they could adjust on their own without that as I am afraid it will make it worse with Molly. They will eat treats nose to nose with each other and as I said hang out just fine in the loft or his room as long as I am there. I have tried switching out blankets and beds for the scent issue but that doesn’t seem to make any difference.

Just looking for suggestions or advice. Thanks!

[Mollycat]

There's quite a few assumptions in your story that don't necessarily follow, I'm afraid. Molly looking interested in other animals does not necessarily mean she wants to play or make friends. Eating treats together does not necessarily mean Casper is accepted. The term "submissive" means absolutely nothing in cat society, cats are not dogs - they either own, time-share or share territory, they can openly fight or keep a strained and limited truce, but a cat that seems submissive is not happy with its place in society like a submissive dog, it is a scared and intimidated cat.

In a multi-cat household, you can have a close friendship like a feral family group, which is what you hope for ideally. Or you can have cats each with their own territories who tolerate each other well, are relaxed enough not to show any stress or problem behaviours, and don't openly fight. It sounds like Molly is allowing Casper a neutral area but she won't allow him into her key territory, so she's prepared to tolerate him but isn't really willing to share her home. To help this happen I would go back to Casper being in his room, of course he's going to want to come out and explore but tough he will have to go at the resident cat's pace, she has to be the boss or you risk disaster.

Introductions should aim to take weeks, not a few days. Remember it's all about asking Molly to accept an intruder to share her home, her territory, so it's up to her to be comfortable enough to take the next small step each time. Molly is showing aggression by chasing Casper and confining him to one room, so that means you are trying to move too fast.