Enemies no longer

It all started out innocently enough.  My youth group had volunteered at the animal shelter for a day, and I missed out.  But, they shared stories about how much they enjoyed visiting with the animals, walking the dogs, petting the cats, in short, giving the animals some loving human interaction.  So, I thought it might be fun for MJ and I to do the same.

Now MJ had a fear - I have a soft heart for animals and he was quite worried that our dog walk might be all the way from the shelter to home - with a new pet.  No, I said.  We just moved into a new house, we haven't unpacked everything, we aren't ready for a dog.  Now, we'd talked about adding pets.  We have a lovely affectionate cat, and I'd always wanted her to have a friend.  But, the apartment pet policy made it prohibitive for us to have two, so Mox was a solo cat from her adoption almost two years ago.  Perhaps you already see where this is going...

It was four visits to the shelter before I brought along a cat carrier.  Four visits in the course of about a week.    I stayed true to the dog comments.  (After all, wouldn't it be easier to introduce Mox to another cat before we brought a dog in?)  But, we found ourselves seduced by "Gold Eyes".

Before we brought Little Cat home, I read a lot of web resources about introducing a new pet into the household.  Some details varied, but generally all agreed that you should isolate the New Cat in a room with food, water, litter box, bed, and toys to herself, while letting the Existing Cat continue to have the rest of her realm.  Let NC get accustomed to her new surroundings and people, and give EC time to get used to the idea.  Introduce them to the other's cat's scent on you.  No face-to-face introduction.  They also talked about the "best" companions - smaller than the EC, younger, possibly the opposite gender - neutered.  We had no idea how Mox would react to a new cat, so we ruled out some sweet, gentle older, larger cats who might have seemed threats.  But "Gold Eyes" was curious, playful, and only about nine months old (and not spayed).

There was an issue right away.  We had Little Cat's room set up for her and ready to go.  But, Little cat needed little time to adjust.  She was ready to play and explore and not interested in being locked in a room alone.  And she's fast.  So, the first or second night, opening the door, Little Cat ran out - into Mox who was just outside the door.  Hissing, upset cats, and not at all the introduction the experts recommended.

Your futile begging will gain you naught.

Little Cat continued to meow and fuss at the door she was trapped behind.  Mox would walk up to it and hiss or just lie outside, watching.

We started giving Little Cat more rooms to explore in the evenings when we were home - never letting her in the master bedroom, but keeping her in the area between that and the main room, with Mox in the main room.  I tried feeding them wet canned food (a treat; they get dry) under the door.  Mox was okay with this, provided there was at least two feet (and a door) between them.  At the end of a week, we left them loose together.  Mox continued to hiss when she saw Little Cat.  They chased each other.  There was growling (but no biting).  I was worried this might not work out.  MJ thought we should let them be and work out their own terms.

Mine.  And don't you forget it.

So, time passed and they did.  In particular - Mox was boss, and my bed was her domain.  So was MJ and I.  Any interaction between us and Little Cat got a glaring Mox watching.
Experts say you should play with them together, with a common toy.  That didn't work for us.  Little Cat is full of energy, spontaneous, and attacks right away.  Mox takes her time (so much time!) and stalks, considers, and then pounces.  Generally, this led to Mox going after Little Cat instead of the toy.  Or else, just walking away, bitter.

Over time, the hissing lessened, although Mox always wanted to know what Little Cat was doing and where she was.  For her part, Little Cat wanted to play.  A lot.  More than laid-back, easy-going, people-interested Mox wanted.  Still, it wasn't long before we decided we were comfortable leaving them out together while we went out.  It was relief to come home to both cats with two ears, full tails, and no blood or clumps of fur.

When the time came to take Little Cat to get neutered, Mox seemed a little joyful to have the house to herself.  "Finally, you've taken the usurper away!"  She was less than pleased when Little Cat returned the next day, smelling a bit like the vet (or so I'm told).  In only a couple of days, though, the hissing stopped again and they found a common interest.  Patio bugs.

I felt encouraged to find them sitting near each other, peacefully.

Now, they aren't cuddling up next to each other, and Mox still chases Little Cat away from any box (or my bed) that she decides she wants.  And there's still a bit of a jealous glare if we hold or pet Little Cat.  (Little Cat isn't big on being held anyway.)  But they aren't enemies.  They even play together.  (At the moment, Little Cat is crawling on the floor under a box lid and luring Mox to attack her.  Like a turtle.  It is basically hysterical.)  Perhaps they'll end up being friends after all.

Have you introduced new pets to one another?  How did it go?  What surprised you?