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Im officially a crazy cat person :/. Introducing Simba!
- Thread starter Alex and Katie
- Start date
Alex and Katie
Savannah Super Cat
I do have a couple baby gates i can put up. i may need to get another. the enclosure is pretty light weight. I can do baby gates on the bedroom door during the day while im away but i was more thinking of an enclosure as a way for them to be in the same room but still give simba a safe place to retreat to. These are all great ideas. thank you for the suggestions. While i had secretly hoped it would happen quickly i was prepared for a long haul.
I would not leave baby gates up while you're not home, they are too easy to knock down. Keep the door shut so Simba has no interactions with the other cats while you're not there to supervise.
I think the baby gates with supervision is a good way to start, but the enclosure, if it is really not a big deal, can work as well. Whichever way you go, I would keep the interactions short to start with (minutes to an hour or so) until they all seem to be relaxing, then extend the periods of time each day. Once they seem relaxed and ignoring each other for the most part you can start thinking about taking down the baby doors, or opening the enclosure door.
I think the baby gates with supervision is a good way to start, but the enclosure, if it is really not a big deal, can work as well. Whichever way you go, I would keep the interactions short to start with (minutes to an hour or so) until they all seem to be relaxing, then extend the periods of time each day. Once they seem relaxed and ignoring each other for the most part you can start thinking about taking down the baby doors, or opening the enclosure door.
Alex and Katie
Savannah Super Cat
The enclosure can be brought inside no problem as i will only need to take apart two of the panels to get it in the door. I ordered a 3rd baby gate as the two i have dont cover the door frame and even an inch of space and they would squeeze through. Im very excited to start working with them in an environment where they can see but not get to one another. I will keep the interactions short like you said. baby steps to begin with
It sounds like you are taking the right steps to properly integrate them. It could take days, weeks, or even months for everyone to accept everyone else, but as long as you have patience and allow them to work on it by their timetable rather than yours, I'm sure you will have success eventually.
Alex and Katie
Savannah Super Cat
So we've yet to try out the enclosure we brought in but have been working with the baby gates on the door this past weekend and after work yesterday. Luckily it has never been more than two or three of our younger ones at the other side of the gate at a time so I feel like its been less overwhelming. Is it a good or a bad sign that Simba is glued to the gates when we put them up and open the door. He does not retreat back into the room but rather confronts whoever is on the other side. There is the occasional hiss and a fairly steady low moan from Simba. Both parties climb the gates to test them for weaknesses and both parties will reach through the gates for the others but they have not had any kind of real contact through the gates. Our little ones are so patient with him. They dont hold eye contact, they dont hiss or growl. Every now and then theyll bat at him through the gate but its definitely playfully on their end. We're going to devote 30 min twice a day during the week this week to letting them see each other face to face through the gates and longer on weekends since we'll be home all day.
Ive been fairly pleased with what ive seen so far but then again Im not a behavioral expert. Is it a sign of progress to come that simba chooses to stay by the baby gates or do i want to see him more ignoring them? should we comfort and pet simba/stay near him while they interact or is it best to retreat and leave him alone?
Im just a very optimistic person in general and i would hate to be "seeing progress" when really i'm reading things wrong. Thanks again so much to everyone who has already helped out!
Ive been fairly pleased with what ive seen so far but then again Im not a behavioral expert. Is it a sign of progress to come that simba chooses to stay by the baby gates or do i want to see him more ignoring them? should we comfort and pet simba/stay near him while they interact or is it best to retreat and leave him alone?
Im just a very optimistic person in general and i would hate to be "seeing progress" when really i'm reading things wrong. Thanks again so much to everyone who has already helped out!
Sounds to me as though a lot of progress is being made. You're succeeding in giving Simba his own territory in which to acclimate to the other cats. It's best that you don't provide comfort to Simba when he's interacting with the other cats as there is the potential that he will interpret his moaning/discomfort as "ok" because he gets rewarded for it.
It would be good for him to see you interact and play with the other cats. You should do that by staying outside the room and playing with the others in front of the baby gates. You might bring him into the action by letting him chase, through the baby gates, the same feather wand or toy the others are playing with.
And to make more progress, feed the cats in front of each other. Put Simba's food by the door and feed the other cats on the other side. It's another way to build trust and get him comfortable participating in the household routine.
When he becomes comfortable eating with the others (no moaning, hissing, etc.), it will be time to start letting one or two of the other cats in the room with him. Supervised visitations and baby steps all the way.
It would be good for him to see you interact and play with the other cats. You should do that by staying outside the room and playing with the others in front of the baby gates. You might bring him into the action by letting him chase, through the baby gates, the same feather wand or toy the others are playing with.
And to make more progress, feed the cats in front of each other. Put Simba's food by the door and feed the other cats on the other side. It's another way to build trust and get him comfortable participating in the household routine.
When he becomes comfortable eating with the others (no moaning, hissing, etc.), it will be time to start letting one or two of the other cats in the room with him. Supervised visitations and baby steps all the way.
Alex and Katie
Savannah Super Cat
oooh I have so many new activities to try! Thanks Deborah!
It seems that cats (especially Savannahs) always want to go where they are not supposed to, which is probably why Simba is glued by the doorway when the gates are up. Greener grass on the other side of the fence and all...
I'm not sure what you mean that he confronts whoever is on the other side of the gate, but I would not consider a moan or hiss necessarily as confrontational. Even so, Deborah is correct that you don't want to reward growls and hisses by offering comfort. However, I think it could be a good thing to play with both Simba and with the other cats while the party(ies) on the other side of the barrier watch you interact. You can even play with them simultaneously with one of you on each side of the gate, then switching places the next time. This helps them learn that everything is normal and routine.
Once any aggressive behavior (moans and hisses) subside and he seems truly curious of the others you can consider face to face introductions. I would start with one cat at a time. If he seems to develop a bond with one you can leave it in the room with him when introducing the next cat, but if behavior is simply civil I would stick with one cat at a time.
I'm not sure what you mean that he confronts whoever is on the other side of the gate, but I would not consider a moan or hiss necessarily as confrontational. Even so, Deborah is correct that you don't want to reward growls and hisses by offering comfort. However, I think it could be a good thing to play with both Simba and with the other cats while the party(ies) on the other side of the barrier watch you interact. You can even play with them simultaneously with one of you on each side of the gate, then switching places the next time. This helps them learn that everything is normal and routine.
Once any aggressive behavior (moans and hisses) subside and he seems truly curious of the others you can consider face to face introductions. I would start with one cat at a time. If he seems to develop a bond with one you can leave it in the room with him when introducing the next cat, but if behavior is simply civil I would stick with one cat at a time.
Alex and Katie
Savannah Super Cat
Thanks Patti! When i say he confronts them i mean he sort of mirrors there movements. when they approach the gate he does as well and if they go left he goes left and so on and so forth. Definitely not at a point where he's ready with face to face interactions again although Kirby has slipped past the door twice this week into his room (hard to keep them all out at once when opening and closing doors anywhere haha) and Simba's reaction was much more mild than i had expected. Looking forward to the weekend when we can put some longer time in with them!