Introducing adult neutered males

[Charley]

Thanks I think I am just freaking out because I have a show next month (the 26th-29th) and it will just be my boyfriend. I'm having that new mom fear of leaving ALL the boys alone. He did eat at the bottom of the stairs. That is good.

I didn't realize how hard it would be honestly. I knew what to do if everyone just stayed in their area and everything went perfect and nobody saw each other. It has taken far more planning than I thought - those Savannah's are outsmarting me, lol. At least Wiggles has out smarted me all week until I finally figured out we should keep Jengo occupied elsewhere or behind a closed door when we are opening Wiggles door.

It's also sad not to be able to spend equal time with them. And of course all I am thinking about is what happens next month! Can the three of them manage without me micromanaging everyone???

 

[Pam Flachs]

Yep, the ol' Savannah Outsmarting the Human Ploys Good idea to keep Jengo contained in his room before opening Wiggles' door.

Your show is 5 weeks away. Relax and let the boys acclimate to each other as long as it takes...I bet they will be fine together by the time your show is here and you will be away...all the more reason not to rush introductions. I think they will all be just fine...all three of your boys...while you are gone

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

One of the best ways I have found to stop a cat from being able to dart past me when opening a door to their room is a baby gate. It's awkward to have to step/climb over but it also slows down the cat...they can't race past your legs, they also need to jump up and you then have your hands at the ready to push them back as you go through the door. It gets easier with practice... but over the years, it greatly helps with this issue.

I agree with slowing things down...taking steps back and starting again. I understand you wanting to rush things because of your show...but this is the rest of the kitties' lives we are talking about ...and obviously trying to push it is not working with Jengo. Poor boy needs time to come to terms with his new "friend". Some time without fear of the other cat darting out to confront him...to give him the opportunity to sniff him and hear him... swap out their pet beds etc and work on getting them eating on either side of the door...

It really is just harder introducing adults... I'm facing this right now rehoming my adult female Nadiya...when I describe to prospective homes the likely timeline to introduce her to the existing cats, it's too much work for them. I tend to give the worst case scenario hoping to be pleasantly surprised, but some cats are sensitive souls and need the extended introduction..

 

[Charley]

A happy home is worth all the time in the world!

 

[Patti]

I also agree that you need to slow down and take your cues from Jengo. It may take him a couple of weeks before he is ready to take on Wiggles face to face, but if that's what it takes then that's what you'll need to do. Better than having Wiggles intimidate him for the rest of his life.

 

[Eddies]

Hi! I read your post & other than going a bit fast for Jengo, you posted you've been giving him extra privileges and access to places in the house he normally is not allowed. Try not to change anything else because the kitty stress is very high & changes (even perceived "good changes") just increase that stress. Sounds like Jengo has a great servant & Wiggles is Dominant to Jengos nervousness. Mojo (F6SBT) watched our Tigger (Bengal) for a week before deciding Tigger was pretty cool & then joined in most escapades. I admit to doing EVERYTHING wrong with Mojos introduction. Vanessa showed up & my husband got him out of the RV hissing, spitting & growling, brought him into the house, hubby pulls him out of the carrier (no blood) & pronounced him "free". Mojo took a look around & went back into the carrier that was still in the chair beside my hubby. Within his first week he learned alot. He is never expected to enjoy company but occasionally does. He now opens cupboards, drawers, & the fridge. Mojo now bosses his 2 "little brothers" Tigger & Eddie (F5), plus a "nephew" Trooper (Maine Coon). He has been introduced (correctly) to the 2 youngest kittens successfully using a large dog crate...Last night Eddie (playing) jumped on Mojo & then Eddie flew across the room, landing on his feet of course just before he fell over. 3 year old Mojo is not faster but definitely bigger than 5 month old Eddie & occasionally Eddie just pushes EVERYONE too far. 1 thing NOONE gets in my home is SILENCE...it allows the mundane acts of humans to sound too big, too heavy, too clumsy & too frightening. We also have the plug in Feliway. Relax, control, enjoy, manipulate, love your SVs as they will you.

 

[Charley]

I'm going to grab the Feliway air freshners. I sprayed the hall way between their rooms with it and it did get Jengo at least interested in sniffing. I got Wiggles downstairs and Jengo into Wiggles's room last night successfully and Jengo sniffed around. I sat in there with him. I could tell he was hesitant. We didn't spend much time in there maybe 15 minutes. Then Jengo wanted to leave so we did. I'm going to keep with this process at least until Sunday then try the crate.

Jengo is a stressy cat. Hearing Wiggles freaks him out but I guess that is a sound he will get used to. I'm using the sock trick too. Jengo will sniff the sock that smells like Wigs and even allowed me to pet him with the sock on same with Wigs.

Baby gate is also on the list. I know that Jengo wants to be able to observe him without him being able to get at him. For now at least until Sunday I'm going to keep with using scent and letting Jengo have the run of the house most of the day - at night will give him his space in his bedroom and let Wiggles out. This way Wiggles is getting the lay of the land, Jengo is safe in his favorite place and when Wigs is out away Jengo can spend the rest of the night "sniffing."

 

[Charley]

***update***

Jengo ventured up the stairs this morning. We managed to keep Wiggles out of Jengo's way completely. Jengo is in his room across from Wiggles eating. As soon as I came out of Wiggles's room, I saw Jengo at the bottom of the stairs and didn't expect him to come to me but he did.

Jengo is also letting people pet him. He let a girlfriend sit next to him the other day and pet and kiss him, he seemed to like it. I've never seen him that comfortable with people - although he may have figured out only Wiggles wants to chase him.

Baby gate is going to be great. Might need two though Wig's doesn't seem to be a jumper like Jengo was but he really wants to play.

It's been 24 hours of everyone staying out of everyone's way! YAY! Small victories!!!!!

Even if it takes a few weeks, that's okay. I hope I don't seem impatient. It was a matter of having the information and then them still meeting and not knowing what to do under those circumstances and really trying not to scare anyone. I think we figured it's easier to control Jengo - he listens (when he wants to) and working around Wiggles not knowing our commands/voices that well yet. Wigs responds to being sprayed with water - to be honest - I really hate that though. We managed Jengo with very little "punishment" we just did time outs, you can't time out a cat in time out already.

What a difference taking on Wigs has been. He's outgoing, friendly and playful - Jengo was none of those things. I think I bonded with Jengo because he was so impossible to get through to. I spent a lot of time with him. It's nice that Wigs doesn't need that extra but also hard because I know he wants to run around and be "free." It was at least 2-3 weeks before Jengo got acclimated to me

I'm blessed to be home everyday right now, I can't imagine how much harder it would be if I was away from the house too.

 

[WitchyWoman]

I recently introduced a 12 wk old F1 male to 2 male F2s (3 yrs old & 4 yrs old) and a skittish psycho male 4 yr old F6. I kept the kitten in my bedroom for one week then moved him into the study, which has glass doors, for another week. Then I moved him back to the bedroom for a few days while the cats got used to his smell in the study which is the adult cats favorite room. Then for a few hours each day, I shut the 3 adults in the study or on the catio and let the kitten roam the house. And finally, came the face-to-face introductions this week.

It was really helpful to allow the kitten full roam of the house and catio so his scent was everywhere. And it is definitely helpful when they can see, hear, and smell each other through a door or, as you're going to do, through a baby gate.

I can't remember if you have put Jengo in Wigs' room when Wigs is roaming the house. That would be a step to take in about a week or so. And you should keep that in the rotation of switching who is where when until Jengo's jitters have abated a bit.

 

[Charley]

Yes, Jengo was a little hesitant in Wig's room but he didn't complain and he sniffed everything. I think was sure Wigs was still in there. I am going to take Jengo in there every night so he can check it out. He just needs to be confident Wig's isn't in there the only way to do that is repetition. I am sure to sit with Jengo while he is in the other room right now because he is so skittish and if he thinks someone else could be in there with him he won't explore. I just plopped on the floor and read while Jengo moved slowly around the room. Some of his toys and a scratcher he never used is in there so identifies some of the toys and ofcourse there are NEW toys in there for him to explore as well.

When should I let Wig's into the master where Jengo sleeps? I haven't crossed that line yet because Jengo needs his turf.