Say hello to Vinegar. I got her yesterday as a companion for Tusk. There’s been a bit of hissing and couple of battles, but so far, Tusk is ambivalent, at worst.
Now, a question: Tusk is almost a year old. She was barn cat, and bonded to another kitten when I got her at about five months. Since then, she’s shown obvious signs of needing more attention and play time than I can give her - she’ll sleep in front of the apartment door when I’m at work, bug me incessantly when I’m working on the computer, etc. This is despite a solid 45 minutes / hour of play per night.
So I figured that another cat would be the solution. Hence, Vinegar.
Both of them are pretty outgoing and generally energetic and friendly - hell, they chased each other around for hours yesterday, which is why I ignored the rule of thumb to keep them separated for a few weeks.
But Tusk is still obviously pissed by the whole thing. She’s been a bit standoffish with me, and just hasn’t been her normal annoyingly energetic self.
So: how long should I expect her to be all pissy? Keep in mind: I’ve witnessed her dispensing a couple of tentative head-licks to Vinegar already, so it’s not like she’s gonna kill her new sister in her sleep or anything.
Headlicks-does she hold her down and lick her head? Depending, that’s often a sign of dominence. Misty used to do that all the time to Buffy and Maggie-and hell, even our dog Lexie, when she was a puppy.
Tusk is a compulsive licker. When we’re snuggling, she tends to give my hand bath rather than rubbing up against it. So I think it’s a sign of affection rather than dominance, unless she’s trying to dominate me, too. Come to think of it, that’s entirely possible.
It looks like they’re going to be great friends. I’ve integrated a few cats in my time and that kind of closeness they are sharing in the one photo is a very good sign. They still might get on each others nerves from time to time, but I don’t think you’ll have a problem.
Well, there’s no more hissing, but the best we ever got was the two cats being willing to sit within about a metre of one another. I’m sure the younger one (nearly 2) would like to cuddle, but the older (nearly 6) will have none of it. Of course, she dislikes us, too, so we’re pretty sure it’s just because she’s a bitch.
By the sound (and look) of it, your cats should settle in pretty quickly! They are beautiful!
I’m not a super duper cat person, other than I love when they are getting shamed, but both of those cats are picture perfect, exactly the kinds I would have if I wasn’t so allergic. Great names!!!
I think that Tusk will learn to love her new sister very shortly. She’s busy trying to adjust to the new cat in the house, so she doesn’t have enough energy to aggravate you as usual, but rest assured, soon enough the two will gang up on you. A little hissing and spitting and fighting is normal. The best toy for a cat is another cat. Besides which, YOU don’t want to sniff buttholes and lick faces, do you? I didn’t think so.
Congratulations on doubling the cute factor in your household.
They chased each other around some more last night, while I was trying to sleep, natch. This morning, I was awakened by face licks from Tusk and crotch punches from Vinegar. Apparently, the bowl was empty.
My rule of thumb is three days. After three days, they’ve gotten used to each other and worked out the dominance things…and the little one should be fine with eating and pooping in the right places. My three cats tolerate each other, but they have never, ever snuggled together, to my dismay…and to the fact that they take up all the bed when they insist on “their space”
Might take a few weeks. It was probably three weeks before I found Edison and Dewey snuggled together in Dewey’s basket (they jumped up and pretended it didn’t happen) but a lot longer for Stokie to fit in. Maybe a month and a half. It’s been a month with the dog and they show no signs of learning to love him, though - guess you can’t expect miracles.
Update: Still more smacking (on both parts) than cuddles, but they can manage to sit within a couple of feet, ignoring each other, for extended periods.
I’ve been trying to give Tusk extra play time, but Vinegar would tend to bolt in and steal the toys, as kittens are wont to do. So I’ve locked the kitten out of the bedroom while I give Tusk some attention.
