- Joined
- Jul 16, 2019
- Messages
- 675
Hi @Dr. Jean Hofve, @Dr. Christina and @Dr. Jeff,
I adopted two kittens (8-week old) in late November 2025 and introduced the kittens by following the typical protocol for cat introduction to my resident cat (around 2yo). There were hiccups in their interactions (mainly aggression from my resident cat) with moments of peace where the resident cat would groom the little ones...but lately, the resident cat's behavior (and mood) had dropped in her BEAM. She consistently hisses, growls and paws at the kittens, unprovoked. Now that she's aggressive towards me also.
She is very vocal with her frustration. For example, she is always looking over her shoulder when eating (in a separate room, door closed) to see if the kittens were nearby. She's skittish....when she senses that the kittens are nearby when she's eating, she would stop eating and growls (vocal) while walking away from her food. She was on 3 meals per day (each meal 1oz of SmallBatch raw slider), now only 2 meals per day. She doesn't play as much, even when I try to play with her away from the kittens.
I have tried flower essences by Jackson's Galaxy (Welcoming Change, Stress Stopper, Peacemaker, Bully Solution, Self Esteem...) but they don't seem to be helping. I mixed all of them in a spray bottle and spray every where in the house. Is there anything else I should try? I am considering working with an animal communicator for her behavioral and mood issues. It really breaks my heart to see her like this - I wanted to get her siblings so she'd have other kitties to play with but that hasn't been the case.
First-time cat mommy here. Would really appreciate your guidance!
Christine
I adopted two kittens (8-week old) in late November 2025 and introduced the kittens by following the typical protocol for cat introduction to my resident cat (around 2yo). There were hiccups in their interactions (mainly aggression from my resident cat) with moments of peace where the resident cat would groom the little ones...but lately, the resident cat's behavior (and mood) had dropped in her BEAM. She consistently hisses, growls and paws at the kittens, unprovoked. Now that she's aggressive towards me also.
She is very vocal with her frustration. For example, she is always looking over her shoulder when eating (in a separate room, door closed) to see if the kittens were nearby. She's skittish....when she senses that the kittens are nearby when she's eating, she would stop eating and growls (vocal) while walking away from her food. She was on 3 meals per day (each meal 1oz of SmallBatch raw slider), now only 2 meals per day. She doesn't play as much, even when I try to play with her away from the kittens.
I have tried flower essences by Jackson's Galaxy (Welcoming Change, Stress Stopper, Peacemaker, Bully Solution, Self Esteem...) but they don't seem to be helping. I mixed all of them in a spray bottle and spray every where in the house. Is there anything else I should try? I am considering working with an animal communicator for her behavioral and mood issues. It really breaks my heart to see her like this - I wanted to get her siblings so she'd have other kitties to play with but that hasn't been the case.
First-time cat mommy here. Would really appreciate your guidance!
Christine
