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At night, Nick (who will be two in April) likes to sit in my lap while I'm at the computer or sitting in bed reading. When I've had to move him off in the past, he's always been cool about it, but since I've really started working with Tyson (the new kitty), he's started biting me when I attempt to move him. As A) I do not appreciate being bitten, and B) Nick is a very large (and strong) cat, this poses some problems, lol.
Tyson (approx. 7-9 months old) is being kept in a separate room for the time being. They have not been allowed out together yet as Nick does not particularly care for other cats, and Tyson is still easily stressed and seriously underweight. (He was a feral.) I let them see each other for very short periods of time every day while Tyson is in the cat playpen. Tyson gets fed something he likes before and after the visits, and Nick gets to eat kitten food (a big treat for him) out of my hand the entire time that we are in the room with his "brother". (I also make a big fuss over him and tell him what a good boy he is.. but the kitten food is clearly the winner, lol.) I figured this would help them make a positive association with each other. Nick hasn't hissed, growled, or acted aggressively towards Tyson for almost a week, but he is still acting strangely towards me. (Overly clingy, bites when I move him off my lap, scratches at the door when I am in the room with Tyson, has started swatting breakable (and preferably, expensive) things off shelves to see if they bounce, etc.)
Is this normal for a cat adjusting to a new cat around the house? (And, if so, is there anything I can do to make the process go a little smoother?) I hand-raised Nick from birth, and he has always been kind of possessive about his "mom".. I worried that this might be a problem if I ever decided to bring another cat into the mix.
I will be moving out in the next few weeks, and I figure that Nick (having grown up sharing a house with several people, his mother, four siblings, and a dog) will probably eventually be happy to have another cat around the house while I'm at school and work, and Tyson (being the only cat I've ever met that happens to be more submissive than Nick) seems like a good match. I also absolutely adore Tyson and would like to see him stay.
Tyson (approx. 7-9 months old) is being kept in a separate room for the time being. They have not been allowed out together yet as Nick does not particularly care for other cats, and Tyson is still easily stressed and seriously underweight. (He was a feral.) I let them see each other for very short periods of time every day while Tyson is in the cat playpen. Tyson gets fed something he likes before and after the visits, and Nick gets to eat kitten food (a big treat for him) out of my hand the entire time that we are in the room with his "brother". (I also make a big fuss over him and tell him what a good boy he is.. but the kitten food is clearly the winner, lol.) I figured this would help them make a positive association with each other. Nick hasn't hissed, growled, or acted aggressively towards Tyson for almost a week, but he is still acting strangely towards me. (Overly clingy, bites when I move him off my lap, scratches at the door when I am in the room with Tyson, has started swatting breakable (and preferably, expensive) things off shelves to see if they bounce, etc.)
Is this normal for a cat adjusting to a new cat around the house? (And, if so, is there anything I can do to make the process go a little smoother?) I hand-raised Nick from birth, and he has always been kind of possessive about his "mom".. I worried that this might be a problem if I ever decided to bring another cat into the mix.
I will be moving out in the next few weeks, and I figure that Nick (having grown up sharing a house with several people, his mother, four siblings, and a dog) will probably eventually be happy to have another cat around the house while I'm at school and work, and Tyson (being the only cat I've ever met that happens to be more submissive than Nick) seems like a good match. I also absolutely adore Tyson and would like to see him stay.