need help regarding introducing new cat to single cat at home

[Jinglebellsarenearlyhere]

So old cat is totally scared of new cat. We have done all the introduction things properly, kept them in separate rooms, introduced smells, made new cat smell of home etc etc. New cat is a rescue cat, 3ish year old tom cat. Old cat is about 4years old and female. New cat is completely not fussed and not aggressive towards old cat but old cat just flees outside and refuses to come back in the house.

What can I do to help old cat stop being such a scardy cat?

[Fluffycloudland77]

She's sulking with you. The weathers getting colder so the length of time she can spend outside sulking with you should go down.

[Jinglebellsarenearlyhere]

I do hope so Fluffy, how many days do you think I should wait until I get really worried. Last night she stayed out in a rain storm, very unlike her. In the end we put new cat in the spare room with the door shut where he did his settling in. The old cat came in and slept the night on our bed as usual but we did have to coax her in.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Ooh I think you're going to have to grovel. No staying out nonsense though, she needs to be in overnight for safety not doing a Greta Garbo in the garden.

Their not fighting, that's the main thing. How long it takes is up to her, possibly when she realises new cat is not going anywhere.

[Jinglebellsarenearlyhere]

okay i will get grovelling and find the tuna steaks. bloody cats more trouble than humans!

[Fluffycloudland77]

Run out of caviar then?.

[MedusaIsHavingaBadHairday]

Just been through this here... new kittens, older cat sulking in the garden for a month! She was TERRIFIED of the new kittens despite proper introductions...

However 7 weeks in, things are improving. Due to bribes of fresh chicken, tuna and dreamies she started coming in again , lots of hissing and a bit of slapping, and she now will come in for food, sleep upstairs and I have left all three inside all day with no bloodshed.

It takes time...

[Jinglebellsarenearlyhere]

Thank you medusa. It's really getting me down but now I have hope!

[RubbishMantra]

It took my (very neurotic) adult boy a few months to get used to the kitten. Now they're thick as thieves. I found them actually curled up snoozing the other day, and MCat grooms MKitten. Sometimes the play-fights look very violent though...