update on Nobby/Moriarty and a spot of advice needed please

[Gatekeeper]

linky here

a month on and Nobby (we can't get used to Moriarty) is still hanging around having 10000 meals a day. Our cat Sherlock is outraged at him but is becoming a bit more used to him. Nobby is entirely submissive and won't get involved in any staring or fighting/hissing or whatever

A couple of weeks ago I started trying to stroke him and after a couple of flinches at first he loves the attention, going up on his hindlegs so I can stroke his head. He has become more and more friendly and has started chirruping and doing sweet little meows and purrs. Sherlock doesn't meow- just does a gutteral, rough 'Wah"

Everytime we open the door now he nips in quick and last night he was on my knee, cuddling in like a baby and dribbling and purring. Ditto this morning on my daughter's knee

He is lovely- so sweet and very, very affectionate and we really want to have him in the house (I've wormed and de-fleaed him) but concerned over our lad. He is getting used to him and doesn't bash him every single time but you can see he is narked but he is a narky middle aged grump

Anyone have any tips please to help the situation along ; thank you

[cozietoesie]

I do see.

Maybe you've cracked it then - with help from some Zylkene, prawns and TLC. Seniorboy left no doubt in anyone's mind how he felt about The Lodger and he'd never have sat so close to him.

(Except, perhaps, to view the effects of some poison with more immediacy!)

[Gatekeeper]

..and he's back to being called Nobby as you can see

[Gatekeeper]

or like Father Dougal!!

[Gatekeeper]

I am touching everything wood but... not spraying as yet

Sherlock is having a capsule of of Zylkene everyday on some prawns..LOTS of extra fuss and he makes sure he sits up high when Nobbs is wandering around the house

He still grumbles at him but walks on by...Nobby just looks daft like the dog in Garfield

[cozietoesie]

That looks a great deal better.

Has there been any protest spraying?

[Fluffycloudland77]

In mine that would mean "I am not happy & the only reason I'm not beating you up is because she's taking pictures".

How are they getting on now?.

[Gatekeeper]

his ears are always down- he's got a flat head and they just lie like that!

[Fluffycloudland77]

That looks pretty good. Sherlocks ears are down though, he's not giving it up yet.

[Tinkfromlovejoy]

We've been through similar. After 6 months of dogged perseverance they stopped, hissing, fighting and generally being irritated by each other. After a year they would occasionally squabble but would generally tolerate each other. Now, 18 months on they still won't share a sofa and we don't feed them together but when one has been off out on an adventure the other will sniff them all over and chatter at them on their return. We've also noticed an occasional bit of head licking when they think we're not looking.
Perseverance is key, I think you need to give them 6 months minimum unless something major happens (like the incumbent disappearing for days etc).
And Feliway, that worked a treat for us

[Gatekeeper]

Sherlock still narky but ever-so-slightly better

[Gatekeeper]

Thank you both, lots of great advice . Will see how the next few days pan out and make a decision. Monty might have to be an outdoor cat with heated pad or I might have to try and get him the home he deserves. Sherlock is no where to be seen at the minute and I feel a bit anxious about him

[cozietoesie]

If it!s a consolation, there's no reason why they shouldn't be happy campers when apart - if it comes to that. You've given Monty a great start and I know that The Lodger is currently having a great life. (He and Seniorboy couldn't live together because Seniorboy detests and despises The Lodger and things were worsening rather than improving.)

[Fluffycloudland77]

It's so hard, I'd love another cat but this ones an only cat.

Could you keep Sherlock in & start the process over?

[Gatekeeper]

Still waiting for the zylkene to be delivered. Fluffy not as slow as we'd liked but have kept them apart, in diff rooms for the majority of time. I swapped their sleeping sheepskin around so they got a whiff of each other

[Fluffycloudland77]

Did you do the slow introduction? You could always try a back to basics approach & see how he reacts.

Is he on zylkene?.

[Gatekeeper]

He can be a grumpy sod but he's our grumpy sod.

[Gatekeeper]

We saw him on outskirts of village and he hasn't wandered since we got him last year. He's either asleep on my daughters bed or on his sheepskin or in front of the fire if lit. Furthest he goes is on the outside mat or on top of the woodstore.
I don't want him leaving home like he did with previous owner

[cozietoesie]

Achh. There are some cats, right enough, who just don't like other cats. (I have one at the moment.)

Is he going anywhere in particular when he wanders off do you know?

[Gatekeeper]

Not been great the last couple of days, Sherlock is refusing to come inside and is wandering. This is how we came to have him as he didn't like living where he was with young children and other cats.
As much as I like Nobby/Monty I don't want him being here at the expense of Sherlock. Not sure what to do for the best

[cozietoesie]

X post. Already working on that then.

[cozietoesie]

I reckon that Monty being a submissive type, you can safely 'big up' Sherlock with some attention. Not saying that you should ignore Monty of course - just give Sherlock enough extra that it's clear to him that Monty isn't imperilling his position.

Extra games playing, for example, which would act as a distraction from bad thoughts.

[Gatekeeper]

we make lots of calm fuss of Sherlock, calling him our 'bestest boy' . One or two prawns etc and make sure he has a quiet place he can take himself off to

[Gatekeeper]

grumbley noises and long drawn out wails when he sees him, off his food a bit and fluffs himself up. Also does the slow ninja walk towards him staring and growling (although not quite as much) before turning round and walking away , again very slowly. He goes under the table and glares at him. No spraying (yet) thank God

[cozietoesie]

How is Sherlock demonstrating his narkiness?

[Gatekeeper]

he's lovely; settled right in and says 'good morning ' to me everyday

Sherlock narked to hell but am waiting on an order from Amazon for Zylkene and Feliway Friends plug in and some Calm Down cat treats and a Feliway spray !!!