Introductions to new cat - am I expecting too much?

[WonderOnTheUp]

Hello! 2 weeks ago I adopted another cat after my oldest cat died last year.

It’s been about 8 years since I last managed the introduction stage and I don’t remember it being this hard?!

New cat currently lives in spare room where I work during the day. She is around 8 and has previously lived with dogs and fine with other cats (at least that’s what I was told!)

Two weeks on and after an initial explore of the house new cat now rarely leaves her room. I have been transferring blankets between them so they get used to the scent. My two dogs want to be her best friend and I’m allowing them to see her from a distance but she hisses and growls. Her reaction to my other cat is worse, even the sight of her causes new cat to hiss and growl.

Am I expecting too much too soon? Or is she unlikely to settle with my gang? Any advice or success stories very much appreciated!

I’m fully prepared that this may not work out (I would hate for her to feel stressed in our home as she’s so friendly with people that she may be better off as an only cat rather than a multi pet household) but I don’t want to give up too soon either.

If I understand, she hisses & growls but doesn't try to attack. She's content enough staying in her own space if they aren't in it. She's unhappy at visuals but no one is forcing selves into her space.

So that's really good, you've done alright. Still give it time.

Thanks @lljkk. She does stay still and I provide a physical barrier between her and the existing gang. At the moment I’m just allowing one dog and the cat to have a visit (bit like social distancing visits ) then I leave her with some dreamies and close the door so she knows that her space is safe again.

She hasn’t tried to scratch them, just watches from a space space or occasionally from under the bed (where she has claimed a suitcases as one of her beds!)

It must be such an upheaval for her moving to the rescue then a new home with all new smells. The others can’t make sense of it as they are used to all curling up together in one big pile! In response to a growl, my eldest dog gave a lovely play bow to show he wants to be friends but that obviously doesn’t translate to cat language so I just created more space between them again for a short while. I’ve had lots of cats over the last 20 years and they have all got on to varying levels and I was starting to lose some confidence. Thank you for your encouragement.

I wonder if more visuals but in a way that means they can't have physical contact -- like if you had a stair gate and actual door was left open, then new cat could see/hear/smell the rest of household doing their things but no one gets too close to new cat. A little more regular exposure might be helpful.

That’s a really good suggestion @lljkk. I think I’ve approached it from the view that I was giving her a break from her stressors but perhaps I’ve got it wrong and maybe more exposure from a distance would be helpful. I’ve just ordered a tall stair gate to collect later so I’ll try that. I’ve also put the feliway plug in nearby, still not convinced it’ll help but figured it couldn’t hurt either.

At night the others sleep in the kitchen so I’ve been leaving her door open so she can explore safely and quietly but she would prefer to stay in her room and only occasionally coming out to wander upstairs. It all takes time I guess! Would love her to feel more comfortable around us soon

Update in a week or 2 how it's going?

You can pay the photo tax then! :)

Will do! Here’s a pic for now

🐈 🐈 Queen of all she Surveys.... 🐈 🐈

🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛ Black cat emoji, Even better !! 🐈‍⬛ 🐈‍⬛

ah, except it didn't work, pah that.

Hi, we are a week on and I thought I’d share a little update. With the stair gate now in situ, I’ve been allowing the others to come closer so she can see them more. She is still wary of the dogs but I think there are signs of thawing. However, with my other cat there have been no signs at all. Even tonight new cat started growing at my other cat. I have tried feeding treats either side of the gates at a big distance but she’d rather glare from under her bed. It doesn’t seem to be getting better

It’s a long slow process and you know how sensitive cats are.