Socializing Help
HI! I have been living with my roommate for 8 months now and our cats are not friendly at all. My cat, Harriet is three years old and up until moving in with me here and my roommate lived with my friend and her terrier mix (I had some housing situations that wouldn't allow me to have her). My roommate's cat Annyong is two and has been in the apartment for over a year before Harriet and I moved in.
Socializing has been extremely difficult. They cannot be in the same room without fighting. My roommate is a very hands off pet owner and is rarely if ever home to help me and up until recently I didn't feel comfortable putting them together by myself.
Annyong is curious and wants to get to know Harriet. Harriet could not be more disinterested. She hisses and growls whenever they are in the same room. I've broken up several fights.
I purchased pheromone collars they have been wearing them for at least 4 days and their dispositions have not changed at all.
I am hoping to get any advice or input for this situation. Feel free to ask questions if you need any more information. Any insight would be greatly appreciated, the living situation is already tense without the cat conflict.
Posted Oct 11, 2016, 3:47 AM UTC
Do not force them to be together. For now, keep them in separate rooms. Feed them next to each other at the same time but with a door or gate between them. Switch their positions after a few days (annyong moves to your room, Harriet moves to the other but still separated) this will allow them to get used to each other's smell. Don't just throw them together and expect them to work things out.