#slowcatintro — Public Fediverse posts

@VCP Just to encourage you: when we did our #slowCatIntro for these two in 2018, the first time the small cat was in the room with the newcomer, she was so tense that when I touched her she jumped a foot in the air, let out a big yowl and ran away.

They've been sleeping next to each other for years now. You might have seen my pictures; here's the most recent, from January 15. I've seen them snuggling since then, but I figured you'd all get bored if I posted every time I saw it!

Lookit us! We're warily sharing space together in the sewing room! Of course, mom staff is trapped here to supervise... #SlowCatIntro 8 months in #TabbyCat #Stevie #TuxieGirl #Betty

#SlowCatIntro 8 months in and this is how our 🥶Winter-Day-Closed-Catio- is going at the moment. Supervision must be maintained so #CatMom is limited in today's To-Do-List. A step forward on the continuing saga 🙄 of #TuxieGirl #Betty learning not to bully resident #TabbyCat #Stevie

#TabbyCat #Stebie & #TuxieGirl #Betty
💥Together💥 sharing space. 🤯😁🤯😁🤯 #CatsOfMastodon While the #SlowCatIntro is most likely over, the journey continues as they learn to share space. Hopefully, if they can't be the perfect Best Buds I hoped for, they can coexist peacefully. ☮️✌️

#TabbyCat 🐈#Stevie & #TuxieGirl 🐈‍⬛#Betty experienced a
💥MAJOR BREAK THROUGH💥 today & are sharing space for the 1st time without barriers or injuries! 😸Our family would like to THANK ALL our #CatsOfMastodon frenses for helping us get
TOGETHER during this #SlowCatIntro.The journey continues we will post photos. We love you all!

We've had a major break through on this EXHAUSTING #SlowCatIntro. #TabbyCat #Stevie & 🐈#TuxieGirl #Betty 🐈‍⬛ have been FINALLY sharing the open space of the house w/out a barrier. Betty did VERY well, Stevie was understandably hissy and low level growly, but NO BLOOD & NO CHASING! 😸😃😃 #CatsOfMastodon. No photos cuz staff needed both hands to keep them safe. #Catio flap will remain open in both directions except at night.

#Caturday #TuxieCat #Betty I'm pooped out! Lots of sessions today for me and #TabbyCat #Stevie learning to live without barriers. Stevie got to be inside the big carrier while, I hunted for treats on the #Cat #GymWall He growled at me as I ran past him, but I didn't react. We worked 🐈‍⬛🐈together for about 8 minutes. Afterwards, we got ham treats, in our separate rooms.#SlowCatIntro #CatsOfMastodon

#TuxieGirl #Betty 🐈‍⬛ STILL doing #SlowCatIntro heading in to Week 13 😼Staff is very fed up with this process. Last night's desensitization session in my carrier in the bedroom w/ #TabbyCat #Stevie & dad was... unfair. Why #Stevie gotta be all over sensitive n stuff? He hissed at me! THEN, Stevie got🍖ham! Mom says, "Late night food riles you up" . WTDuck!? 🦆 So I got hugs ❤️#CatsOfMastodon

#SlowCatIntro going on week 13. Humans are definitely fatigued. Last night's bedroom desensitization session went fairly well. #TuxieGirl #Betty🐈‍⬛was pretty calm. I only hissed a little bit. After a few minutes dad took her away, and I got ham treats! 😻 Later we'll do the same on the #Catio. We're both taking calming drops. One week of this & then it's on to reopening the Catio cat flap to facilitate free range capability... 🤞#CatsOfMastodon #TabbyCat #Stevie

Tonight it seems cat mom staff says it's time for me to learn that #Betty will indeed be allowed to come into the bedroom at night. Even with me sleeping next to dad. Even if I don't like it. Tonight #Betty n me will be occupying space in the bedroom together. She'll be in her carrier, while dad explains that this is gonna be " fun". One big happy family, right. Hmph. At least there will be ham. #SlowCatIntro #TabbyCat #Stevie #CatsOfMastodon

#Caturday #SlowCatIntro
#TabbyTude #TabbyCat #Stevie Yeah, maybe NOT! 😸 *sigh* #TuxieGirl #Betty Please comment below if you have thoughts about how this is going...

#TabbyCat 🐈#Stevie & #TuxieGirl
#Betty 🐈‍⬛participating in a "I'll show you I can be trusted" session for the first time together in their #Catio. Went pretty well. Stevie gave her a low level warning growl while she remained calm. Session was about 10 minutes. Success feels good. 😺😺#SlowCatIntro Feels like Week 100 😱 #CatsOfMastodon

The #Heat Wave in the Midwest continues all week. Too hot for cats to be outside all day so conditions are mimicking winter conditions in that these 2 frenemies are going to be together inside for at least 12 hours. Pressure to establish mutual trust is increasing. *SIGH* This #SlowCatIntro is wearing us down. #TuxieGirl #Betty #TabbyCat #Stevie #CatsOfMastodon

#SlowCatIntro Week 12 🙄 Mom staff put me in my carrier after breakfast out the open area of the house. Stevie was up high. He he jumped down to my level,
S L O W L Y walked within 2 1/2 feet of me, gave some warning growls & hisses."This is my house. behave n mind your manners!" Then he S L O W L Y walked away toward the Catio door, Not much fluff, and picking up his legs as he went. I was quiet.Thoughts? Successful encounter? #CatsOfMastodon #StevieTheCat #TuxieGirl #Betty

#Today at lunch #Betty came to the screen door to my room. She was looking at me. Sitting all loaf 🍞 like n stuff, but lookin' at me. I gave her a low growl and a good hiss. She still sat there. In fact she slowly put a paw on the screen. So I growled even louder and hissed again. She very slowly slunk away. I think she got my message 😼. #CatsOfMastodon #SlowCatIntro #StevieTheCat

Week freaking TEN of #SlowCatIntro for #TuxieGirl #Betty. This is day 3 of sessions at the screen door. Zero reaction from Betty, an acceptable low level of growling n hissing from Stevie beyond the door. He's up on the bed watching. This is post play n treat sessions. When 2 humans are home we work both cats at the same time. But alone, I can only do one cat at a time. #CatsOfMastodon #Stevie and #Betty

According to Cats.com Tuxies have ..."been known to get along well with other pets" . Ummm, NO! Not OUR #Betty! We are heading into week 10 of her #SlowCatIntro and while there has been progress, it's been at less than a snail's pace! She accepted me, but is still struggling to recognize Stevie as a fren. And we're ALL so fatigued and exhausted by this process. #DaisyDoo #SlowCatIntro

After a treat, play, clicker training, viewing session with #Betty, I'm kinda tired. She got a little rude at the screen door and threw herself a bit hard, so I gave her a GOOD hissing off! But I held my position 😼and didn't run away or hide. Mom gave me ham! 😻Said I was a brave boi. 🐈#SundayScreamies #SlowCatIntro #TabbyTude
#CatsOfMastodon🐈‍⬛🐈

#SlowCatIntro The new temporary screen door has been installed for #Stevie, with #Betty on the other side. After testing for strength, clicker training, treats for being calm, and play opportunities were offered for both. First attempt went very well. Did 3 one min sessions. Then both cats rested a bit before Betty walked away & went to her sanctuary room while Stevie roamed the house. #CatsOfMastodon #Stevie #Betty

#Caturday My #CatdDaddy switched the temp door out for a VERY strong screen. This is a test run. LickiMat with Churu on it to see if I can pop the door open... Nope. Now Stevie can be on the inside getting a *Click* + a ham treat from dad, I will get the same from mom on the other side. Plus toys. But I'm not really into toys. 🤞
#TuxieGirl #Betty #SlowCatIntro

On this #Caturday as we begin our TENTH WEEK of cat intro, dad butler is doing more DIY & switching the temporary door from the hall to Stevie's so called sanctuary room. Staff hopes to increase the exposure of #Stevie n #Betty with this screen barrier and counter conditioning with high value ham treats n play opportunities. 🤞May the gods and The Force be with us. #SlowCatIntro #CatsOfMastod #TuxedoCat #TabbyCat

#Sunday Dad, why are you carrying that intruder #Betty into my living room? #Cats #TabbyTude #CatsOfMastodon #SlowCatIntro

I see you Stevie! I'm ready to meet you. I know I can be kinda EXTRA but I'll learn from you. ♥️ #TuxieGirl #Betty #Caturday #SlowCatIntro

#SlowCatIntro #Stevie & #Betty Stevie can't smell #Betty outside the window, and Betty can't see or smell him. He seems fine until she starts pawing the window. He reacts the same way at the indoor Plexi Sniff N See window. Thoughts about how this may or may not help bring them together? #CatsOfMastodon #Cats #StevieTheCat #TuxieGirl #Betty

Stevie! I see you ❤️🐈out there! I'm ready to meet you. I know I was mean to you when I first arrived 9 weeks ago, but I want to learn to share space now. ♥️🐈‍⬛ #SlowCatIntro #TuxieGirl #Betty #CatsOfMastodon #Cats #TuxedoCat

Week 8 #SlowCatIntro #Betty is on my #Catio 😠 NOT happy about it. Even though mom butler gives me ham treats when I see her at the window. I hiss at her. #StevieTheCat #CatsOfMastodon

#SlowCatIntro Week 8 The view blocker to the #Catio is coming down. I can see Stevie playing and when it's my turn for Catio time he'll get able to see me. 😬 Hopefully there will be no fluffage, hissing, or flat ears... #CatsOfMastodon

Quiet far away thoughts on my #Catio. Time to relax. Time to smell the catnip in the garden. Time to stalk squirrels 🐿️, bugs, birds... and plot the destruction of #TuxieGirl #Betty 🐈‍⬛ who I can smell was just up here. 😾#SlowCatIntro end of week 7. #Cats #CatsTodon #Stevie #CatsOfMastodon

I was super restrained and measured tonight at the Sniff N See window for dinner tonight. I only hissed once at #TuxieGirl #Betty while she ate her food. But I don't like to hang out after I'm finished eating. She just screams at the window for more food and paws it trying to get out. Why can't she just chill? #SlowCatIntro #TabbyCat #Stevie #CatsOfMastodon #CatsTodon

Two meals #Today at the Sniff N See window without incident. Although I did give one low growl at #Betty who was yelling at the window for more food. #ClassicTabby #Stevie #SlowCatIntro#CatsOfMastodon

We had a successful first session at the Sniff N See window! Dad sat with me in the hall with the "curtain" raised just a smidge and gave me a squeeze up treat, while Betty n mom did the same on the other side of the window so there was about 10 feet between us. I saw her n gave her a curt hiss to remind her to BE NICE! No other drama. Then dad played with me n Betty went to the Catio. 😸 Yay! I won! #SlowCatIntro #StevieTheCat #ClassicTabby #CatsTodon #CatsOfMastodon #Sunday

The Sniff N See window has been installed and the next step in the #SlowCatIntro begins here at #OurHouse. It's the begining of week 7. #Betty is an adorable bundle but she packs a good punch. The furry of her disdainful disapproval of me crushed and broke my heart 😿💔 when she chased n swatted me several weeks ago. We're ALL taking calming drops as we embark on this mission. #StevieTheCat #CatsTodon #Sunday #CatsOfMastodon

#SlowCatIntro idea 😺. Window with reinforced screening #LickiMat n squeeze up treat. ##TuxiGirl #Betty #StevieTheCat #CatsOfMastodon #CounterConditioning 🐈 Yes, this is better than her tearing up the shade/window coverings.

#SlowCatIntro Week 3 Update. I'm working with mom.🐈‍⬛I'm #ClickerTraining her to learn some manners and self control. Here, I'm demonstrating how to sit on a chair, then jump to the counter, then back to the chair, down to the floor, and back up to the chair. She's kinda slow 😼 #BettyTheTuxi

#SlowCatIntro
Day 10 Update
*Sigh* It's hard work teaching Betty how to share space. She's mostly interested in DEFENDING space because she's inexperienced and a bit afraid of #Dogs. So, #MamaAndMe have been desensitizing her by showing her up high places to be while I'm moving in the "understory" of the house space. I'm having better days lately. No hissing or attacking. #SheltieLife #DogsOfMastodon #SundayMood