Last October I noticed a little black cat kept showing up outside. I spotted her several times but she dashed away. In a few days I was able to gain her trust - and she instantly turned into a cat anyone would adore. I don't think she was ever truly a 'stray' but was likely just dumped. She is friendly towards all people, loves to play, sleeps like rock in your lap. She followed me around the house for attention; always on my heels, clamoring for attention. For these reasons we decided we to go ahead and adopt her as one of our family ~ enter Olivia.
At this time the cat family already consisted of another female cat: Lily, and two male cats, Pip and Finn. Pip and Finn immediately took a liking to Olivia - and she returned their love. The three of them get along smashingly. Lily, however wanted nothing what-so-ever to do with Olivia. The very sight of her inspired a venomous growl. Of course we figured that this would pass with time - or it wouldn't, but either way, as long as the two cats remained civil and seperate - there would be no problem.
The problems began about a month later - when Olivia - now quite established in her new home, began to become very aggressive towards Lily. Though Lily avoided her at all costs, Olivia would seek her out where ever she was in the house, all her favorite napping spots, etc - and initiate battle. I think the only time she didn't pursue Lily was when we were home, upon which Olivia dominated all of our attention - causing Lily to recoil into hiding. Lily would not even enter the same room that we were in if Olivia was present there.
Notwithstanding, we were dilligent about riding this behavior out. We sprayed water on Olivia when she attacked Lily in front of us - and she quickly understood that when we were around, if she was caught doing this - she'd be in trouble. I've no misgivings about that - she knew this was not acceptable behavior. However - I'm certain that when we weren't around - she made Lily's life miserable. Still, I thought that it would only be a matter of time. I've had cats that didn't get along well before - and eventually they learned to mutually exist in the same household - it only took them staying out of each other's way which they always seemed to do.
However - as time went on things got worse, not better. It was now clear to me that much of the work day when we were gone - Olivia would position herself in a location of the house where she could pounce on Lily whenever possible. (It was difficult for her to break away from this habit on weekends, when we were home.) She'd sit in the window - spot Lily in the yard outside (they are indoor/outdoor cats) and then go sneak up on her to attack. Or wait for her to come in the cat door and then pounce. These were not battles for the most part - but simply Olivia tackling Lily and Lily fighting to get away - often a lengthly pursuit as well.
The past month - Lily refused to come in the cat door to enter the house anymore. She literally waited until one of us got home and opened the door and she would run to us to escort her inside. Once inside - her home was on top of the kitchen cupboards - where she ate and drank; too afraid to come down. I honestly have no idea if she ever used the indoor litter box anymore.
Last Sunday after spending a majority of the very nice day on top of the cupboards, Lily ventured out. I walked out with her to make sure the coast was clear and I did not see Olivia - so I assumed everything was fine. I didn't get two steps inside the door and I heard them fighting - Lily had been ambushed again. There was literally fur flying across the yard in the breeze - and when Lily took off she ran straight out into the road. Had a car been coming that would have been the end of her. When I got her back inside - tufts of fur were still falling off of her.
We then made the decision that as much as we loved her it was time to remove Olivia from our home. As difficult as this decision was to make - we saw no other solution. Lily's life was already a fraction of what it had been before. It was not a proper environment for her - before Olivia came, Lily was the princess of the house. She was now in fear every moment she was inside - and even outside would have to get far away from the house to achieve any peace. (Which means she would be in someone else's yard.) We have tried to deal with this issue for 6 months now, hoping the two of them would adjust over time. It was not to be.
So to summarize: I feel like I've really failed both cats. I took Olivia to a good shelter on Monday - but **** - I am so down about it. On the other hand - I have to think of Lily and providing her a safe and loving home too. I can only hope that because Olivia is so great with people that someone will adopt her soon. She really is an awesome cat except for her aggressive behavior towards Lily. She got along so well with the two boys - it's so sad. I miss her something awful - but I also cannot sit by and watch Lily retreat into a shell of the cat that she was. I was afraid that one of these days Lily just wouldn't come home at all.
Did I do the right thing? Is there something else I could have tried? Has anyone been in a similar situation?
Sorry this is so long.
At this time the cat family already consisted of another female cat: Lily, and two male cats, Pip and Finn. Pip and Finn immediately took a liking to Olivia - and she returned their love. The three of them get along smashingly. Lily, however wanted nothing what-so-ever to do with Olivia. The very sight of her inspired a venomous growl. Of course we figured that this would pass with time - or it wouldn't, but either way, as long as the two cats remained civil and seperate - there would be no problem.
The problems began about a month later - when Olivia - now quite established in her new home, began to become very aggressive towards Lily. Though Lily avoided her at all costs, Olivia would seek her out where ever she was in the house, all her favorite napping spots, etc - and initiate battle. I think the only time she didn't pursue Lily was when we were home, upon which Olivia dominated all of our attention - causing Lily to recoil into hiding. Lily would not even enter the same room that we were in if Olivia was present there.
Notwithstanding, we were dilligent about riding this behavior out. We sprayed water on Olivia when she attacked Lily in front of us - and she quickly understood that when we were around, if she was caught doing this - she'd be in trouble. I've no misgivings about that - she knew this was not acceptable behavior. However - I'm certain that when we weren't around - she made Lily's life miserable. Still, I thought that it would only be a matter of time. I've had cats that didn't get along well before - and eventually they learned to mutually exist in the same household - it only took them staying out of each other's way which they always seemed to do.
However - as time went on things got worse, not better. It was now clear to me that much of the work day when we were gone - Olivia would position herself in a location of the house where she could pounce on Lily whenever possible. (It was difficult for her to break away from this habit on weekends, when we were home.) She'd sit in the window - spot Lily in the yard outside (they are indoor/outdoor cats) and then go sneak up on her to attack. Or wait for her to come in the cat door and then pounce. These were not battles for the most part - but simply Olivia tackling Lily and Lily fighting to get away - often a lengthly pursuit as well.
The past month - Lily refused to come in the cat door to enter the house anymore. She literally waited until one of us got home and opened the door and she would run to us to escort her inside. Once inside - her home was on top of the kitchen cupboards - where she ate and drank; too afraid to come down. I honestly have no idea if she ever used the indoor litter box anymore.
Last Sunday after spending a majority of the very nice day on top of the cupboards, Lily ventured out. I walked out with her to make sure the coast was clear and I did not see Olivia - so I assumed everything was fine. I didn't get two steps inside the door and I heard them fighting - Lily had been ambushed again. There was literally fur flying across the yard in the breeze - and when Lily took off she ran straight out into the road. Had a car been coming that would have been the end of her. When I got her back inside - tufts of fur were still falling off of her.
We then made the decision that as much as we loved her it was time to remove Olivia from our home. As difficult as this decision was to make - we saw no other solution. Lily's life was already a fraction of what it had been before. It was not a proper environment for her - before Olivia came, Lily was the princess of the house. She was now in fear every moment she was inside - and even outside would have to get far away from the house to achieve any peace. (Which means she would be in someone else's yard.) We have tried to deal with this issue for 6 months now, hoping the two of them would adjust over time. It was not to be.
So to summarize: I feel like I've really failed both cats. I took Olivia to a good shelter on Monday - but **** - I am so down about it. On the other hand - I have to think of Lily and providing her a safe and loving home too. I can only hope that because Olivia is so great with people that someone will adopt her soon. She really is an awesome cat except for her aggressive behavior towards Lily. She got along so well with the two boys - it's so sad. I miss her something awful - but I also cannot sit by and watch Lily retreat into a shell of the cat that she was. I was afraid that one of these days Lily just wouldn't come home at all.
Did I do the right thing? Is there something else I could have tried? Has anyone been in a similar situation?
Sorry this is so long.