Scary Mary has been living in my basement through the Winter. She would occasionally go outside during this time and be gone for up to 9 hours. I decided to have her retested for FIV /and the cat leukemia as well as for worms.
I did this to see If I could introduce her in with the house cats. She came back clean in all departments. It has been 9 months since I separated her from her kittens, Mickey, Patty and Betty, who have been upstairs in the house. So I started with them.
I brought Mickey to the open basement door to meet his mother. After the two stretched out nose to nose for about 10 seconds Mary hauled off and gave Mickey a wack on the side of the face, along with a hiss.
Tried the same with brother Patty. Mom took a swing and hissed at him but didn't connect. Betty was next and got a big hiss.
Mary outside on a short supervised outing. Her head is all dirty from rolling in the sand.
I have tried swapping cloths with cat scent on them. But that won't work because it's 10 house cat scents to one Mary scent. The other thing is to put her in a cage and let the other cats check her out. I have a hard time getting her in a pet carrier. But I will try this none the less.
What do you all think of this idea? Put all the adult cats in the closed Porch. Leave Mary's 3 kittens who are now just about full grown in the house. Then let Scary Mary into the house.
i would do this in early afternoon so Mary could be enticed with food back into the basement if things don't go well.
What do you think @simonjay and be free to add any advice. That goes for anyone else who has had experience introducing a cat to a multi-cat household.
Just to let you know Scary Mary is not Scary with me anymore. She is extremely affectionate, loves to get pet even on her belly. Trouble is she hasn't been exposed to other people but when she is, goes and hides.
I thought of taking her to a shelter, but she would be put in a cage because she can't get along with other cats. I have seen how these unsocial cats can be in cages for months and years. Would break my heart. If nothing works will keep things the way they are with Mary owning the basement.
