We finally got to bring our 3 1/2 month old shadded silver Maine Coon boy home yesterday to live with us. We already had a room fixed up with bed, scratching post, cat box and toys to keep him in for a few days until he got used to being without his mother and brothers and sisters.

When we got home with him we just set the cat carrier down in his room and left him alone to explore. Then my husband and I would go in every fifteen or twenty minutes to talk to Shadow (full name is Silver Shadow like the Rolls Royce. A Maine Coon is the Rolls Royce of cats) and hold him, trying to make him feel comfortable and secure.

I guess I was being a little anxious and carried him out of the room to show him to Shiloh (our 3 year old boarder collie). The kitten freaked and growled and tried to run. I took him back to his room and he shook for almost an hour. I held and talked to him and he finally calmed down but now he won't come out of his room. I've had the dog outside all day and have left Shadow's door open but he still will not come out. I realize I should probably have waited a few days until he became accustomed to his new environment before introducing him to Shiloh.

Anyone have any suggestions on how to reintroduce the kitten and the dog after being tramatized? He did act a little better today as far as playing but he will only eat a few bites of food and I haven't seen him drink any water. I've taken him to the water dish and jiggled the water but, he only looks at it and tentively tried to touch it with his BIG paw. I have a feeling I'll have to get out the eyedroper and get some water into him. That will probably tramatize him even more and I already feel guilty about what I did by letting him see Shiloh so soon.

Any suggestions on how I can undo the damage? How can I make him feel secure when I may have to force feed him. He has a whole buffet in his room i.e. Iams and Science Diet crunchies, Fancy Feast chicken and a dish of cottage cheese. Everything the breeder said she gave them. A variety so the kittens wouldn't be finicky eaters. She told us he was a good eater. He's 5 1/2 lbs. at 3 1/2 months. He has nice large ears and big paws. I hope he grows into them.

I'm not new to the Maine Coon breed. We had a cream Tabby Maine Coon for twelve years (Sundance) who died of kidney failure last Memorial Day. I knew I had to have another Maine Coon and that I wanted a Silver. I found the breeder on the internet who had the father of Sundance twelve years ago. She now specializes in silvers and that's what I had my mind set on. Lucky find...I just hope I haven't put him into permanent shock.

Sorry to go on so long but NOT. I could talk all day about Sundance. They say Maine Coons are a cat that acts more like a dog. I found Sundance to be a CAT (independent)with a little dog (devoted and sociable, always wanting to be with us) and part monkey (playing games and jumping on my back when I brush my teeth in the a.m. (18 lbs.)as well as pulling my wrap-around towel off when I got out of the shower. He'd always wait until I had my hands in water at the kitchen sink then reach up and hook his claws in the towel and pull it down around my ankles and run. I swear I could see him laugh. I know he thought this was really funny. It was because I never really expected it and I would yell and start laughing). That was my monkey Sundance but, I think my husband put him up to it. Actually, now that I think of it, they were both laughing.

Please help with our problem. Any suggestions are welcome. Anyone with a similar problem, please advise.

Linda

-- Anonymous, August 07, 1999

Answers

Sorry to hear that your kitty has had this bad experience with the dog. I am afraid it WAS a mistake to carry the cat in to meet the dog and the result was virtually 100% predictable. However, there is no point in continuing to beat yourself up about it....we all do kinda dumb things from time to time! The main thing now is to concentrate on making your new cat feel at home. Leave him in his room with lots of toys, food, fresh water, and, I suggest, leave a radio or TV on all the time so he gets used to a variety of noise. Spend as much time with him as you can....not necessarily "forcing" him to sit on your lap but just BE there for him, playing gently and talking to him. Also, remember that at the moment the cat can smell the dog on YOU so he may be reluctant to be with you. Let the animals smell each other under the closed door and they will get used to each other's smell. Even after you do let them meet again (and NEVER do this when you are holding a cat.....let them walk up to each other naturally), the cat will be bound to hiss and run away. Do you have any "cat trees" for him to run up? He will need to feel there are some places in the house where the dog cannot reach him so before they meet again, let the cat wander all over the house ALONE (keep the dog separate from him for several days until the cat has found everything in the home and put his own smell on it and been able to check it out for "escape routes"!). He will need to feel comfortable in every room before the dog reappears. Now, having said all this, it may take a long time for the cat to accept the dog or, I am afraid, they may never be friends. Trauma does tend to stay a long time and the cat may always avoid the dog and run away from it. As long as the cat always has areas to run to to escape, he will feel more secure. One day you may see them playing together! The big message here is to let time solve as much of the problem as possible and be patient with trying any further "introductions". Good luck.

-- Anonymous, August 10, 1999