[Melina]

Hi Sara

Thank you for reaching out.

It sounds like you’ve taken the proper steps to introduce both cats. However, it’s important to remember that each cat is an individual, so we may need to try different approaches to help Lucy adjust emotionally to a new companion in the home.

A great way to move forward is by introducing clicker training.

Start by clicker training each cat to respond to the following cues: “Sit,” “Stay,” and “Go to a Mat.”

Once they are clicker trained, you can remove the gates by keeping Lucy occupied when Ricky is in the room. Engaging her with clicker training and teaching her stationing behavior (e.g., sitting on a mat) will minimize her need to fixate on Ricky since she will be busy devouring treats and getting brushed (if she enjoys it).

You can also train Lucy to wear a harness and leash indoors. This will allow you to remove the gate and introduce the cats to each other in a controlled manner.

During stressful events or cat-cat introductions, I also like to include Zoopharmacognosy https://www.instagram.com/petnurtureaus/reel/DO_4qQ3E2yO/dried using Valerian root and rosebuds. This may help relax the resident cat.

All of the above need to be done gradually. The most important things are using positive reinforcement, remaining calm and positive, and having short, consistent training sessions.

Please keep us posted on how things progress!

Sending love & healing

Melina

instagram.com

Pet Nurture on Instagram: "What is Zoopharmacognosy? “Zoopharmacognosy is a behaviour in which non-human animals self-medicate by selecting and ingesting or topically applying plants, soils and insects with medicinal properties, to prevent or reduce the harmful effects of pathogens, toxins, and even other animals. The term derives from Greek words zoon (“animal”), pharmacon (“drug, medicine”), and gnosis (“knowledge”).’” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoopharmacognosy 😻Why Is It So Important to Allow and Encourage Cats to Self-Select? Bringing nature’s pharmacy to your pets and allowing your cat to self-select and make choices provides a fantastic experience for both of you. We can bring many fresh and dried herbs into our homes to enrich our cats’ environment. With their innate ability, cats can smell the #herbs , inhale them, roll on them, and crush their aromatics. This provides value for our cats physically, emotionally, and mentally. 😻How to Encourage Cats to Self-Select? To promote #calmness and help ease your cat’s anxiety, prepare a medium-sized towel or blanket as seen in this photo and place the following herbs: valerian root and rosebuds. Observe your cat’s reactions and respect their choices regarding the chosen herbs and their #medicinal properties."

In this video, we explore the fascinating world of zoopharmacognosy, where cats use their natural instincts to select and apply medicinal plants and substances. We discuss the importance of allowing cats to self-select and provide tips on how to encourage … Continue reading