My family has a tabby cat (female) who has been with us for 12 years. She has not lived with any other cats before, not even any dogs. I think she has some mental issues to be honest. She's afraid of anyone that she's never met before and is very timid amongst new things in the house. She does not let us hold her and she's not terribly affectionate but we love her. She likes the family and interacts with us often.
2 days ago my Mom found a stray around the house, a young orange tabby (male), about a year old, who is probably a farm cat. We live in the country. She wants to keep him, he's very affectionate and looks like he really needs a home and a family to love him.
The old cat, despite not meeting him yet, is pissed however. She can smell the new cat on us and will not let her guard down around us. She's now constantly growling at the family and is unfriendlier than ever...and we haven't even introduced the new cat yet.
It doesn't seem to me like this arrangement is going to work but the family has grown attached to the new cat. If we can't take him then he'll have to go to the SPCA. I'd hate to see that. There's a lot of strays here that never get a good home.
Does anyone have any advice that could help me?
2 days ago my Mom found a stray around the house, a young orange tabby (male), about a year old, who is probably a farm cat. We live in the country. She wants to keep him, he's very affectionate and looks like he really needs a home and a family to love him.
The old cat, despite not meeting him yet, is pissed however. She can smell the new cat on us and will not let her guard down around us. She's now constantly growling at the family and is unfriendlier than ever...and we haven't even introduced the new cat yet.
It doesn't seem to me like this arrangement is going to work but the family has grown attached to the new cat. If we can't take him then he'll have to go to the SPCA. I'd hate to see that. There's a lot of strays here that never get a good home.
Does anyone have any advice that could help me?