Hello,
I have attempted to bond my 1 year old speyed female and 4 month old neutered male. They've been living separately for a while now but i eventually decided to attempt to bond them this weekend. I've moved both their cages down to our living room (completely neutral area for both) and fenced off an area around both their cages with a puppy pen.
I let them out at the same time and sat with them but within a few seconds Minnie (the female) lunged at George and bit his neck. I know I shouldn't have but i kept picking George up (he's only small) to cuddle him then putting him back down. It really didn't work out because Minnie kept going for him. She was grunting and acting really aggressive so i put them back in separate cages immediately.
I left them downstairs over night so they could see each other all day/night and have tried again this evening. Minnie doesn't even come and sniff him out she just immediately lunges for his neck area. It's not just playfull fur pulling it looks like full on biting, to be honest I don't really give them much time before I pull George away because i'm worried Minnie will hurt him.
I probably should just leave them alone without sitting right next to them ready to pull one away but i'm too scared! how can you tell if its normal or if its full on aggression? should I just stick out the slow bonding method introducing them for a few minutes a night or should I wait for my large cage to be delivered and do the intense way? Obviously I can't leave them out together so I let them out separately in their enclosed area - do you think this will make things worse as they will both try to make it their territory?
Help i'm completely lost as to what I should/shouldn't be doing! It's driving me crazy! sorry for the long post....help appreciated!
I have attempted to bond my 1 year old speyed female and 4 month old neutered male. They've been living separately for a while now but i eventually decided to attempt to bond them this weekend. I've moved both their cages down to our living room (completely neutral area for both) and fenced off an area around both their cages with a puppy pen.
I let them out at the same time and sat with them but within a few seconds Minnie (the female) lunged at George and bit his neck. I know I shouldn't have but i kept picking George up (he's only small) to cuddle him then putting him back down. It really didn't work out because Minnie kept going for him. She was grunting and acting really aggressive so i put them back in separate cages immediately.
I left them downstairs over night so they could see each other all day/night and have tried again this evening. Minnie doesn't even come and sniff him out she just immediately lunges for his neck area. It's not just playfull fur pulling it looks like full on biting, to be honest I don't really give them much time before I pull George away because i'm worried Minnie will hurt him.
I probably should just leave them alone without sitting right next to them ready to pull one away but i'm too scared! how can you tell if its normal or if its full on aggression? should I just stick out the slow bonding method introducing them for a few minutes a night or should I wait for my large cage to be delivered and do the intense way? Obviously I can't leave them out together so I let them out separately in their enclosed area - do you think this will make things worse as they will both try to make it their territory?
Help i'm completely lost as to what I should/shouldn't be doing! It's driving me crazy! sorry for the long post....help appreciated!