Restarting bonding - help needed!

[Ross_Scott]

Hey guys. Looking for advice. Recently brought home a 2.5 neutered male that we adopted, to live with our current mini lop neutered female Belle. This is week 3, they are living separately and can’t see each other. Belle is in her usual free roaming living room and he has the hallway. We did this as adoption people advised this to almost reset the process. They are however busy to assist us remotely with bonding / waiting list to bond them for us.

things we’ve tried

1) burns and Belle got introduced side by side via pen, where they could see and smell each other. Starting off with him in hallway and her in living room. Door open but pen in way. So they’d sit and spend time laying side by side and sleeping eating.

2) this set up made them have an aggressive scuffle through cage initially.

3) we then tried to move him slightly into living room separate by the pen so she could get use to him being in her space. Swapping toys etc. they seemed to be comfortable around each other through the fence

4) we tried to have a play date in the bathroom where they both immediately went for each other, food not distracting them etc

So we have been advised to separate them in different rooms so they can’t see each other.

We live in a 2 bedroom flat, so the only neutral space we really have is bathroom for both. Or the hallway for Belle taking her out the living room where she spends 95% of her time. She doesn’t ever go down end of hallway as she doesn’t like the laminated flooring.

So I’m seeking advice now on. What should he do for step 2 now that it’s a reintroduction almost. If anyone could help us with almost a step by step guide now that would be amazing and appreciated

(Lastly is bringing Belle into hallway and having them living side by side separated by pen better as this is out her comfort zone?)

All tips and advice welcome

 

[Omi]

I think a step-by-step guide at the moment would be the wrong approach. I think you need to be flexible/adaptable depending on how the first steps go, if that makes sense.

It's obvious from the responses you've seen already from Belle, that she is territorial. This is not at all unusual for females. So wherever you next try, I would suggest it should not be the living room, nor anywhere where she can see the living room. I would avoid using the bathroom for now if they've previously had a scuffle in there.

Where is the male now?

I think I would try splitting the hall, half and half, so that Belle is in the half where she hasn't previously gone due to the flooring. Make sure you have a robust barrier between them, but one where they can see and smell each other. I would also put a pile of fresh hay next to the barrier on either side. See how they react to this set-up.

 

[tonibun]

Is it possible for the Rescue to bond them? Females can be so territorial it can make introducing a friend almost impossible.

 

[Cinnabun14]

@tonibun, do you know if a car ride would be a good idea? I've read a lot about them, but since my girls are sisters (and getting spayed before the catfight can begin!) I have zero experience with bonding...