Tumble and Zyra

[amandacv86]

Tumble is an unneutered male that I’ve had for 3 years and Zyra is a spayed female(5 yrs old) that I just adopted yesterday. I don’t know Tumble’s exact age just that he was young when I adopted him so I’m thinking he could be up to 4 years old. It was about July so maybe he was an easter bunny someone lost interest in, I don’t know.

Their cages are right next to each other, and while they were smelling each other yesterday, there were no signs of aggression. Now they just seem bored with each other.

I’ve been alternating them out of their cages so they will smell each others scent both on me and in the play area. Also, I rubbed some of Zyra’s fur off of my shirt yesterday after I was handling her and Tumble just sniffed it, turned around scratched at his toy, and picked it up and tossed it.  I held Zyra about 10 inches away from Tumble’s cage(further away than her cage is) and they just smelled each other. They look more like curious and intrigued than agressive.

Do you think this is all a good sign? Should I put off introducing them until I get Tumble neutered or given how they’ve acted so far would it be safe to do it now?

Thanks in advance!

[Monkeybun]

I would put it off until Tumble is neutered, plus a month after that. Anything he does with her will be hormone driven, not actual affection. So it’s best to wait

[amandacv86]

Thanks. I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing to get them used to each other’s scent. Maybe do the stunt double trick. I put Zyra in Tumble’s cage for a few minutes and she did exactly what he does. She hopped up to the top shelf and layed there, except she didn’t  have the “plotting to take over the world” face…

When I put him back in after I took her out, he just sniffed around and sat in his favorite spot on the top shelf.

 

[Bren]

sounds like you are off to a great start. bet you must be excited to get him neutered! 

[amandacv86]

Oh yes, I’ve made some progress with his moodiness, like he’s calmer when I pick him up and he actually enjoys being held and petted a little, but he grunts a lot and hits me when I play with him(never bites). When I pick him up, I go slow and make sure he can see my hand first because otherwise he gets mad. It’s kind of cute, I’ll move his toys around and vacuum his poops, and he sits in one place and grunts every time I move a toy. I’m sure we’ll both be happier after he’s neutered. He’ll be calmed down and I’ll be able to enjoy him a lot more than I already do.

[Author]

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