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Rizzox21 · Dec 22, 2011, 07:30 PM

I have a 5 year old male cat that is fixed, and a 2 year old female cat that is also fixed, I just recently got a 3 year old male cat that is also fixed,that I've been slowly trying to introduce to my resident cats. He's very friendly and shows no signs of aggression or mean behavior towards my resident cats. My female cat has seemed to adjust well to my new one but my male resident cat has gone after the new guy on 3 different occasions. I keep the new cat in the bedroom at night separate from my resident cats and have been slowly trying to allow him to be in the rest of the house with the other two. Any suggestions on how to get my male resident cat to stop attacking my new cat? I'm starting to feel that he will never accept my new cat.

Wondergirl · Dec 22, 2011, 07:51 PM

Cats in one "colony" have their own hierarchy for eating, for sleeping places, for attention from owners, etc. We have four rescued cats, all from various places and ranging in age from two to eleven. All are neutered. Each one has had to find (or be given) his or her place in our colony.

We have tried to introduce each new cat slowly carefully, but when push comes to shove, the cats have had to work out their own society. We know Deborah will never get along with Frida, we know Kuro gets along with everyone, and we know Dido is doing her best to become the "top cat" and keep everyone (including the humans) in line.

You can do your best to get them all used to each other, but you will probably have to eventually let them work this out. We've noticed that blood is never shed; it's all hissing and growls and an occasional quick tussle.

Be sure to have lots of window looking-out places, comfy beds, maybe a pet heating pad or two, feed them at the same time but on separate plates, and be sure to keep the used litter scooped out (cats HATE dirty litter!). And I hope you have more than one litter box.

My local cat shelter has 50-60 free-ranging cats that mostly get along except for an occasional spat (just like us humans!), so I know cats can coexist in an agreeable way.

Rizzox21 · Dec 26, 2011, 05:48 PM

I've done my homework on introducing a new cat into the home, and followed the steps. Its been about two weeks since I brought a new cat into the home. I have two resident cats, one male, one female. I've been keeping the new cat mostly in the bedroom. He has his own litter box and food in the room. I've been slowly letting him come out of the room and interact with my resident cats. My male resident cat makes me nervous because he has gone after my new cat on three different occasions. Should I just let the two of them work it out? My new one has never shown signs of aggression towards my reaident cats. It's been stressful keeping them separate and trying to get my male resident cat to tolerate the new guy. So any advice would be great!

Wondergirl · Dec 26, 2011, 06:06 PM

What does "gone after" mean? All cats are neutered?

Rizzox21 · Dec 26, 2011, 06:15 PM

Yes all the cats are fixed, my new cat was walking through the living room when my male resident cat ran behind him and swatted at him. He was hissing and growling as well.

Wondergirl · Dec 26, 2011, 06:25 PM

About a year ago in January, we rescued two strays from our back yard. We had been feeding them and noticed they didn't like each other much and wouldn't eat off the same plate, so we knew they probably wouldn't bond inside our warm house. And they didn't. They stay away from each other and hiss/growl only when certain invisible lines have been crossed. There's never been a real fight or blood drawn, just lots of noise once or twice a week.

I suggest you let the two cats work it out (if they even want to) and develop their hierarchy. You may never see them snuggling together on the couch, but you probably won't have to mop up blood and guts.

Keep a throw or small blanket handy to throw over them if they really tangle. Suddenly having a blanket thrown over fighting cats stops the action. If you have to resort to that, let us know and we will rethink this.

Rizzox21 · Dec 26, 2011, 06:27 PM

Okay thank you so much! I'm going to keep working with them and hopefully he will at least learn to tolerate the new guy.

Wondergirl · Dec 26, 2011, 06:45 PM

Be sure to give the "old" resident cat lots of love and affection, especially in front of the new cat. The old cat will soak it up and it will improve his self esteem, and the new cat won't care. Love him when the other one isn't around. If they are willing to eat off the same plate (we use paper plates), you're on your way!

Make or buy a few organic catnip toys for them. A dear friend sent me a packet of organic catnip for Christmas, so I dumped some of it into old white sport socks and closed up the ankle openings. The cats didn't care that there was no face on their new "toys."

hheath541 · Dec 26, 2011, 07:35 PM

Spats are normal between cats, even ones that are friendly the rest of the time.

I have four cats, a mom and three of her babies. Mom cannot stand one of her sons and will growl and hiss and claw at him if he gets near her. The other boy, she will sit with and play fight, and even let him clean her. She pretty much ignores her daughter's existence. The kids get along and cuddle and clean each other all the time, but there are still random times when one will take exception to something and go after a sibling.

Just keep an eye on them, for now. If your tom seems like he's trying to cause real harm, then step in. If it's more show and scare tactics, then let them work it out. Cats are very hierarchical. Introducing a new cat puts everything in flux. It'll take time, and arguments, for them to work out everyone's place in their little pack. Even after they work it out, there will be spats when someone tries to test the limits or feels the need to remind someone else of their place.

Rizzox21 · Dec 26, 2011, 07:44 PM

Thank you guys for the advice, I greatly appreciate it!

hheath541 · Dec 26, 2011, 07:45 PM

I merged the topics so all the info's in one place. Not sure why it messed up the title *shrugs*

mogrann · Dec 28, 2011, 08:56 AM

I will chime in we still have spats with two of our cats. I blame the shy skittish one, I feel if she would grow a set and fight back the bully cat will stop. We have to break up a tussle about once a month. NO blood or scratches, sometimes a patch of fur will be on the floor that is as bad as it gets. They are all fixed and have been living together for 3 or 4 years.