cat adopted us

[buzz2400]

I usually frequent the budget board but I have a problem and I can't really talk to anyone about this. Background info, have a 9 year old male cat, a little over a year ago I adopted three kittens from the same litter. In December a cat came into a yard. I told my mother not to feed it because then we would have to adopt it. Well in our area it became freezing cold this winter and the cat would not go away so we decided to start feeding it because we felt sorry for it. It was living under our shed and my cats would attack the cat everytime they saw it. My mother and I would sit by the shed everyday to try and coax the cat out. We finally was able to catch her. She is a beautiful cat, I would say about 9 months old when we finally caught her. She has been in the house for about a month now. During the night she is locked in my bedroom. Now here is the troubling part. She does not get along with the other cats. She is actually attacking the three cats. The older cat attacks her. I am a cat lover and I never thought I would say this but I don't think we can keep her. I feel so bad. Does anyone know if they will eventually get along. She has one cat so scared that when she comes inside, she hides. I just don't know what to do.

 

[Youarehere]

I had this situation and they did come around. I have to get back to work now but will elaborate later. Also bumping!!

 

[flying_babyb]

My mom has this problem too. She moved her only cat into a five cat household (the other 5 are bonded). She solved it by keeping her cat away from the rest. The two youngest enjoy the company of her cat and are alowed "visits" to my moms bedroom. Sepration seems to be working well for mom and for tabby (her kitty).

 

[Youarehere]

Ok- so we used the seperation technique. Keep the new cat isolated and move objects in and out of the rooms so the cats adjust to each others scents. Don't let them mingle until they stop hissing at the smell of each other. If you have a screen door or a loose screen you can use as a screen door, let them look at each other after a few weeks.

They should adjust eventually even if they are never friends. And let them have their small battles- they need to sort out their own pecking order. I don't seperate mine unless I fear for someones safety- I let them hash it out.

There was alot of seperating the first few weeks I let them mingle, but now there is mostly just the Alpha cat asserting himself with a quick wrestle. They never actually hurt each other. It wasn't so pleasant at first. Good luck.