Cat Fight - Update!

[Biscuitsmom31]

First, let me describe the participants:

Disney: She is a one year old robust (fat) tabby cat. Disney isn't much of a "people" cat. She sleeps on my DD's bed every night and comes in to say good morning to DH and I every morning but she refuses to be held and is not much for petting either. Her main interactions are to let us know she needs more food.

December: December is a stray that wondered up to my parents home around Thanksgiving. According to the vet she is also about a year old. She was half-starved and pitiful but an extremely loving lap-cat. My parents were going to take her to their local pound but DD cried and begged. So, I caved and we took December in and got her health checked, got her all her shots, and had her spayed. Yesterday we brought December home.

Disney is not the happiest cat on earth. If fact, Disney is royally ticked. Since we brought December home, Disney has been surley and mostly in hiding. She occationaly comes out to growl and hiss. Once she attempted to pounce on December. DD is sad because Disney won't sleep on her bed. In fact, she growls and hisses at any of us brave enough to come near her.

How do we get Disney out of this funk? She's never acted like this before.

 

[mrs_hower726]

Right now I would say more time is needed. From what you say, you have had December for approx. 2 weeks. When I brought home Malu, the girls were 3 and plenty PO'd. Curio hissed at him and us for a couple of months before she stopped and it took Nibs about 6 months before turning back into her old self (she was a bit depressed, wasn't interested in food or toys).

Good luck!

 

[Biscuitsmom31]

Right now I would say more time is needed. From what you say, you have had December for approx. 2 weeks. When I brought home Malu, the girls were 3 and plenty PO'd. Curio hissed at him and us for a couple of months before she stopped and it took Nibs about 6 months before turning back into her old self (she was a bit depressed, wasn't interested in food or toys).

Good luck!

Actually, she wondered up to my parents about a week and half ago. She's only been here with us since yesterday. I guess I wasn't expecting this bad of a reaction.

 

[Neko O'Yama]

Poor Disney. She feels like December is taking over her territory.

You might try Feliway (a synthetic cat pheromone available is a spray or plug-in defuser) to make both cats a little more mellow and less stressed. The defuser is not recommended for households that alos have birds, though.

Also, have your daughter give Disney lots of positive reinforcement when she's doing what you want her to. I say this, because it sounds as though your daughter is Disney's prefered human.

 

[mrs_hower726]

If you have only had her for a day, then I definetely suggest keeping December in a separate room with litter and food and eventually introduce her to Disney in a few days time. That would give Disney time to investigate December and get used to her scent. I also have read on here that rubbing December down with a towel then having Disney sniff it to get familiar with the scent also works.

 

[HeatherH]

OH, my gosh, it's wonderful that you have the new cat, but you totally cannot just throw two adult cats together and hope they will get along! It just doesn't happen. I know from experience.

The suggestions of others to keep them separate and gradually introduce them is definitely the way to go. Even after that, they may not get along, but hopefully they will eventually tolerate each other.

 

[HelenePA]

see my tag? I learned the hard way dont EVER say you'll babysit (catsit) another cat in your own home with other cats.. I had dreams of this kitten coming to play with my 2 cats who are less than 6 months older than this kitten I was watching.. uh yeah it didn't work out so well.. lots of hissing, lots of scratches (on me!) NOT a good week lock Mr. newbie cat in a different room for awhile.. introduce slowly.. VERY slowly..

 

[Biscuitsmom31]

OH, my gosh, it's wonderful that you have the new cat, but you totally cannot just throw two adult cats together and hope they will get along! It just doesn't happen. I know from experience.

I guess I completely missed the boat on that. We had multiple cats when I was a kid and they always tolerated each other. Then again, we lived out in the county and they were mostly outdoor cats. This is my first adult experience with more than one cat - and both of them are house cats. How long do I keep them separated and how do I go about introducing them? Put them in the same room together?

 

[Biscuitsmom31]

see my tag? I learned the hard way dont EVER say you'll babysit (catsit) another cat in your own home with other cats.. I had dreams of this kitten coming to play with my 2 cats who are less than 6 months older than this kitten I was watching.. uh yeah it didn't work out so well.. lots of hissing, lots of scratches (on me!) NOT a good week lock Mr. newbie cat in a different room for awhile.. introduce slowly.. VERY slowly..

I'm cat stupid too!

 

[RNMOM]

Give 'em a few weeks and they will work it out. They have to figure out who is the alpha cat and all that stuff. We have 3 cats now. Everytime a new cat comes in there is hiding and hissing and posturing. If you don't stress about it they will figure it out. The worst that would happen is that they don't interract at all. I'm willing to bet you will find them curled up on some cold night together.

 

[chyam]

It is perfectly normal for cats to act that way...especially when both are adults. I have several cats, and have found having older ones it is much easier to introduce a new kitten (I guess they think of it as a baby...don't really know since the cat mind is very complex indeed) try the separation for a few days so the 1st cat learns the smell of the new cat. But if you can't do that then just expect a little more of what you are experiencing now and in another couple of weeks things will get better. There will be some hissing and spitting since Disney and December will have to determine who is going to be the alpha in the house, eventually they will tolerate one another, maybe not the best of friends but on the other hand they may become best buds. Don't start feeling it won't work out at this early stage of the game, it's just new to both of them. Thanks for taking December in....and good luck, all will be fine!
My Boo Boo is still hissing and spitting at Merlin and that has been since November 6th, I just tell him to cool it and quit being such a bully......no knock down drag out fights just Boo Boo being very vocal about having another cat in the house.

 

[Seewhatimesdone]

My cats were the same way. They still don't like each other but they're tolerant of each other. I still hear the occasional hissy fit though

 

[Biscuitsmom31]

Give 'em a few weeks and they will work it out. They have to figure out who is the alpha cat and all that stuff. We have 3 cats now. Everytime a new cat comes in there is hiding and hissing and posturing. If you don't stress about it they will figure it out. The worst that would happen is that they don't interract at all. I'm willing to bet you will find them curled up on some cold night together.

That makes me feel better.

 

[OrlandoMike]

Just leave them alone. They will be fine in a week or two. Wouldn't be surprised if Disney comes around in a few days and they actually start playing together.

 

[freckles and boo]

I agree with the "keep 'em separated" advice. However, if they do get face to face and start really fighting DO NOT GET IN THE MIDDLE without a thick winter coat, a couple of oven mitts and some towels. I have the scars to prove that peacekeeping is dangerous business.

 

[jmpurdy]

Just leave them alone. They will be fine in a week or two. Wouldn't be surprised if Disney comes around in a few days and they actually start playing together.

I respectfully disagree with 'just leaving them alone'. A terrible fight could put one or both cats in the hospital with injuries and/or infections as a result of fighting.

All advice to keep them separate and gradually meet each other is the way. 2 litter boxes, NOT near each other for awhile. 2 feeding areas, NOT near each other. With time, you can put litter boxes and water/food bowls together. Should keep 2 litter boxes (1 box for each cat in the household). I was the one who recommended wiping both down with the same towel for several days so they both smell the same. A resident cat will almost always be p.o.'d about the new cat. Even when a cat goes to the vet they smell different and can be attacked just for that smell even though they know the cat!

Gradually introduce new cat to resident cat in a supervised situation. Switch the resident cat to the bedroom that the new cat is living in and let the new cat come out to explore without resident cat around for about 20 minutes each time, then gradually increase their time together until you can finally leave them out unsupervised. This could take a month. But by doing it this way, your chances greatly increase for success. Good luck!

 

[OrlandoMike]

I respectfully disagree with 'just leaving them alone'. A terrible fight could put one or both cats in the hospital with injuries and/or infections as a result of fighting.

In the past, if the situation has gotten out of control, we have separated them while we are at work. But I have found that just leaving them alone, with supervision, works fine. In fact, they have a tendency to not really get to "know each other" till they are home alone.

OP good luck!

 

[HelenePA]

In the past, if the situation has gotten out of control, we have separated them while we are at work. But I have found that just leaving them alone, with supervision, works fine. In fact, they have a tendency to not really get to "know each other" till they are home alone.

OP good luck!

I dunno, that week I catsat I made sure that newbie kitten and my kittens were as far apart as I could get then while I was out.. No way would I trust them alone in the house together after I saw how the acted while we were around.. seriously it was not a good week in my house.. I was counting down the seconds til my friend came home.. in fact I had my friend's mom come take the cat home early because it was NOT good in my house.. I'm guessing it really depends.. Mine were 8 months old when I catsat.. NEVER again..

 

[jmpurdy]

In the past, if the situation has gotten out of control, we have separated them while we are at work. But I have found that just leaving them alone, with supervision, works fine. In fact, they have a tendency to not really get to "know each other" till they are home alone.

OP good luck!

The leave them alone and they'll work it out method is just too dangerous and not necessary when you know how to do it right. Isn't it better to introduce them so that the chance of success is greatly increased? I work for a feline only veterinarian and sadly, many cats are given up for adoption because 'it didn't work out', or 'Fluffy just doesn't like the new cat'. They did not listen to very good advice and didn't take the time to do it slowly and carefully.

I hate to see this situation as there are already too many cats and dogs without homes because people want results NOW. This is the only reason I suggest doing it slowly and methodically because the success rate is so much greater and everyone in the house is happier, including the 2 legged ones!

 

[PaulaSB12]

I have 3 cats, a tabby Queenie who is the mother of a tom cat Socks and another queen Tippytail. After a operation on her teeth Queenie seemed to have forgotten the other two and started having a go at them. I am getting there with them she can stay in the same room without wanting to kill them but its taken a year so far. The last bit is the two girls deciding who is the top cat.