Help with second cat!

[CrAzY4DL]

We got a second cat in late August or early September and she is SUCH a sweetheart!!! Loves to be loved and petted and scratched, comes when called (by name, not just kitty kitty), she plays soooo well with the kids. One and only problem-her and first cat sooooo don't get along. At first it was normal stuff but the past 2 months, new cat has become more bold and has started attacking 1st cat. It looks like it is playful so I honestly think it is just her being so much younger than first cat but it is driving first cat (and DH) crazy. We have separate food bowls on opposite sides of the room, they each have their own space in the house but first cat is a serious nervous wreck from this new cat and it has been months!!! We would like to get some opinions on how to curb this behavior. We have talked about squirting new cat with water when she attacks and/or having them have separate inside and outside time (like a rotation, LOL) but will save finding a new home for new cat as a last step. Me and the kids looooove this cat (as much as first cat but DH ONLY likes first cat). LOL GAAA HELP!!!

TIA!

PS-We have almost always had 2 cats in our 12 years of marriage but this is the first time we have ever had 2 female cats at the same time.

 

[fireflymedic]

what are the ages of the cats?

 

[tinkerlisa]

That is so strange since we are going through the EXACT same thing here!
Our first cat is 4 and the kitten is about 6 months. For the longest time, they HATED each other. Pearl(the kitten) would try to be nice to Sapphire but Sapphire would hit her(she's declawed) or growl and hiss at her. It took about 3 or four months for her to get used to the new one.
They are best friends now. They play and fight but its not as bad as it used to be.

It takes time for them to get used to each other. The fact that yours are two females(just like ours) makes it a little harder,IMO they are like women: HORMONAL!!! LOL
When it looks like their fights are getting more vicious than playful, we break them up. I am hoping that after a year it will calm down. Usually kittens calm down after they are a year. You could try squirting them though. We use water bottles on ours all the time! Good Luck!

 

[ilandrazdsw]

We have 4!!! I know, I know. DH and I grew up with cats. Our oldest is mine from college (she's 13 now). When she started to get sick (she was a fatty) the vet suggested getting a kitten to motivate her (and she's lazy). Well, we got 2. They are sisters who were found at about 3 weeks abandoned. One is a lover the other is a unsocial witch (actually she is getting better). Then about 6 months after the "twins" we found a stray kitten that had hitched a ride in a truck and seemed to like cars. We were able to catch him (before he got run over or stuck in an engine) and had no intention of keeping him, but the vet was here and we took him to have him checked out expecting the vet to carry the cat back with him to Nassau...after the vet gave him meds and us the bill (guess we weren't clear enough) we gave him a bath and kept him...he was black and dark grey, not he is black and white and has a stub tail that the vet thinks the mother bite off as part of the cord. Anyway, my older cat wasn't thrilled about the newbies but did come around after awhile AND lost a bunch of weight because she they forced her to play OR defend herself. When they got out of control (and still do after 2 years) we break them up and they go running...if it is play they go right back to it no matter what we do. Give them a chance to fight it out as long as they are not hurting each other.

 

[CrAzY4DL]

1st cat (Booger) we got in late 2003 and she was probably under a year then. 2nd cat (Muggle) we got in late August or early September and she was probably 6-9 months at that time. The thing is, it's been over 4 months and they are worse! LOL DH just wants to get rid of Muggle because she is pestering HIS cat and making HIS cat a nervous wreck. Booger is constantly growling at Muggs whenever she gets near her and then eventually they start whapping each other. The kids are DEAD SET against finding Muggs a new home (me too, she's a lover and Booger is antisocial!!) so until it gets really bad, that is out. Thanks for advice!

 

[my3sonsagn]

Have you tried any of the kitty calming sprays? We've been integrating a new cat into our house as well; we ended up not having to try the spray, but a lot of people recommended using one. Other than that you could try totally separating them for a week or so and then very slowly re-introducing them to one another; that's what wound up working for us.

Good luck!

 

[CrAzY4DL]

What is this kitty calming spray and where do I find it? I have never heard of this!!! Unless you mean a squirt in the face with water....LOL.

 

[ilandrazdsw]

I totally know what yo mean not wanting to find a new home...for either kitty. I had to give away a female when Cabby was about 3 years old because I moved and she started peeing all over the new carpet...when I saw her start to doit in my bed...Buh bye!!! It killed me because it had to drop her to the HS, hope she found a good home.
We are moving and contemplated finding new homes for 2, but we would not be able to choose which two, nor did we want to. When DH and I married he complained about Cabby sleeping between us in the bed...I told him she was around before him and if he didn't watch himself would be there after him...joking and lovingly of course, but with a hint of seriousness!!! With the addition of the other 3 now no cats sleep in our room.

 

[my3sonsagn]

What is this kitty calming spray and where do I find it? I have never heard of this!!! Unless you mean a squirt in the face with water....LOL.

It has pheromones in it that make cats feel calm even in stressful situations.

http://www.petvetsupply.com/pmsmgar029.html