Major cat issues....HELP!!!

[goofy4tink]

Okay, I've had cats forever, since I was a kid. I 'had' three cats a month ago. Now I have four!!! My ds moved to Florida and can't have his cat with him until he gets his own place. So, he left her with us. He had been staying here from April until Sept 1 when he moved. His cat, Domino, is very non-social. She isn't used to other people and stayed in the basement with ds. So, we have been trying to socialize her into the family of three other cats and our golden retriever. The dog doesn't faze her at all. He used to visit ds and sleep on his bed...the cat didn't care. But, my other cats have a huge issue and she with them. One cat is about 7, one is about 5 and the youngest is almost 2. Domino is about 3. It's the 5 y/o who is the biggest issue. They snarl and growl continually. It got so bad that I had to move my cats litter box out of the basement and put it upstairs in our 4th bedroom/dd's playroom. They were so terrified of Domino that they wouldn't use their catbox!!! Just pooped/peed upstairs in the bedroom area. This has been going on for almost 3 weeks. I have left the doors all open so the cats can come and go as they please...no one is trapped in one area. But, Domino comes upstairs and then chases my 5 y/o cat around. My original 3 cats won't come out of hiding!!! They are staying under beds....
But, I don't want Domino, the witch, to have to stay in one room for however long it takes ds to get her to Florida. I have to tell you...I have never had such trouble mixing a new cat into the group. I'm at my wit's end. Does anyone have anyh advice for me?? I've gotten Domino to the point where she will come out after a bit and come to me for a love, but if I move quickly, she spooks and runs under the daybed. The poor thing needs to be part of the group and have some human interaction but I can't figure out how to go about it.

Oh, the two older cats are both neutered males, the younger on is spayed female as is Domino. Must be a territory issue. Am I going to have to keep them in different areas of the house??
Thanks guys.

 

[Virgo10]

I have 16 cats and only two are related. We got them to get along with one another but it took some planning each and every time a new cat was introduced.

I'd start from scratch with the witchy cat and isolate her for a week or so. Then let her out supervised for only a very short time. Cats rely on the sense of smell so much. Until her scent is evenly spread around the house, the other cats are going to look at her like the enemy. She has also got to get use to their scent and that's going to take a while.

Try and visit with her as much as you can while she isolated. After a while she'll learn that YOU are the top cat and that should, hopefully, cut back on the altercations.

Good luck and let us know how you make out.

 

[chyam]

Oh how I know what you are going through! I have 6 cats. Elroy can get along with everyone except Mouse........Mouse can't get along with anyone and especially Elroy, he is twice the size of her and I swear he would kill her if given the chance, and she won't back down, I finally had to just isolate her on my back screened in patio, I tried and tried but there just was to many others to think about being happy. She has her own litter box and she has my bird out there, plus I am also out there alot, but she is very unsocial, wants a scratch on her head and then leave me alone! I have no solutions for you since I had tried everything myself, I have found that when I added a kitten I didn't have any problems. Good luck and I hope your son finds a place soon or you may have to find someone else to take her for awhile where Domino could be an only cat. Good luck

 

[helenabear]

Sounds like your foster kitty is used to being queen of the castle. Honestly I would start again and isolate her to one room. It's not nice, but it sure as heck isn't fair that it's your three in hiding. If this keeps up, your cats could have behavior issues that will be a pain in the neck or impossible to break.

Keep her in a room at all times iwth the door shut. Go in and visit and let the dog visit too, but I can tell you that after three weeks of this, it won't get better if it is that severe.

Good luck and I hope the cat can go back to DS very soon!!!!

 

[goofy4tink]

Thanks guys...back to the drawing table. Domino's going back into solitary again. It's not as if it's a little tiny room...its about 18'x12', with a small room off it. And it has two nice ground level windows. I just feel badly since she so obviously wants the company but her 'social graces' are a bit lacking. Ds just got a job, so hopefully he'll be able to take her sooner rather than later.
Thanks again.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I say get a dog crate...one of those big wire ones so the litter box can go there too. That way the cats can see each other but the other 3 know they are safe.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I would keep Domino in his own area for a while longer, if not forever. You can visit him and maybe try again in another week. Try switching the bedding so they get used to the other scents. Also, I've heard if you dab a bit of perfume on each cat that they will all smell alike (or at least all have that same scent) and will adjust easier. Cats are very scent oriented. I remember bringing one cat to the vet and when they would return the other cats would hiss at them.

We are currently introducing 2 kittens to our household. My plan was to isolate the kittens for a week before letting them out. On day 7 they came down with a cold so they are being isolated for another week. Yesterday I switched their beds and will switch them back tomorrow. Our female cat is still hissing when she gets a glimpse of the kittens, so I don't think she quite ready for the kittens to be let out, anyway. I plan to do the perfume trick on them before I let the cats out.

My biggest concern is one of our dogs, which likes to chase cats. I have introduced her to to the kittens and they all like each other, but I know whe will terrorize the kittens at first, even if it is just in play.

Good luck with your cat situation. At least you know it won't last forever. Domino must be very scared, missing your son and being in a differnet house.

 

[RadioNate]

I have an non-social cat and my advice is to just leave her be. Forcing her to socialize isn't doing anyone any good. She'll come for interaction on her terms. Believe me we can go days w/out seeing our cat and then one night he'll curl up with me on the couch for an hour or so and then it's back to under the bed for days. That's just the way he is.

As long as someone spends time with her daily, I would think your DS's cat would be ok in a room that size. Believe me ours doesn't leave the master bathroom and closet for days and it HAPPY that way.

 

[goofy4tink]

I have an non-social cat and my advice is to just leave her be. Forcing her to socialize isn't doing anyone any good. She'll come for interaction on her terms. Believe me we can go days w/out seeing our cat and then one night he'll curl up with me on the couch for an hour or so and then it's back to under the bed for days. That's just the way he is.

As long as someone spends time with her daily, I would think your DS's cat would be ok in a room that size. Believe me ours doesn't leave the master bathroom and closet for days and it HAPPY that way.

You know, I'm hearing more and more about this type of cat. Looks like Domino may be just that. I'll leave her be in the basement. I'll spend time with her every day. It's just that my heart breaks for her when we're sitting there at night, watching tv and I see her little black and white nose sticking out from behind the slightly ajar celler door. I think she sort of wants to be with us, but is just too darned shy and scared. Ah well. My 3 cats have rights too...they should be happy and not terrorized. Thanks again.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

How's it going with the cats?