cats

[steg]

I got a 1 ½ year old male cat from cat protection agency about 1 month ago, we had another male cat who died just before Christmas of cancer he was a big tough 16 year old when he died. The problem is we have a 7 year old female cat that hisses etc and has never really been overly friendly since we got her as a kitten (the mother cat which is my mother’s cat is the same)stopped going out and seemed very insecure when the old cat died, but has got worse spitting, hissing, growling etc whenever you go near her since we got the new one and they both seem to want to kill each other, so we have to try and keep them apart. They are both outdoor cats and both have been dressed/neutered.
Should we try and keep them apart which is near impossible or should we just let them get on with it?

[wolf63]

If you are going to keep them apart you will find it to be an never ending task.

I would just leave them to fight it out - they will reach some sort of truce. They are complicated animals - understatement of the year.

Susan - slave to Frankie de Tom Cat and Princess Merlin

[karenmac60]

I would let them get on with it. They are never going to be best friends but they might reach a stage where they can tolerate one another - but they're going to take a lot longer to get there if they are constantly kept apart. Keep an eye on them and be ready to intervene if need be, but they will sort out their own hierarchy on their own. Good luck - I know this can be very difficult.

[bensmum]

Hi steg
i'm having a similar problem at the moment in that I have a 12 year old she cat and about 3 months ago I acquired a monster of a stray who is obviously unused to other cats. Daisie was always brought up with other (she) cats and was fine but she hisses and growls at Dennis who used to chase her and fight (still does occasionally) BUT things have improved and are slowly getting better. They can now be in the same room and while I can't say that they will never fight they don't do it so often. She-cats are terrors for being like it. You might try some Feliway spray (on doors etc) as this can calm them down and make sure that they are fed separately. Once she realises that he's not a threat to her security she may well settle down, but sadly there are cats who just never get on and you may need to consider whether having the 2 is a good idea. Hope it works out xx

[rowanwitch]

Try the plug in 'feliway 'diffuser from your local vet it helps destress cats which might help also dried catnip is a great distraction (catnip toys rarely work as there isn't enough catnip in them or they use synthetic spays) don't just let them fight it out but when only one is in the house give that one as much attention as possible (and they allow) and vice versa also you may find they will set up separate territories within the house. If your she cat is a puss with attitude anyway you may have to referee for some while yet but eventually things should settle down. Don't forget the male is still not more than a teenager and the she is rather middle-aged...... the lad will eventually learn not to mess with her I expect.... it seems to be the usual pattern of events I would expect him to get a scratched nose when she whacks him until he learns to back down throw water at them if they get too physical and a full blown fight ensues. Mostly it will just be hissing growling and posturing . The only other thing is how recently he was neutered if it was recently he won't settle as quickly as a cat that was done around 6 mths or so.

hope that helps goood luck

[steg]

thank you very much for the answers, i think i will let them battle it out. i got a diffuser 2 weeks ago after it being recommended to me but it has not worked yet

[andy-hughes]

It's not pleasant to let your cats establish their own regime for co-existence, but aas advised, it's the best way, because that is what is natural for them.

As long as one cat is not getting seriously bullied or hurt, they will eventually work out how they want to work it - and then they'll settle.

[steg]

thanx Andy, i seem to be the only one with injuries so far lol

[ruthann58]

hi i wouldnt worry to much as other people have said some get along some dont i have a couple of she cats that have been together about 11 years and at least once a week they have to have a hissy fit and scrap ,at one stage we had 12 and they got on fine with every one else but not each other

[carmalee]

huge thing with cats is height, status and where they are to feel comfortable. Make sure your cats have access to various heights - they use this to suss out their status - they will eventually sort themselves out and either make peace or just rub along together. they are much more complicated than dogs but given enough space are very able to make a plan. Good luck.

[dalebillster]

im unsure about some of the answers... Through my own experience two of my cats (bonnie & prinncess) have never got on since we introduced princess to our flat. I find bonnie hunts down princess on a regular basis & they are almost exactly the same age, size & build. Ive had this problem since we introduced princess to the flat about 18 months ago. Things aint got better nor have they sorted out their dominace problems. I would say to keep your cats apart as much as possible as they might cause injury to eachother..... Hope this helps

[boxtops]

I have three adult male cats and none of them like each other, but they all love us and have (separately) great characters. I have learned over the years to leave them to sort it out for themselves, apart from giving them a good shouting when one has stuffed the other one under the sofa and they are are both yowling and moaning. They are all of a similar age and all arrived at different times so setting up the pecking order has been difficult. The important thing for your cats is that you spend equal amounts of time with each of them so each feel loved by the humans, you are top cat to them. Black one of mine loves my OH so listens to him, the others defer to me. We are fortunate to have a tall house and over time each of them has found separate sleeping areas far enough apart not to bother each other.
I had a female cat which died young and the tabbies never got on after that - it seems that changes in the cat family (like when your old cat died) take a long while to settle, she sounds unnerved by it. She probably feels the younger cat is a threat at the moment, but they will eventually sort out some sort of uneasy peace between them. I don't want to put you off, but mine have taken five years to reach the state of truce they're in at the moment! Good luck with it.