I went too quickly - starting over....

delilah_blue

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We added a fourth kitty, ~6yo Thomas, to our household last week. I've allowed him pretty free access to the house since day 3. He seemed to be getting along okay with our other kitties (Delilah 3yo female, Blue 7mo female, Midget 5mo female - all fixed). He and Delilah did some hissing, but that was not surprising. Everything seemed to be going fine, until yesterday.

Blue got fixed yesterday, so I don't know if the smells of the surgery coming into the house set them all off or what. But Delilah is SOOOO crabby, and she and Thomas had to be seperated last night after some kitty fighting (no injuries). Now today, Blue seems to be picking on Thomas - won't allow him on one of the cat trees, and then I saw her confronting him as he tried to get to the litter box, and that was a growling, hissing, swatting match. I realize this is territorial stuff, but it's almost funny because she is tiny, like 5 pounds, and Thomas is over 15 pounds.

So anyway, Thomas is back in the bedroom. I think I will permanently add a litter box in there for him. I ordered some Feliway last week, so hopefully that will arrive in the next few days. I'm reading "Cat Vs. Cat" to get a better handle on how to smooth things over between the kitties. My biggest concern right now: In the book, the author writes that sometimes when trying to introduce a new cat, you hit a brick wall of "you just have too many cats". How do you know if that's the case? Just by the fact that nothing works and they never get along? I'm so worried Thomas won't ever feel comfortable and happy here.
Sorry this was so long - thanks for reading.
 

sidney109

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Yes I agree that starting over is the best thing. The smells of the vet are definately strange to your other cats.. It took awhile for Oliver to readjust to Stella after her spay!
 

yosemite

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Have you tried the vanilla trick to make them all smell the same, i.e., vanilla at the base of the tail and on the back of the neck on each cat a couple times per day?
 
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delilah_blue

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Originally Posted by Yosemite

Have you tried the vanilla trick to make them all smell the same, i.e., vanilla at the base of the tail and on the back of the neck on each cat a couple times per day?
I haven't tried that - I will have to pick up some vanilla. I got the Feliway diffuser in the mail today and I just plugged it in, so we'll see if that helps any. Thanks for the suggestion!
 
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delilah_blue

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Mini-update... That Feliway seems to be working wonders. I've never seen Delilah this relaxed! We'll see if it keeps up, or if it's just coincidence.
 

fifi1puss

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Yes please! Let us know how the Feliway is working....i am still trying to decide if it is worth the $$. If it helps you calm your brood it will defianately be worth trying!!
 
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delilah_blue

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Originally Posted by fifi1puss

Yes please! Let us know how the Feliway is working....i am still trying to decide if it is worth the $$. If it helps you calm your brood it will defianately be worth trying!!
About the cost: I saw Petsmart in my area carries the Feliway diffusers, and they charge over $40 for them. I ordered mine on Amazon for $21.99, so if you decide to try it it pays to shop around!
 
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