New Kitten/Old Cats Fighting

jamidnyc

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I brought a male kitten (Tommy) home Saturday to my 2 female cats. I live in a one-bedroom apt. so I really can't keep the cats separate. Ella (9 yrs old) is the alpha and also the mother of Scat (7 yrs old). Ella was scared at first, and Scat hissed and swatted at him. Now Ella is growling at Scat, and they occasionally erupt into fighting with each other, growling, hissing, awful sounds (I didn't get any sleep last night!). I have paid a LOT of attention to Scat and Ella, and I've rubbed a cloth on each of the their cheeks and have gone back and forth. I haven't really put Tommy into the mix. It is so disheartening to see them fighting with each other. I don't know what to do. And they both are still hissing at Tommy. Help!
 

aussie_dog

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That happened to me when I brought Molly home to my two girls, Buffy and Willow. I didn't introduce them properly, since we found Molly lost on the street and our plan was to keep her over the weekend, since her owner would TOTALLY claim her and pick her up in just a couple of days. Nope, turns out absolutely nobody in the world cares enough to see if this black and white kitten was theirs, since 2 1/2 years later, she's still here (to stay, of course). But when we brought her home, it stressed out Buffy and Willow terribly, and they started fighting with each other. Well, actually I should mention that it was more Buffy that would fight with Willow. Buffy's the Alpha girl, and really the only other cat she's ever known is Willow (Buffy came to us as a 4 week old orphan when Willow was 2, and has been an indoor-only cat). Willow doesn't like other cats, but she tends to be more maternal to younger kittens. So Willow didn't like Molly, but she didn't try to hurt her. She just basically tried to avoid her. But Buffy got extremely stressed out and not only did she give Molly beat-downs all the time, she started taking out her fear and frustrations out on Willow. Sometimes just the sight of Willow would produce a growl. And I can't say Buffy was too friendly to us humans for a while, either. Buffy felt foul for the better part of a year before she finally accepted that Molly was here to stay (though, nowadays, she still doesn't like Molly to be anywhere near her). It was just earlier this year that the old Buffy made her appearance again. She seems to be the same Buffy we knew before Molly came around, but man, it took 2 years, lol. That'll make me rethink bringing another kitty home lol. Or, at least if I do, I'll introduce them PROPERLY, not just throw them together as if the new kitty will be gone in a few days anyways.

Your kitties are just stressed, and they're taking it out on each other. Give it some time and they'll start to settle down. I would just stay on this particular step (letting the cats sniff the newbie's scent) until the cats calm down, before you move on to the next step. The worst thing you can do with a cat is to rush her, especially when it comes to introductions, lol (part of the reason Buffy still hates Molly is because we rushed her too fast a couple of times, and Buffy's a little smarty, she quickly developed a hate for miss Molly)

Good luck!
 
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jamidnyc

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Thank you for your story and advice!

I'm not sure what you meant about staying on this step until moving to the next step...there are no closed doors, so they all are "together" in a sense, although Ella has been hiding under the bed all day. Do you mean I shouldn't try to put the kitten's scent on something and put it in front of Ella?

Scat and Tommy touched noses today and Scat didn't hiss, so that was good. But then, of course, 2 hours later, the same thing happened and she DID hiss. Cats are so strange! But so loveable.
 

tempteq

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Originally Posted by JamiDNYC

I'm not sure what you meant about staying on this step until moving to the next step...there are no closed doors, so they all are "together" in a sense, although Ella has been hiding under the bed all day. Do you mean I shouldn't try to put the kitten's scent on something and put it in front of Ella?
I think the "steps" are for a slow introduction.

Most cats are more comfortable with slow introductions. Where you isolate the newcomer, then open the door a crack (so they can see each other but not get at each other), then letting them be together for short amounts of time, and finally letting them be together.

You say that there are no closed doors. Can you put the new kitten in the bathroom? We have a small apartment with no extra rooms so when introducing my new to my resident, the new had to deal with being put in the bathroom for a few weeks while I did the introduction process with them.

http://www.thecatsite.com/Behavior/4...cing-Cats.html
 

merlynn's mom

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yes, putting the newbie in the bathroom for a while will definitely help calm things down. i also have a one bedroom apartment and when i brought pico home, i rotated: merlynn would have run of the living area during the day so she could greet me as usual when i got home; then i would switch them at night so merlynn could sleep with me as usual at night.

we just brought a little kitten home and he has been in the bathroom for a week so far. and there he'll have to stay until he is old enough to be tested and given his boosters.

please try to start over with intros and put the newbie in the bathroom or other safe place away from your resident cats. spend time with each of them playing and brushing and whatnot. make sure your resident cats don't get jealous - try to give them a little more attention than the newbie.


good luck.
 
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jamidnyc

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The problem is between my 2 female adult cats, not with the kitten. Scat (daughter of Ella) is getting along fine with Tommy (kitten). Ella hisses at him. But Ella doesn't want to have anything to do with Scat. I tried putting Tommy in the bedroom, but then Scat sits outside the door crying to get in, and Tommy's on the other side of the door trying to get out. I kind of feel like it's going backwards at this point to keep Tommy in a seperate space. If anything, it seems that Ella is the one who wants to be alone. When Scat goes near her, she growls, makes those weird "pig" sounds, and then hides under the bed.

I'm going out of town Saturday night until Tuesday, back to the home where Tommy was born (June 14), and his mom and brother are there. Should I take him with me? If I remove him from my apt for a few days, do you think Ella and Scat would work it out?

Ugh. Help!
 

tempteq

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Originally Posted by JamiDNYC

The problem is between my 2 female adult cats, not with the kitten. Scat (daughter of Ella) is getting along fine with Tommy (kitten). Ella hisses at him. But Ella doesn't want to have anything to do with Scat. I tried putting Tommy in the bedroom, but then Scat sits outside the door crying to get in, and Tommy's on the other side of the door trying to get out. I kind of feel like it's going backwards at this point to keep Tommy in a seperate space. If anything, it seems that Ella is the one who wants to be alone. When Scat goes near her, she growls, makes those weird "pig" sounds, and then hides under the bed.
Ok, so Tommy came home with you on Saturday and all 3 have been hanging out together since then. Ella and Scat were happy before Tommy arrived. Since Tommy's arrival, Scat has somewhat accepted Tommy, but Ella has not. Now Ella is not only hissing at newcomer Tommy, she is also hissing at her old friend Scat.

Here's what I would do in your situation. I'd isolate Tommy. It may sound backward, but you want to restore peace to your household before you try again with introducing Tommy. To your cats (at least Ella), Tommy is an intruder who has rudely disrupted her happy household and the schedule she was used to. Once Tommy is isolated, I'd give both Ella and Scat a cat wipe bath (or maybe try the vanilla extract trick: http://www.thecatsite.com/Tabbytudes...-May-2003.html) so they smell alike. My guess is that Ella is hissing at Scat because Scat smells like the intruder. See if that helps the situation. Make it a regularly ol' scheduled day (like it was before Tommy came). Have Ella and Scat eat together, play together etc. Hopefully, mother and daughter will get back to normal fairly quickly (hopefully before you leave on Saturday night!)

I would then start over with the introduction process and do a slow introduction (once you get back). If all goes well in the next few days before you leave (Ella and Scat are harmonious again), then take Tommy with you over the weekend (you might have to keep him separated from his mom and brother because they might not recognize him) and when you come back, immediately isolate him to another room (bathroom/bedroom) and go the slow introduction route. It sounds like Ella is the alpha (is she?). If so, focus on introducing Ella to Tommy and go at Ella's pace. I have read that with multiple cat households, once the alpha has accepted the newcomer, usually the rest of cats will fall in line.

If Ella and Scat are still fighting with each other before you leave, you may need to isolate them from each other for the weekend or bring Scat with you too. Then work on reintroducing Ella and Scat when you get back.

I'd definitely try to get Ella and Scat back to the way they were pre-Tommy first before making your next step.

Best of luck!
 
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jamidnyc

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Thanks for your advice. I've tried to put Tommy in the bedroom with the door closed, but he cries like crazy at the door, and Scat is on the other side trying to get in there. And it doesn't stop!

SO...I opened the door, tried the vanilla trick, and so far it's not working. Sigh...

My partner, who has the home in PA and brought in the stray that started all of this, doesn't want me isolating Tommy at this point. She thinks it's a form of punishment to him (and Scat, since Scat likes him now). It's been 6 days now, so she doesn't think it's fair or right to go back to square one. Arghh...

Do you think that if I keep things the way they are, eventually Ella will come around?
 

tempteq

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Originally Posted by JamiDNYC

My partner, who has the home in PA and brought in the stray that started all of this, doesn't want me isolating Tommy at this point. She thinks it's a form of punishment to him (and Scat, since Scat likes him now). It's been 6 days now, so she doesn't think it's fair or right to go back to square one. Arghh...

Do you think that if I keep things the way they are, eventually Ella will come around?
I think if Tommy and Scat are now bonded and happier together, then isolate them together. Please don't think of it as "a form of punishment." It would be punishment if they didn't have food/water/litterbox/toys, but assuming you're providing all necessities plus love and attention when you go in there, they're happy campers.

Think about it from Ella's point of view for a second. Bringing in a new kitten (who's an intruder to her) and letting him run free around her territory feels like punishment to her. If Ella is still upset and constant hissing/growling/fighting is still happening, the best thing to do would be to separate her from Scat/Tommy, let her get back into her groove and then do an introduction very slowly.

I'm suggesting isolation for the younger/newer 2 because Ella is older, used to her schedule, and let's face it - your apartment was originally her territory. Try to restore things back to normal as possible for Ella. Her world has been turned upside down and she doesn't know what she's done to have her happy little world overrun by this little brat (I'm sure he's insanely adorable, but Ella probably doesn't agree).

I was really hoping that you could get Ella and Scat to kiss & make up before you left for the weekend so they could get back to their old routine for a few days before you started over with Tommy. It sounds like

I don't think just keeping all 3 of them together and hoping Ella will come around is going to work. Cats really do a lot better with slow introductions and when you return from your weekend, I would work on introducing Ella to the Scat and the newcomer. It would be easier if you didn't have to leave poor Ella alone for a few days as she's had to deal with a lot as it is, but it's best to leave her to get back to her old self a little before tackling the introduction part.
 
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