foster fearful of the other cats in house

My foster boy Casper is coming around with me and my boyfriend, but he is terrified of the other cats in the house. OMG - Archie got in the room today and there was screaming and fighting - mostly on Cas' part. He tried to run and Archie pursued and cornered him!

Then Arch tried to run.. and I scruffed him and put him out of the room. I then went back and sprayed calming spray everywhere in the room.. and on my hands.. and rubbed them on Cas and Archie. (Feliway diffuser didn't seem to help much.)

Any advice? I mean it is possible that Cas will NEVER adjust to the other cats? The other boys aren't as assertive as Arch... I am not sure what to do.

BTW - Doug and I moved Cas out of the bathroom and into the spare bedroom/office. I think he likes it better. More room, more places to hide. He has a window and some fresh air... etc.

Some cats do not get along with other cats. That said - part of the problem could simply be that Casper was moved to a new "territory" recently and he doesn't feel completely secure that it is "his," so felt the need to defend it like crazy. ????

But this is a classic example of why some cat-cat introductions need to be done really slowly! A number of people have had great success by replacing the door of a room with a screen door - enables kitties to see and smell each other without being able to physically interact. If you're going foster regularly, or if Casper will likely be fostered for some time - turning your spare bedroom into the "foster room" and putting a screen door on it might not be a bad idea.

Originally Posted by LDG

Some cats do not get along with other cats. That said - part of the problem could simply be that Casper was moved to a new "territory" recently and he doesn't feel completely secure that it is "his," so felt the need to defend it like crazy. ????

But this is a classic example of why some cat-cat introductions need to be done really slowly! A number of people have had great success by replacing the door of a room with a screen door - enables kitties to see and smell each other without being able to physically interact. If you're going foster regularly, or if Casper will likely be fostered for some time - turning your spare bedroom into the "foster room" and putting a screen door on it might not be a bad idea.

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Yeah - I know... he was scared of them no matter what room he was in. I know the screen thing has been used.. .a friend of mine here has done that.

I have an old large window screen, but finding a way to secure it w/o damaging my door frame is a difficult puzzle. Honestly... they need to find homes and I need to sell my place... so I am trying to avoid putting screw or nail holes in things. And the one time we did try to do that... a couple of the cats tried to climb the screen and that was a big problem!! Also - I would have to be there in case intervention is needed.

Cas is still scared. But I have started letting the least threatening and most cuddly of my other foster boys into the room with me ... that's Ghost.

This morning - Cas actually came out while Ghost was just lounging on the carpet about 5 or 6 feet away. Cas was more interested in getting some attention than he was in being scared of the other cat. I consider that a breakthrough, tho' it didn't happen tonight when I did the same thing.

But then Archie had just gotten into the room about 15 min before that and scared the snot out of Cas. Cas growls and hisses...and runs to hide. And Archie - thinking it's a game - pursues!!!

Second time I have had to scruff him and put him out of the room in the last few days.

Archie is just determined to harrass poor Casper.

Originally Posted by LDG

Archie is just determined to harrass poor Casper.

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He did the same thing with Ghost - would zoooom past me when I opened the bathroom door and jump on G-man - who would squeak with fear and try to run... I think this is ARch's personality. He is very assertive in his play... and other areas too.

Originally Posted by AddieBee

Cas is still scared. But I have started letting the least threatening and most cuddly of my other foster boys into the room with me ... that's Ghost.

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This would have been my suggestion.

Is there any way you can stick Archie in a bedroom for a bit when you're going to be opening Casper's door? He's never going to make much progress if he fears Archie is going to be there at any minute to jump on him.
You may just have to take extra care to keep those two separated. If Casper's very submissive Archie will take advantage of that.


O/T but funny. I have one cat that is very submissive (Tomas), the type that wants everyone to like him. And I have another (Sho) who, while not exactly dominate, can be a bully at times. Then there's my female (Siri) who likes the Tomas. Sho got a little too rough with Tomas one evening, Tomas cried out and Siri came up and smacked Sho across the face. No one messes with Siri.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

This would have been my suggestion.

Is there any way you can stick Archie in a bedroom for a bit when you're going to be opening Casper's door? He's never going to make much progress if he fears Archie is going to be there at any minute to jump on him.
You may just have to take extra care to keep those two separated. If Casper's very submissive Archie will take advantage of that.


O/T but funny. I have one cat that is very submissive (Tomas), the type that wants everyone to like him. And I have another (Sho) who, while not exactly dominate, can be a bully at times. Then there's my female (Siri) who likes the Tomas. Sho got a little too rough with Tomas one evening, Tomas cried out and Siri came up and smacked Sho across the face. No one messes with Siri.

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Thanks. Ghost came in with me again this evening and I gave them treats together... well sorta. Cas even came out a bit and investigated Ghost, who was nibbling on food... but when G turned toward him, he hissed and ran back to his hiding place. I think it's a good sign that Cas came out of hiding while G was there AND noshed on a few treats. I will try that again.

Cas seems to be somewhat ok with Ghost. He will come out.. and eat treats in G's presence, but is still quite uncomfortable. And G is nervous around Cas b/c of the growling...

But I was alone in the room with Cas who loves the Whiskas Temptation treats -- he ate them out of my fingers!!!! He was very gentle! This is the same cat who bit me twice in the span of three days. He also let me rub him while he laid on his side and made muffins!

I also spent some time in there doing light cleaning and sorting - getting stuff ready to be shredded. Cas cont. to stay under the desk, but seemed more curious than scared.... He didn't like the noise of the brown paper shopping bags either.

Definitely sounds like Archie is a bit of a bully. How many kitties do you have? Sounds like you may be taking on more then they can handle....

Originally Posted by cheylink

Definitely sounds like Archie is a bit of a bully. How many kitties do you have? Sounds like you may be taking on more then they

can handle....

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I have seven fosters in my condo. yeah... too many - but if I hadn't taken them in they all would have died and I couldn't have lived with that.

The other six get along fine. Once Archie establishes himself, then he is fine ... he even lets the other cats "win" at wrestling - letting Lil Tex who weighs about 8 lbs, pin him!!! They are good buds, too. He does get a little overzealous in his play sometimes. And yes - he does bully Ghost a little bit. The other cats know how to handle him; Ghost is a bit um.... slow. He also will allow the other cats to eat off his plate at meal time... and he pushes into theirs.... I mean, under the circumstances, things could be a lot worse... since the only cats that knew each other were Jake and Prowler.

Originally Posted by AddieBee

I have seven fosters in my condo. yeah... too many - but if I hadn't taken them in they all would have died and I couldn't have lived with that.

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i know how you feel... thats why i avoid going to shelters/pet stores UNLESS i know I CAN adopt a kitty. Otherwise, id go home bawling my head off... Hubby says 2 cats, NO MORE!! if it were up to me, i'd rescue a couple more kittys.