Rescue Cat will not stop IMMEDIATELY attacking ANY other cat

mb101

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About 4 months ago, I rescued a male Siamese cat (named Smudge), who I recently got neutered and is around 1 years old. I have three indoor cats which all came into my house during different times who get along swimmingly. I've introduced adult cats to other adult cats before and know it is a long process to get them to tolerate each other. I gave smudge his own room for a few months, switched that room with the other cats, then back again a few times so that they all can get familiar with his scent. I had them feed on opposite sides of a door for months as well. I know the other cats and Smudge recognize his scent and vice versa.

ANY time Smudge comes in contact with the other cats, he IMMEDIATELY attacks them without warning. No vocalization, no hissing, growling, etc. I've never seen anything like this before. It gives the other cats no opportunity to defend him/herself or challenge the threat. They are totally caught off guard and it always ends violently. It's actually quite terrifying to watch. I have a "catio" where I have tried putting him in there for the other cats to come up to him safely, but he immediately lunges at the wire mesh grates and attempts to scratch them in a thrashing manner. The other cats don't even have a chance to scope him out more personally.

Smudge is very good to humans, never has scratched or bit me. He likes human interaction and is very affectionate. I would think that after 4 months and constant "scent swapping," he would know that the other cats are not a threat. I don't know if this is a lost cause and has been too ingrained in his behavior to change. There is no "middle ground" with him to work on and I have no basis to start coaching from. The other cats are so traumatized of him that they cower in fear from just the scent of him. Help please!
 

tulosai

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Basically, you need to go back and start from scratch and go REALLY, REALLY slowly.

Here is an article about the right steps to take.  You have the right idea about the scent swapping, but basically, you have to go at the cats pace and allow all the cats to get fully comfortable at EACH step (even if each step takes months) before proceeding to the next one.

In 99+% of cases, peaceful coexistence can eventually be achieved but it may take a great deal of time.

Good luck.  I am sorry you are going through this.
 

shadowsrescue

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Hi @MB101

Unfortunately reintroductions will be necessary.  It will be a pain and it may take a long time, but it is necessary.  Last year I brought  stray/feral into my home to try and live with my resident cat and dog.  The stray/feral had a room of his own and I started introductions after the stray/feral had been in the house for over 2 months.  I started off slowly and all was going well.  I so badly wanted the cats to be out and about together.  I rushed the last steps as many of us do.  It was a nightmare.  The stray/feral seemed to have absolutely no impulse control.  Each time he saw my resident cat, he would attack.  My resident cat was scared to death.  It was all very hard to watch.  I redid introductions and they took months and months.  I had a few set backs along the way, but for the most part I took the process very slow.  It was rewarded with the two now being friends.  Not bff friends, but they sleep in the same area, groom occasionally and play multiple times each day. 

Here are a couple sites to refresh your memory on introductions:

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/introdu...www.thecatsite.com/a/introducing-cats-to-cats

http://www.catbehaviorassociates.com/a-simple-little-trick-to-use-during-new-cat-introductions/

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/cat-behavior/introducing-your-cat-new-cat

http://jacksongalaxy.com/2010/10/01/cat-to-cat-introductions/

 
 
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mb101

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Thank you! I will try slowly. I really don't want to give up, since he is so good besides that and he's had a rough life. I just want everyone to get along and to coexist in harmony. It goes against their nature, but you've given me hope that it can be done. 

Tulosai, you said you had an article for me to read. I didn't see the link. Did you mean to attach a link?
 
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mb101

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@ShadowsRescue  

You're a genius. That is so creative. You've instilled me with hope for Smudge. I am going to try again to make this work again. One of the links mentioned a "sock" trick to trap friendly pheromones of the dominant resident cat (Cupid). Since it really is Smudge that needs to stop attacking Cupid, I've rubbed Cupid's neck/face with the sock and put it in Smudge's room. He immediately started to sniff it. I hope this starts the acclimation process for him. 

I know this is a gradual process and all the links indicate that it is 99% proven if you follow the steps SLOWLY and with precision and patience. I am going to buy those products from Amazon today (Feliway and Composure); Smudge almost needs to get "drugged" to change his mindset. I would never condone sedating him, but I think that these products provide a safe and somewhat natural way of accelerating the process. 
 

shadowsrescue

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@ShadowsRescue  

You're a genius. That is so creative. You've instilled me with hope for Smudge. I am going to try again to make this work again. One of the links mentioned a "sock" trick to trap friendly pheromones of the dominant resident cat (Cupid). Since it really is Smudge that needs to stop attacking Cupid, I've rubbed Cupid's neck/face with the sock and put it in Smudge's room. He immediately started to sniff it. I hope this starts the acclimation process for him. 

I know this is a gradual process and all the links indicate that it is 99% proven if you follow the steps SLOWLY and with precision and patience. I am going to buy those products from Amazon today (Feliway and Composure); Smudge almost needs to get "drugged" to change his mindset. I would never condone sedating him, but I think that these products provide a safe and somewhat natural way of accelerating the process. 
I was at my wits end with my boy Marvin.  I called my vet as I had no idea what to do with him.  I ready to put him on Prozac.  She suggested the feline composure.  The treats worked well, but it required each cat to have 6 per day.  I stumbled upon the liquid and it worked so well.  It did so much for my aggressive one.  He was not "drugged" in any sense, just much for calm.  He was much easier to work with too. 

Also along the way with reintroductions, I used a large dog crate.  My resident cat, Jake loved to go inside.  I would then cover the cage with a sheet on 3 sides.  The cats could safely sniff.  I then started using a string for them to play with.  I also did lots of plain cooked chicken rewards.  They learned to enjoy each other with play and chicken.  I kept the sessions really short.  I always wanted them to end on a positive note.  I also used Marvin's room as a time out spot.  Once the cats were out and about together, if Marvin got aggressive, he went to his timeout room for 15-60 minutes or until he was calm.  If he did it again, he was in there for longer.  It didn't take long for him to correlate the two.
 
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mb101

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That's another good idea! I just ordered those products off Amazon. I am really hoping this will ease the process. I got the liquid like you suggested, along with the Feliway plug-ins. I am curious to see how it affects the household. I am going to take it really SLOW. I'll let you know the progress after a week or so. Thank you again.
 

jodiethierry64

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That's another good idea! I just ordered those products off Amazon. I am really hoping this will ease the process. I got the liquid like you suggested, along with the Feliway plug-ins. I am curious to see how it affects the household. I am going to take it really SLOW. I'll let you know the progress after a week or so. Thank you again.

I feel your pain!!! I'm in your exact situation!! I rescued a pregnant stray Siamese. I took her to the vets, since she was early pregnant, had her spayed.

She is so precious but attacks my other babies without warning and violently!! She has them bleeding. I now have her on a hareness and 15 foot leash tied to my dining room chair. She don't mind one bit and my others are no longer frightened of her as they know she can't get them. She will still try to charge them but the leash keeps her from reaching them. My others also know her boundaries and stay clear. We have peace in the house again.

Hopefully with time Purrdy Girl will no longer need to be harnessed but for now it works. I also move the chair around, that the leash is tied to, so she can go to diffetent areas. Right now she's lying.on the couch.

She also is so loving and has never hurt me or my husband. She, just like your boy, was never socialized. Best of luck with your boy!!
 

varmint

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WE recently found another feral cat,we had to coax him and whisper sweet nothings in his ear just to get him close.enough to get a good visual as to his general condition as well as to convince him we mean him no ill will. Fast forward ...screamin has adopted us,and we had him neutered and shots,heartguard etc etc...now screamin ,the shy guy who would cower and cringe at the mere sight of our other ferals now goes instantly into attack mode and starts whippin the other cats.he has zero tolerance.the vet seems to think its all.about screamin being very hungry when he found our little refuge out here in the desert,so he is "protecting his food source and shelter" we are seeing progress as time passes far as his scrappin goes.(mayhap neutering him made him mellow out?)we dont know for certain why he is being mellower but we will take any progress we can get.gladly.best of to you and your furry feline friend.
 
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