Calming a cat

dawn saunders

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Can somebody help me please, I have 4 cats as I have taken in two strays 6-8 months ago.  One of them is a male and he doesn't get on with one of the other male's or females that I have.  I have tried feliway but it hasn't helped and I have spoke to the vet but he said there is nothing that can be done.  He fights with the other cats and he also sprays in the house.  There is a cat flap so he can come in and out as he pleases.  The other cats are now getting very subdued and it is getting to the stage where I am going to have to try and re-home he, but again, I am having difficultes doing this.  I dont want to just kick him out as I couldnt do that but it isnt fair on the other cats or the family
 
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dawn saunders

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Forgot to put on there, he has been spayed
 

shadowsrescue

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Did you do proper introductions with the cats?  Cats are very territorial and any newcomer will completely upset the balance of the home.  Some cats will take to one another very quickly while others can can weeks, months and even a year or more to live peacefully together.  Most cats can learn to coexist in a home even if they don't like each other.  The key is introductions.

Did the 2 new ones have a separate space apart from your other cats when you brought them inside?  Do all of your cats go outside?  Sometimes the scent that cats bring back from going in and out cause issues with some cats.  Is there a reason you are letting the cat outside? 

Feliway can help, but I have found that you need to have lots of it.  Just plugging one into your home is often not enough.  You also can get the spray and use it in areas where there is tension.

I have used a product called Composure liquid max.  It can easily be mixed into wet food 2x a day.  I gave it to the more aggressive cat in double strength (1/2 t in the morning and 1/4 t. at night) and I also gave some to the more meek cat.  After a week, it did diffuse some of the tension in the house.  The more aggressive cat was able to quell his aggressiveness.  I had to use this product in my home for almost 6 months.  You can buy it in treat formula, but many cats do not like the treats.  The liquid is very easy to use.  You can find the best price on Amazon.

Do the new cats have a place that they can claim as their own?  A special hiding spot or place to sleep where your other cats do not mind?  This is very important.  Cats need territory.  They can learn to share it, but at first there needs to be a hierarchy system.  There will be one alpha cat and the others will fall behind.  It may surprise you which cat is the alpha. 

Here are some articles on cat to cat introductions and a video.  It can be time consuming and frustrating.  I brought a feral cat into my home in 2013.  I had another cat inside as well as a large dog.  I also care for 2-3 ferals outside.  It was a nightmare.  The feral was so aggressive.  Introductions took a long time.  It was one full year before the cats learned to exist.  Now at 18 months, they play and lounge together.  It can be done, but it takes patience.

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/

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

http://www.wvcats.com/integrating_cats.htm

 
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dawn saunders

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Hi

Thanks for that, to cut a long story short, one of our cats went missing and when we finally got him back the two strays were living with us as we seemed to accumulate them along the way looking for him.  The aggressive cat mostly lives in the kitchen and the others go in there for their food and also to go out of the cat flap.  The other cat lives in another room and the two cats that were always mine have the run of the rest of the house.They all go out except my youngest girl as she had an accident so is housebound at the moment.  I let them out as I dont think it is right keeping them in the house all the time.

I have one feliway plug in in the kitchen and one in the room, I think I will look at getting the spray and the composure liquid as well.

I will have a look at all the links you have sent, thank you so much.

Also, maybe I need to be even more patient, it has been 6-8 mths but maybe I need to leave it longer.

Do you know anything I can do to help with him spraying in the house?
 

shadowsrescue

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The composure and feliway should help with the spraying.  It may take a week or so to notice results.  Make sure you clean the sprayed area with a really good enzymatic cleaner.  He will go right back to the same area and respray if he can still smell it.  I also would spray some of the feliway or comfort zone spray around that entire area a few times each day.

The composure liquid should help the cat to feel less anxious if that might be leading to him spraying.  They also sell calming collars. 
 
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