problems with the clan.

We have 5 cats 2 5years old castread male and female and 3 2 1/2 year olds 2 girls and a boy castrated.
the problem is the 2 older cats. They used to get on very well although the fem was allwaysg in charge. Now she wont tollarate him at all.q
She and the girls got caught out and ended up with kittens. The kittens r now weaned and most have gone to lovin homes.
So at first we thought she was protectin her kittens. He stayed downstairs though his own choice and she with the kittens r upstairs. Which has isolated poor zorro.Now how ever he wont come bak up the stairs if he sees isis he hides or gets out of her way very quick which makes her chase him more.

They got on so well before and now poor zorro is always on his own(we spoil him because of this and there is allways someone downstairs) we would love to go bak to normal.
Any ideas.

All I can think of is to re introduce Zorro to the rest of the feline household - act as though he was a brand new cat you were bringing in.

Lots of interactive play all round will also help, especially if you can create the hunt-kill-eat cycle. Da bird style toys are purest for this. The play will boost Zorro's confidence so he'll hopefully stop acting like prey,and it will help drain and redirect Isis's energy so she feels less inclined to 'hunt' Zorro. Could be worth trying Feliway plug ins too.

that things get better soon

*I meant perfect!

Thank you i have been slowly introduceing them again but the only prob is he wont come upstairs i f i carry him up he leggs it bak down. I bought some catnip and they all love it and the two were nose to nose and nothing zorro even got up enough courage to sniff her bottom. But he was dtill quite tense ready to bolt if nessaray.

Maybe he's saying he's not quite ready for face to face meetings yet. Try going back a stage, and maybe do site swapping so Zorro can re-learn that upstairs is safe too. shadowsrescue has fantastic introduction tips, and may have some other ideas.
Don't give up

I do believe she was being very protective of her kittens.  She may also still be having left over hormones from the pregnancy and weaning.  Please please get her spayed as well as any other remaining cats that are not spayed/neutered.  Pregnancy and hormones are very hard for cats.  It greatly affects their demeanor.  She will soften personality wise if you get her spayed and allow her time for her hormones to settle.  So step one is get her spayed ASAP.

Step two.  Start with scent swapping.  Rub down the cat she is having issues with with a clean wash cloth or sock.  Rub him all over especially under his chin and on the pads of his feet.  This is where the scent glands are located.  Then take the another clean wash cloth or sock and rub her down the same way.  Take his cloth to her and allow her to smell it.  At first just leave it in her space.  Put it in her bed or even  just in the room with her.  Do the same with the male.  Do this every day for a few days.  Next, as long as there is no hissing or growling associated with the scent swap, you can try to take the cloth and rub his scent onto her body.  Just a bit at first.  See how she reacts.  Do the same with the male.  Just watch carefully for how they react.  Do this for a few days.  As long as there is no hissing or growling that grows to aggitation, you can continue to move forward. 

Next is feeding on opposites sides of a closed door or you can even just use a sight blocker ( large piece of cardboard or other large piece of wood).  Feed each cat on either side of the door.  Start maybe 3 feet or so from the door and move forward.  Some cats hate this step as they don't like eating in strange places.  If that is the case, just use a special yummy treat instead.  Try plain cooked chicken or even some tuna.  See how close they can come to the closed door.  If all goes well you can place a baby gate or two in the door way or crack the door and feed that so that they might just catch a glimpse of each other.  Take this step slowly.  You may need someone to help you so that someone is with each cat.  Based on their comfort you can open the door further and further.  A baby gate or screen door really helps here.  It keeps the cats separate, but allows them to see and smell each other. 

After doing the feedings you can move to either short supervised visits or you can try a cat carrier or large dog cage.  The carrier/cage allows one cat to be safe inside while the other cat can roam and smell and see.  At first you may need to cover the carrier/cage on 3 sides with a sheet.  You can alternate who is inside the carrier/cage.  Have special treat rewards.  This allows the cats to associate something good with each other.  Keep the visits short (just a few minutes to start) and work up to 5-10 minutes.  Try this a few times each day.  Once they become comfortable, you can try them out and about with each other. 

Once they are out and about, watch for hissing/growling/posturing/chasing, ears going flat and full out attacks,  If this happens, take the cat that started the issue and place them in a room of their own for a short time out.  No yelling, squirt bottle or getting upset.  Remain calm.  Just place the cat in a room and keep them there for 10-20 minutes.  Then let them out.  If it happens again, you can try another time out.  If it happens a 3rd, time, the time out together is over for the day.  Keep the cats separate or do activities where they cannot get at each other.  Try again the next day.  This step can take time and patience.  If you are getting lots of attacks here, back up a step.  Most of us rush the process here.  We so want the cats together.  Just take your time.

I hope this works for you.  Just please get her spayed first and then work on these steps.  She may be much for agreeable once her hormones are in check.

ShadowsRescue said:

Please please get her spayed as well as any other remaining cats that are not spayed/neutered.

Click to expand...

x 100. Can't believe I missed the obvious first step :anon:

I hope it works for you. Be patient and trust it can work out eventually.

Oh bleive me that is the first thing on my list. Even if the boys r now both done sucessfully.
How long should i wait to spary her ? And how long after they give birth do they go in to season again? So i know how long i got to spay her. The her kittens r 9 weeks now.

I don't have experience with pregnancy/queens and kittens. I know they come back into heat pretty quickly though. I'd consider spaying as soon as the kittens are weaned. You don't want to risk another litter, and the hormonal changes aren't much fun for anyone.

Oh bleive me that is the first thing on my list. Even if the boys r now both done sucessfully.
How long should i wait to spary her ? And how long after they give birth do they go in to season again? So i know how long i got to spay her. The her kittens r 9 weeks now. Athough we still have 7week old kittens who still sucke from her.

Zorro has been coming up for the pass 2 days of his own acord. He eats but still weary. Sometimes she chases him some times not. But yet she lets the younger boy inky to do wot ever he wants and he more of a stronger charter than zorro. She dose tell him off but he just comes striaght back. Where zorro gets chased and stays gone.
They do eat side by side so i dont get it.


Sorry afmin pressed wrong button on phone tryed to edit but wouldnt let me resubmit

At least Zorro's confidence seems to be building a little. Inky reacts differently because he's different! All cats have their own personalities and will respond differently to the same situation. Anyway, whoever said cats were logical

Yeah inky dosent care but zorro takes things to heart bless him. Anything for quet life.
Zorro was hovering while isis was giving birth and even lick isis on the nose while she was pushin she didnt mind.
He great with the kits too. They now can climb up and down the stairs so they ho down to play with zorro.

Ok update....
Zorro is now coming upstairs on his own been doing it for about a week now. At first him and isis kept their distance . But now they are feet away and ok they not great there is still tension in the air they eye each other alot . Isis has chilled soo much(she getting fixed next month as i wanted to sort this out before she got done . My logic being she wont feel defensove all over again with her stitches etc)

Now the problem is zorro he has now gone on the defencesive. Growls at everyone if they get to close. Isis trys to say hi and she gets growled at. Although i know it just getting his place again he doing himself no favours and now courseing more fights.

If he had stood his ground at the start there wouldnt be a problem but now he seems to be actually starting them or egging the others ontoo. Its mainly based on isis and inky although isis dont rise to it but inky will.