Introducing 2 new cats to my 1

So I have a 7 month old cat named Ferguson, who I have had since she was 12 weeks old. She has been a playful and adorable kitten just like she should be. 

Recently my parents have decided to sell their house and travel. They cannot take their 2 cats out with them and I could not let them go to a humane society or anybody else so I took them. I have a one bedroom apartment, which may seem small but I assure you is adequate space for the 3 cats as it is the entire top floor of a building. Now I made my bedroom into a safe room for the new cats.

The new cats who have lived together for their entire lives are 3 years old and currently not getting along. I believe this was because we separated them for the 3 hour drive to their new home. They currently growl and hiss at eachother but then cuddle and sleep together at night. 

Now Ferguson is not happy with this at all she is fine with the larger of the two new cats Pixie, who she occasionally watches and growls at during supervised play time. But she hates the other cat Dixie. She hisses, growls, spits, and stalks her all over the place. She also tries not to allow her out of the bedroom to roam. 

I have read the article to keep them separated for weeks, but this isnt really an option since I am entering and leaving my bedroom all the time. I keep them separated at night and also during the day when I am at work.

Does anybody have any advice for me? If more info is needed just let me know since any advice would be appreciated.

THANKS

The separation during the initial stages of introductions is not optional. The new guys have to have chance to settle without getting challenged by the existing cat, and the existing cat has to have chance to get to know the sounds and smells of the new guys without feeling threatened or pushed out.

I get that you're in and out of your bedroom when you're at home, but what's wrong with keeping the door shut? Adding a baby gate or screen door will help prevent any escapees.

It occurs to me that Ferguson may be feeling pushed out if it's always the newcomers who are in your bedroom at night. Site swapping would be a great solution - one night the new guys get to sleep with you, the next night its Ferguson's turn.

Interactive playtime for all three cats is an essential tool in easing introductions; the more energy you can drain in a positive way, the less likely they'll be to fight each other.

Feliway diffusers throughout could make a big difference too. Also, look at your apartment from a cat's perspective. You need to make sure there are no dead ends where a cat can get cornered. Making use of vertical space is the best way to achieve this. An extreme example of how to make vertical space available is http://www.thecatsite.com/t/297074/snick-and-jaspers-new-cat-wall-furniture ( micknsnicks2mom what lucky cats those two are ). I appreciate not everyone wants or is able to go that far, but prudent use of shelving and cat trees can go a long way to making escape easy if needed. Also look at blocking off any spaces that one cat can 'trap' another in. I know it's a lot of work, but introductions are never simple . The easiest way to a smooth transition is taking the time to do things right in the early stages.

I thought I'd never be able to create effective separation for introductions, but I'm so, so glad I found a way. I've had my new girl since March. Things still aren't 100%, but the two cats are tolerating each other pretty well now. The dogs are another question....

Good luck with it all. Please do try to follow the advice on the articles on this site. They're proven methods that work time and again. Rush things now and you may well create a far bigger problem.

Thank you.So should I stop them from seeing eachother at all? Until the growling a hissing stops when they see eachother. Ferguson rarely slept with me before and doesn't meow or cry at night I find her in her usual spot in her tree when I wake up in the morning.

Yes, the newbies should be kept completely separate from Ferguson. No interaction right now.

How long have the newbies been with you? My guess is just a few days?
So long as Dixie and Pixie are not hurting each other, I think it is ok to keep them together as they are just reacting to all the new smells in your home.

Since Ferguson is use to sleeping outside the bedroom, I think it is fine to keep Dixie and Pixie in there 24/7 until they are no longer growling/hissing at each other. Then you can move forward with site swapping and/or scent swapping. But, still no contact with Feguson.

Pixie and Dixie are just being standoffish with eachother. But I believe it's just a reaction to the new place they just seem to growl at eachother but then they play together. Should I be concerned about leaving them in the bedroom alone together for long periods. I feel guilty not being with them when I'm home but I also feel guilty for leaving ferguson out if that makes any sense

I think Pixie and Dixie should be fine together, unless things begin to escalate.

caitlinnw said:

Thank you. So should I stop them from seeing eachother at all? Until the growling a hissing stops when they see eachother. Ferguson rarely slept with me before and doesn't meow or cry at night I find her in her usual spot in her tree when I wake up in the morning.

Click to expand...

hi, i'm snick and jasper's mommy -- jen. i'd follow the standard integration steps/stages, and take things nice and slow and easy. follow the three cats cues, what they seem comfortable with and when. don't be afraid to take a small step back in the integration, as opposed to trying to move forward before all the cats are ready to which could result in a bigger setback.  i've only ever needed to do one integration, between my snick and jasper. i was very careful and patient, followed their cues, and around about the six months point is when i considered my two fully integrated. snick and jasper are still making progress in their relationship, still having 'firsts' -- first times they've been comfortable doing things either together or very near to each other. they also still have their moments of snick being annoyed or making it clear that she's in charge, which is normal given their age difference and since this was snick's territory first. all in all, they're continuing to do very well together.

each integration progresses at it's own pace, and can be very different from integrations between other cats. it's a very individual kind of thing. one excellent piece of advice i received (from @ShadowsRescue) when i was starting snick and jasper's integration is not to rush the integration, especially towards the end, which is when many people do tend to try to rush things along too quickly.

i started a thread when i started snick and jasper's integration, to chronicle our progress and any setbacks. here's a link to that thread -- http://www.thecatsite.com/t/286396/snick-and-jaspers-integration-thread  

An update on my Kitty fun times. 

All hissing and growling has currently stopped. Pixie and Dixie are back to being there usual selves, sleeping and grooming eachother. Ferguson is back to the playful (psycho) kitty that she was prior to the interruption in the home. They have had minimal contact and what I mean by that is they seem to be playing with eachother under the door. Ferguson will lay on her back or side and slide her paws under the door while Dixie smells her and touches her paws with her own. Then Dixie will do the same thing from under the door. There is no hissing or growling. Also Ferguson keeps her claws in during the interaction. I plan to keep them switch their locations either tonight or tomorrow to allow pixie and dixie the chance to explore.

That's great news. Just go slow and follow the steps in those articles and things should work out fine The playing under the door is a great sign.

So here is an update on my Cats. We have had a few rough moments but I hope and think we are on the right path. So Pixie and Dixie who came together are back to being themselves with sleeping and grooming each other. They play how they used to by chasing and tumbling around with each other. There are no growls or hissing during this and they both go back for more so I know they are just playing they also did this at their old home. Now here is where we run into problems. Ferguson does not enjoy playing like this. Pixie and Dixie try to play with her and she runs and they chase her. However she usually runs either under furniture where they are to big to fit or in a corner and hisses. Im not sure if this is an aggressive move on their part or if she is just scared. They all eat within inches of each other with no problems. Also they all slept in the living room however Ferguson was in her cat tree and the other two were in the window. But Ferguson just ignored them and slept. 

It sounds like things are going well overall.

It's definitely worth blocking off any furniture that Ferguson can corner herself under, and instead really use cat trees, shelving etc to give her access to vertical space as an escape route. Hiding under things or getting cornered saps confidence which could, in time, lead to her being properly bullied by the other two (a cat is far more likely to go after weak/scared/anxious energy). Giving the opportunity to get up high builds confidence in these situations, as it gives power back to the 'victim'.

Pixie and Dixieland aren't setting out to attack - I totally get that they just go in for more physical play than Ferguson is used to - but the dynamic could so easily change if Ferguson continues to be cornered. Interactive play with all of them will drain energy in a positive way, and if they can play together with you, taking turns at pouncing, then Pixie and Dixie may even learn what constitutes appropriate play to Ferguson.

You're making great progress. I hope it continues

Well we have fully integrated my three cats together. We have mostly good moments all three cats eat together and sleep within feet of eachother. However I have noticed that Ferguson seems to be staying in only certain parts of the rooms when the cats are active. I have also seen Pixie stalking Ferguson and chasing her. Ferguson then gets into either a corner or under something and hisses and bats at Pixie which makes Pixie bat back. But then 5 minutes later Ferguson will stalk the other 2 and touch them and then run away. Now is this something that I should be concerned about or is this just play.

Also Ferguson has stopped using the litter box. She has peed on a basket of clean clothes, a pair of pants, and in a tote that had a few pairs of socks in it..... Now Dixie is allergic to the normal cat litter that I had initially used for Ferguson but I mixed the new an old together for about 2 months slowly making it more of the new litter and we never had a problem.

Any advice would be helpful. Thanks!!

With the stalking/chasing scenarios, I'd keep a close eye on what's happening. There does come a point when they just have to sort themselves out (working out who's top cat etc), but you need to be sure that no one's feeling too threatened. It would be a good idea to block off underneath things for the time being. Also, use vertical space to remove dead ends as far as possible to stop one cat being able to trap/corner another.

Ferguson's inappropriate peeing suggests that she is feeling threatened by the others. She's choosing places that smell strongly of you - most likely in an attempt to prove to herself that she belongs with you. I suggest you make sure there's an extra box or two around the place (so that the other cats can't psych her out of using one), and that you do plenty of interactive play with all of them..especially recreating the hunt-kill-eat cycle. Remember that any place a cat kills and eats it's prey becomes its territory. It the quickest way to build self confidence and confidence in the territory. Playing more with the other two - especially Pixie - will drain energy, hopefully leaving less energy for Ferguson-stalking. If you haven't already, get some Feliway diffusers plugged in. That should help calm ruffled nerves too.

It sounds like things are going pretty well, but you're not quite there yet. It'll come. Give it time.

Ferguson has stopped using the litter box and it is becoming a major problem. I have 3 litter boxes I clean them twice a day once in the morning and once at night. Ferguson is pooping in random places she pooped in my bathroom sink and also underneath the rug in my bathroom. I love my kitten but I'm at my last chance I can not have her pooping all over my apartment. The other cats are using the litter box just fine. Ferguson also pees on anything left out even if it is on my kitchen counter or on my desk. Please help!!

Take her to the vet. When a cat flat out stops using the box there's usually a veterinary cause - commonly either uti or constipation.

I took her to the vet when this first started and again a few days ago. The vet ruled out all medical problems but doesn't know why she isn't using the box.

Ok. Just wanted that ruling out first
The only other causes that I can think of are stress and/or major terratorial insecurity...unless, of course, the other cats are preventing her using the boxes.

I really do sympathise. This must be such a frustrating situation for you all. Is there anyplace you could put a box that Ferguson could get to but the other two couldn't? Doing that, and filling it with her old litter (the one Dixie's allergic to) might help.

Apart from that, have you tried Spirit Essences or Bach's Flower Remedies? You might find that they'd help her feel less anxious, and so ease all the issues you're having with her. Composure might be worth a go too.

This article might help with ideas http://www.thecatsite.com/a/litterbox-problems-in-cats-the-ultimate-guide

I don't have a lot of experience with box issues. @Feralvr help please.