I need help introducing a new cat to my current ones

crazy4beags

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Jan 24, 2016
Messages
41
Purraise
1
Location
Las Vegas, NV
It's a long story about how I got the cat, but to make it shorter I brought him home from Utah when I moved back home three weeks ago. He was trapped as a feral and neutered, but I do believe he was never in a house before. I've estimated his age to be about 8-10 months old now. There lies the problem. I have two cats already that are both female and the youngest will be 12 in May. I don't let the young one interact with my cats as of now because he chases them (my mother lets him out without securing the other cats first). I believe it to be play behavior that then turns into a fight as my two girls don't take kindly to strange cats. How it's been in the past is they hiss and usually the fosters leave them be. Not my new boy though (I plan on keeping him). He is an EXTREMELY curious cat, he always has his face in something. I would like them all to get along before I move and branch out on my own. If I hold him and he sees one of the other cats his tail gets puffy and he struggles to escape my arms.

I do try to get my girls to engage in his scent by changing the scratching posts around and I've begun feeding them in the same room. The two girls are very insecure around him though and so far it's not working. Any advice is appreciated.
 

talkingpeanut

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 12, 2015
Messages
11,793
Purraise
3,600
Watch Jackson Galaxy's cat introduction video: 
It should be a long, slow process.  They need to be completely separate at first and fed on opposite sides of a door with no visual.  You'll go at their pace, and I bet you'll see an improvement soon!

Do try to talk to your mother about letting the cats interact.  It can really be detrimental to the process.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #3

crazy4beags

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Jan 24, 2016
Messages
41
Purraise
1
Location
Las Vegas, NV
Awesome! Thank you so much! My house is set up kind of weird and I have a dog, but I'll certainly figure out how to set them up with that! I like his idea of site swapping. There are some things I need to do in my room, so he'll go in the bathroom for a bit. I've been looking for Jason Galaxy's videos because he does great work with cats! There are some supplies I'll need to purchase for sure (like cat toys... my dog destroys them). I have a gate somewhere for when the cats graduate to that.
 

talkingpeanut

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 12, 2015
Messages
11,793
Purraise
3,600
You're so welcome!  It sounds like they just need more time and for all the humans in the house to agree to a plan.  
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5

crazy4beags

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Jan 24, 2016
Messages
41
Purraise
1
Location
Las Vegas, NV
Okay.... So the door thing isn't going to work. The two cats I have already don't like eating on the ground because of my dog. Any other ideas?
 

talkingpeanut

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Oct 12, 2015
Messages
11,793
Purraise
3,600
Maybe just treats on either side of the door? They really need that positive association.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #7

crazy4beags

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Jan 24, 2016
Messages
41
Purraise
1
Location
Las Vegas, NV
I'm not sure. I don't really give my cats treats because of their health problems. Tuna is one of their favorites and I was going to give that a go later as they just ate their breakfast.
 

biancavd

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
Sep 6, 2013
Messages
725
Purraise
190
Location
Europe
Not sure if this is in the video posted above, but you can also try swapping blankets (for scent). Put a blanket with your new cat and one in the room with your other cats. After a day or 2, switch the blankets. This way, your cats and your other cat can get used to the smell.

Also, can you describe how the eating in the same room goes? It's basically all about reading your cats. And as hard as it sounds, a hit from a paw isn't bad. It's a cats way to say that the other cat is coming too close. If your male is so curious, and he comes close to another cat and she hits him, that is okay. Just make sure neither gets injured. Some hissing and growling is fine too, it's again a way for cats to communicate and to let the other cat know they are uncomfortable.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #9

crazy4beags

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Jan 24, 2016
Messages
41
Purraise
1
Location
Las Vegas, NV
It's not just a hiss and a swat. It turns into a full blown fight with hissing, spitting, scratching, one of them goes full tazmanian devil. If it was just a hiss and swat I wouldn't be so worried about it.

Now for eating in the same room... If the kitten is distracted by food and far enough away my cats will watch him, but continue eating. If he's too close for comfort the two girls slink away from their food. The boy does watch them and continues eating. I've been doing the swapping with scratchers and I will use my old baby blankets to see if that helps. I'm also going to buy some feliway once I get paid to help with stress along with more toys.
 

biancavd

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
Sep 6, 2013
Messages
725
Purraise
190
Location
Europe
I understand, but there's a difference in fights. You need to find out what kind of fight it is. If one hisses and swats, and the other jumps on the cat, it's not strange that it turns into a full scale fight (the one that was already uncomfortable will defend him/herself). Now, the one jumping in, is he/she trying to play, or is it really like an instand I-will-kill-you-attack? If it starts playfull, that one still needs to learn that he is pushing it too far. Kittens can be extremely persistent, which can annoy the other cats.

The eating ways show there is quite some tention between them. I would continue feeding them together with enough room inbetween so they all continue eating. They will watch eachother, but that should subside eventually. When it does, you can start moving them a little closer (gradually).

Aside from that, the blanket-idea should also help them get used to each others scents. Feliway is also great, let us know how it goes when you get that.
 
Last edited:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #11

crazy4beags

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Jan 24, 2016
Messages
41
Purraise
1
Location
Las Vegas, NV
i think it starts out playful. The new one doesn't stop when he gets hissed at though and then attacks unless we step in. At that point my older cats will not eat and will pee in inappropriate areas. That's what I'm trying to prevent. Nobody likes cat pee on counters or in closets on a favorite pair of shoes.
 

biancavd

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
Sep 6, 2013
Messages
725
Purraise
190
Location
Europe
 
i think it starts out playful. The new one doesn't stop when he gets hissed at though and then attacks unless we step in. At that point my older cats will not eat and will pee in inappropriate areas. That's what I'm trying to prevent. Nobody likes cat pee on counters or in closets on a favorite pair of shoes.
Alright, I think your kitten (the new one) hasn't learned yet that he is pushing limits. And your other cat sounds extremely stressed and thus pees in inappropriate places. Older cats, in many occations, have trouble letting in a new kitten. They aren't as acceptive as younger cats are. It will take them longer to accept than it would take a younger cat. There is even a chance that they will never accept the new kitten.

Feliway should probably be your best option now. It should make your other cats feel more at ease. The little one seems to have no problem and is probably already used to his new place and sees it as his own house. 

I would also try to put them in the same room, play with the little kitten and let your older cats watch from whereever they want to be in the room. The little kitten will be (hopefully) distracted and leave your older cats alone as long as you play with him. That way, your new cats can look at him and get used to his scent and presence without being "attacked" and feeling treatened. If your older cats are still playful, they might even eventually join in (who knows ;)).

I think your best bet now would be letting your older cats get used to the new kitten and get their stress level down. When they feel more comfortable, they will be better at teaching the kitten when he goes too far and the peeing at inappropriate places should stop. For the kitten, keep him occupied and play with him a lot to keep his energy well used. When he seems more tired and your other cats are already doing a bit better, you can try putting them together again. If he's tired enough he will be more calm and relaxed around your older cats, which will seem less threatening to them.
 
Last edited:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #13

crazy4beags

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Jan 24, 2016
Messages
41
Purraise
1
Location
Las Vegas, NV
I will be buying more toys after I get paid including a treat dispenser toy for him. I'm also going to get a couple of teaser toys. I told my parents that I am making the house more cat friendly. Eventually I'll get more cat towers and scratchers for them. He's a very confident cat and was even thinking of putting him on a harness and taking him out to petco/petsmart when he has proof of his shots. Maybe even taking him in our back yard for a bit on a harness.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #14

crazy4beags

TCS Member
Thread starter
Young Cat
Joined
Jan 24, 2016
Messages
41
Purraise
1
Location
Las Vegas, NV
I found something that works better! Honey doesn't feel safe eating if she sees the kitten. She eats if I just leave the door open, feed the young one in there, and move her dish farther away! Yay! Success!
 
Top