Newer cat attacks the main cat

One of our 2 cats died in January. In February we went to the humane society to get another thinking main cat would be lonely.

I will save bashing the humane society for the absolute ineptitude of vetting this cat for another thread. They clearly pushed this problem cat on us and after their follow up call threw their hands in the air and basically said dont bring her back. I will be posting those emails in the future.


We did the whole safe room thing with my girlfriend staying in the bedroom with new cat and me staying with the main cat in the rest of my place. I made a 4ft lattice fence so everyone could get to know each other slowly and did all of the recommended things youre supposed to do to help the process.
Its been almost 4 months. The new cat has taken to my girlfriend (which i dont mind) like shes her one and only.

New cat instantly attacks the main cat viciously like she is under attack. If anyone is near new cat and main cat meows the person standing closest to new cat gets shredded to pieces.

If main cat is near the fence new cat throws herself into the fence trying to attack her. She is completely out of control. I had to make an entire pen just to give her a window to be in.
It isnt even remotely getting any better.

We really love new cat except now there is a 4 ft fence that divides the house and its a real drag.

2 cats 3 litter boxes. Pheromones spray, jackson galaxy routine answers and all the usual talk that does nothing.

The attacks dont stop. We run the fence system like a jail so nobody gets hurt.

Ya think theres a way or this is our new life?

Hi @divided house   ...first off, I just want to say that you both sound like two amazing cat guardians.

Not just because you built a lattice fenced wall system, to try and solve the problem, and a penned in area for the window...but also because you fell in love with New Cat.

And wanted Main Cat not to be lonely. You both have huge hearts.

I do think there has to be a solution, but my suggestions are probably the 'usual talk', and routine answers, too.

• Not sure if you've read any Articles here, about doing slow cat introductions. Some of the ideas might help trigger more ideas for you.

It does sound like you were doing the right initial steps, but sometimes you might have to go back to the beginning and start over.

Because New Cat is showing signs of aggression and hating your cat, plus re-directed aggression at both of you,

• Taking both cats to the Vet, for a check up. (There was a thread on here, last year, where a member's cat was attacking the new cat, and it turned out that the new cat had health problems that only the cats could detect.) So ruling out any medical things first is the easiest, in case one cat is ill, or picking up signals from each other.

The vet might also be able to suggest certain calming meds...to try, but I would only use meds once every other option is tried first.

You did say that you did the 'intros', except that you mentioned that each of you stayed with one cat.

This might have initially caused New Cat to bond well with your girlfriend, but New Cat also might feel that she has to protect your girlfriend from any threats, as well...the threat being Main Cat.

New cat might very well hate other cats, and be the 'only likes humans' type of cat...but by going back to the beginning, and trying to settle down New Cat's fight response...and lessening her 'flight and fight' or fear responses...she may begin to settle down.

The suggestion is to slowly do the intros using only hearing, at first, then scent swapping, then allowing them to see each other.

All the while using food they like, to positively reinforce any actions which you see as good. Getting them to become super relaxed with each other, before they actually see each other.

You actually can try to do this now, even if you don't want to go back to having them stay in bedrooms, and swapping them out.

• Getting light bed-sheets and draping them over the lattice fence, so that both cats cannot actually see each other.

Still using individual play sessions, and food being brought closer to the fence, in gradual stages, over a period of weeks.

You and your girlfriend will also have to swap areas, and observe how the cats do with each other's toys, cat beds, cat blankets, etc.

• The last suggestion would be to talk to your vet about a 'cat behaviourist', although perhaps expensive, they would have more experience in dealing with an aggressive cat.

I hope you find something that works, and New Cat is able to settle down, and not be so aggressive.