New kitty resident cats not amused

anima

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Help.

So yesterday on my way home from the pet shop. I found a kitten by the side of the road, roughly two months old. I really felt sorry for the poor little thing as just not more than two feet away was a busy intersection. I waited around 10-15 minutes to see if a mama cat would return for it and also contemplating if I should take it.  The kitten started walking away so I grabbed it, put it in my bag as I have nothing else to put it in (I left it open so it can breath) and took it home. 

I live in a studio apartment so I put it in the bathroom to isolate it. It looks healthy at first glance no discharge from eyes or nose, coat is soft and clean for a stray. And it's a male on closer inspection. I plan to have it checked later this week.

Thing is I have three cats already, all female unfixed. Two are about 6 months already and one about four. I got a bit careless and they saw the new kitten through the bathroom door. And then started trouble. I know the standard protocol about introducing new cats and I expected the hissing at the newcomer.

I noticed a problem the morning after as I was setting the food. My two bigger cats were hissing each other. These two are siblings and very rarely do that. Even when I introduced the younger four month old cat. I thought it was just some random cat fight and paid it no mind and I left for work after making sure all of them have been fed. When I got home later that day I noticed they were still randomly hissing and growling not at the new kitten but at each other and also at the four month old kitten. I expected them not to like the new kitten but did not expect the aggression towards each other.

I fear I made a big mistake and somehow upset the balance. It's like the two older ones are trying to establish dominance. Up until now these three got along very well. Just the standard play fight and they all share food and water bowls. Just now one the older cats did not want the other one to feed from the same bowl. Could the reason be because the new kitten is male? I am now trying to find someone who could adopt the kitten.

I know I made a mistake by letting them see the new kitten too soon but did not really expect aggression towards each other. I was planning to get the two fixed next month. I'm from the Philippines and good vets are rare and very pricey here. animal welfare associations or shelters here are either swamped already or are elitist snobs so can't really count much on them.

Anyway I just want to know why my two older cats are being aggressive to each other.

Below is said kitty.


Where I found him. Blurry as I took this in a hurry. As you can see  he's right by the road you can see a bus passing through. I doubt mother cat would leave her children in such open and noisy place.

 

Mamanyt1953

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Well, from what I know, and I am NOT the resident expert on these things (one of them will show up shortly, I'm sure), redirected aggression isn't all that uncommon.  Keep the new guy isolated, for sure.   If all you are getting is hissing and spitting and growling, this may settle down fairly quickly.  Four is a lot of cats for one small apartment.   Hang in there, I'm sure the more experienced members in this sort of thing will find you very soon!
 

Alicia88

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It sounds normal to me.  I just brought home a new cat.  I have 2 neutered males and the new one is male - I can't tell if he's neutered or not and haven't been able to get him to the vet yet.  Anyway, I couldn't keep them apart.  I have a very small one bedroom apartment.  My two resident cats hissed and growled at him and started having spats with each other.  It's been less than 2 days and things are already settling down.  Connor was chirping at the newcomer instead of growling last night and Connor and Murphy are back to snuggling together.  Murphy walked past the new one without growling or hissing this morning, but he's still not friendly.  And, like I said, it's been less than 2 days.  I think mine are going through the process faster than usual, though.
 
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anima

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Well just got home an it seems to ave escalated a bit. They are now starting to stalk each other. One has been hiding where she can and staring at the other one who's usually in the open. I have not yet checked them if they have any bites or scratches as they hiss when I pick them up.
 
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anima

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anyone? i'm getting a bit desperate.
 

JamesCalifornia

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When a few of my cats get "restless" and fight with each other I give them some extra attention. Pick them up and hold them. Maybe get them a new toy to distract them. I think they get jealous of each other!
I would also get your cats spayed .
Nice of you to rescue the little one. All the best !
 

pit of pets

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I got two new kittens (one male, one female) about a week and a half ago, and my female 2 years old resident cat didn't like that. She hissed and growled at them when introduced to them after having them for two days. It's completely normal. Now my older cat is curious and most of the time tries to sniff them and figure them out, but now the two younger ones are scared of her. However I'm starting to notice that with time they get less and less scared of each other. They even ate together once! My advice is give it time for things to settle, but keep the new kitten isolated (I'm still isolating the new kitties from the older one)!
 

Mamanyt1953

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Do bear in mind that this can take weeks to settle out.  And the growling and hissing are sometimes "just stuff we needed to say."  You aren't dealing with a serious issue until you see, literally, fur flying and blood on the floor.

OH...there are 858 articles on The Cat Site about introducing a new cat into your  home.  If you go to the top of the page, search "introducing a new cat".  THEN look on the left hand side of the page, and click on "articles."  You may find something that addresses just exactly your issue!  Those are written by some of our most experienced members.  Hang on...I'll try to link the page...

http://www.thecatsite.com/newsearch?search=Introducing+a+new+cat&type=40

That should at least get you started with some expert advice!
 
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anima

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Just an update, they seem to be doing a little better now. The hissing now usually only happens if the new kitten get's too close or if one of them is eating.
 

Mamanyt1953

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OH good!  That's wonderful news.   Just let them do this at their own pace.  You will get there.
 
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