Went from 2 cats to 4 and one refuses to get along

Howdy folks, I'm new here and wanted to get some ideas on a problem we've been having with one of our cats after recently adding 2 new cats to the household.

First off, let me introduce the cats:

1. Chica, 2 1/2 years old, spayed female, all black, got her in March 2005
2. Squeaky, 1 year old, spayed female, black & white tuxedo cat, got her in August 2005 @ approx. 6 wks old.
3. Smokey, approx. 3 years old, neutered male, gray (Russian Blue)
4. Athena, same age as Smokey (litter mates), spayed female, multicolored

Chica and Squeaky have always been best pals, when we got Squeaky, Chica took her in as if she was her own kitten. Things were great until we got Smokey and Athena.

We got Smokey and Athena last month, and have had them a little over a month now. We had the expected hiss-fests for a week or so, and soon Chica, Smokey and Athena settled down and got comfortable, and they hang out together and get along pretty well. The problem has been with Squeaky. She refuses to leave the master bedroom and bath. At first she would venture out to eat, but then she stopped doing that. Now we have to leave food and water in the master bath so she'll eat. Sometimes she'll poop or pee in the bathtub as well, but not always, so she'll still venture out to the litter box at least part of the time (litter box is in the spare bedroom near the master bedroom).

Recently we've tried to get her to get used to the new cats by bringing her out of the bedroom and closing the door. But then she'll just cowl in a corner and hiss or yowl LOUD if she sees either of the 2 new cats. She stubbornly refuses to adjust to them.

As long as she's in her "safe zone" (master bedroom/bath) she's ok, we can pet her, etc. Anywhere else in the house and she'll attack.

Any suggestions? Would the tricks in the "introductions" sticky work after this amount of time? After a month you'd think she'd get over it. I don't really want to have her live out the rest of her life in the bedroom, especially if it means putting one of the litter boxes in there for her.

It took my cat a year to get over us getting a new dog

Don't lock her out of her safe place... that's being mean (though I know you don't mean to be), but don't bring the others in there either, or she'll go ballistic and they'll feel they have rights. You may just be stuck with a bedroom cat for now, but knowing cats as long as I have, I bet it won't be forever. Just give her time.

Thanks for your input. I'm just wondering how much time? It wouldn't be so bad except that Squeaky tends to poop on the rug in the bedroom since she won't venture out to use the litter box. I don't want to put an ugly smelly litter box in our master bedroom either.

As for not bringing the others into her "safe area", they come in there themselves. The new kitties have run of the whole house, and Squeaky has herself holed up in the bedroom.

Have you tried the "Washcloth Technique"? I heard about it on the cat channel forums- this is it, if you don't know it:

WASHCLOTH SCENTING TECHNIQUE

Take a damp washcloth and go to Cat 1 and lightly rub the washcloth on the mouth and facial cheeks (where scent glands are) and then immediately take the washcloth to Cat No. 2 and wipe it well on the catâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s back and legs. Then take the washcloth to Cat No. 2 and lightly rub the washcloth on the mouth and facial cheeks (where scent glands are) and then immediately take the washcloth to Cat No. 1 and wipe it well on the catâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s back and legs. If you have more cats, do this with all the cats—after wiping on Cat No. 1 mouth and cheeks, then rub on the backs of all the other cats—and then continue on as above. Continue this throughout the day and for several days afterwards. This is scent mixing and you put each other's scent on the other to get them to accept each otherâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s scent.

I hope this helps!

Originally Posted by kpatz

Thanks for your input. I'm just wondering how much time? It wouldn't be so bad except that Squeaky tends to poop on the rug in the bedroom since she won't venture out to use the litter box. I don't want to put an ugly smelly litter box in our master bedroom either.

As for not bringing the others into her "safe area", they come in there themselves. The new kitties have run of the whole house, and Squeaky has herself holed up in the bedroom.

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It can take many, many months. It really depends on the cat.

Did you try a slow introduction? If not, I would go back and start over.

Slow introduction: Put the new cat/cats in a small area (example being a bathroom - this is what I use). Let the existing cats get used to the smell of the new cats, and vice versa. This is also important so that any diseases being carried by the new cats do not get spread to the existing cats. This can take a week, or in extreme cases several months. When you see them start playing "footsie" under the door, that is a good sign they are ok.

I have a declawed Persian in my home (God, I hate declawing - I never declaw, she came to me that way) who set herself up a safe space underneath my end table in my living room. She stayed there for 5 months, and has only recently become comfortable with venturing out further into the living room.

You can't really tell a cat to "get over it" - well, you can, but it doesn't do much good. Believe me!