I recently adopted a third kitten, A. Our eldest cat, C, who

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I recently adopted a third kitten, A. Our eldest cat, C, who is about 1 1/2 years began by hissing and within days was spitting and nearly striking. I’ve checked dozens of websites and they all say to separate the cats, which we have done now for two weeks, introducing A only in her carrier. We’ve also traded the cat’s spaces for certain periods to allow them to adjust to the new scents. Even when A is in the carrier, C hisses. After weeks it only seems to be making things worse. We have a spray bottle for when the eldest cat, C, hissses so as not to scare A. Our middle cat, S, is mellow and has no problem with the new kitten and has gotten along fine with the eldest since about two weeks after her own adoption. Now C is hissing at S too! Keeping them apart isn’t doing anything to make them more comfortable, but I certainly don’t want for A to be hurt or for either of them to be in a constantly stressful enviornment. HELP! Our happy little family is so sad now!

Edited by Customer (name blocked for privacy) on September 24 2004 at 7:02 AM

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Status: Closed Value: $3

Is you eldest all talk or is he actually attacking because if he's not then I would just keep a close eye on him but them them work it out. Many times they have to establish dominence and once thats done then they're ok with each other. Right now your older one is getting what it wants, they younger being caged and the older one getting attention. As long as the older cat isn't hurt the new one and just being vocal you may need to just step back and watch. Give the older attention and don't make it be negative attention...i.e..squirting when hisses. They should eventually work it out. Just be patient.
Good Luck with your new addition

Let me know if you have any other questions
Good Luck &
Best Fishes

Well, I sure don't like to be the one to say this, but from all of my experience, and my friend's who have multiple cats, this is a problem that sometimes resolves itself, and then again, sometimes doesn't.

My eldest, who is a male, by the way, just does NOT LIKE a couple of my cats. No matter what I have done, he is never going to change, so I have learned to keep him out for part of the day, in the main part of the house, and then put him in the bedroom with the cats he does get along with, and then let the other couple out.

Males, especially, are VERY DOMINANT and if he was neutered late, that can also contribute to the problem. Even females, like to be the "TOP QUEEN", and I have one cat like that. She is the smallest cat I have, and she goes after the big boys!

I don't like to take any chances with any of the ones that have issues with each other, getting hurt, so I have just decided to keep things the way they are. Water DOES NOT affect my eldest male, that is very dominant. He just watches for when I am not looking and will literally attack the two cats he does not like, for whatever reason, I do not know. The two he goes after are also males. The one male he goes after is "passively aggressive", whereas the oldest male is plain "aggressive". There is a difference, and so many studies have been done, and so many people have different answers, but it is really up to you, and how you will learn to deal with this problem.

The more cats you have, the harder it will be to keep these kinds of problems from happening.

I also have a friend who just lets her cats go to it, but I do not agree with that theory, as it is not good to see a cat get scratched or hurt really bad, especially on a weekend, when you might have to run the bleeding cat to an emergency vet clinic, at the high cost they charge.

God bless and take care and I hope you can write back and let us know if your cats are male, or are they all female? I see that you mentioned one as being a "she", but are the others also female?

One thing you may want to try is "Feliway Diffuser" sold in pet stores, that may help calm them down. Also, another product is "Pet Sedate", that helps with these types of problems. Plus another product is "Rescue Remedy". I have rubbed little bits of that in the ears of my cats that are agressive, and it has helped "a little bit".

Good luck!

Elena Marie

"Open your heart to learn all you can in this life, and to give to others, the joy and satisfaction that they may remember you as a true friend."

Yes, they are all female. First cat, Charlotte, was adopted May 2003 at 8 weeks old. Second, Sedona, was adopted a month later at 10 weeks, so they were kittins when they were adjusting to one another. Charlotte--the one acting aggressively--is quite a small cat--only 7 pounds. Alice is 3 1/2 months old and we adopted her a month ago.

Edited by Customer (name blocked for privacy) on September 23 2004 at 11:55 AM

Okay, so they are all female. Charlotte sounds like my Gracie, who is the one that is VERY DOMINANT, and wants to be the "QUEEN". It is just the way some cats are, either male or female. Charlotte does not like another female to contend with, but as time goes on, she should get more used to her, but you may always have an issue with their getting along real well with each other.

You can try the remedies I mentioned, and if you can, try to get them to play with you, with little toys that are safe, and one good item I bought, was a laser light that can be purchased through the following ebay site that is a cat group that sells items to help people that cannot afford to care for their cats, when they are sick or disabled, etc. The address on line is:

http://fveap.org/sys-tmpl/door/

You can scroll down and check on the section to check out the Ebay items and the Critter laser bug is on there, and I have used that to do a lot of playing with my cats, and even the one, Gracie, has "forgotten" sometimes, the kitties she doesn't like, and plays along with the other kitties with the light. (you shine it on the floor, and wall, and they all chase it around, like it is a bug).

God bless and hope things work out for your three little girls!

Edited by ElenaMarie on September 23 2004 at 12:42 PM

Elena Marie

"Open your heart to learn all you can in this life, and to give to others, the joy and satisfaction that they may remember you as a true friend."

I am very grateful for the two answers above, but since there are so many different views on the subject, I'm open to any other suggestions/opinions you may have. Thanks,

CharChar

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New cat, unhappy cats-three little girls

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