Can two cats adjust to a newcomer?

Question

Hi, I have a female (spaded), and a male (Neutered), and they are three years old turning four years. We just adopted my niece's cat (female spaded), that is two years old. All three of these cats have great loving personalities. My female cat hides under the bed and is afraid, and my male cat is hanging around but hisses and growls often trying to warn the newcomer to back off. The newcomer kitty is very playful, loving, and appears to just want to play and get to know the other two. They all three have their claws, and I'm worried that they might end up in a bloody fight. I keep the new kitty in a 'safe room' at night with the door closed so that all cats can easily rest at night. How long does it take for cats to adjust to one another? Is there anything else I can do to help ease the transition and to help all three cats get to know one another and accept one another? Thanks in advance for the advice.

Answer 1

Nothing like introducing a 4th cat to make the first three all love each other. Not keen on the idea? I understand. Yes, they will in time become friends. Right now they are positioning themselves for the cat family pecking order. There is going to be an alpha cat, probably your male, but not always...sounds to me like he is already the alpha cat and he is demonstrating his dominence and unwillingness to give up his throne. New kittie is just showing that she wants to be part of the family. Remember that cats live in colonies in the wild, just like we are sort of colonized. Don't shut out the new kitty much longer, she may start to have emotional problems from this and start picking fights. I know this will make your old cats a bit jealous, but you might consider giving new kitty some affection in front of them, so they understand that YOU, the BIG CAT have accepted new kitty and so should they.

Answer 2

Yes they will eventually accept each other. They may never become friends (the male is more likely to be friendly with the new female) but they will get along. You can buy a spray called "Felifriend" and also a room diffuser which helps - it sends out a smell that cats associate with being calm and happy. This was really useful when we introduced an abandoned 2 year old male cat to an established 10 year old male cat.



Other than that just try to be normal with them all. They probably will have a few digs at each other (normal cat behaviour!) and will each try and get the best position in the house! Try and treat them all equally and pretty soon you should have a peaceful happy 3 cat home!



Good luck!

Answer 3

In my opinion female cats just tolerate each other. The male will probably come round first to the new female, in the block.



You could try purchasing a Feliway Plug in from your vets or they are sold on eBay a bit cheaper. They last for one month and are great for multi-cat households. The secrete cat pheromones into the air (Humans cant smell it) but it makes cats feel happy and secure and can stop cats fighting and soiling in the house.



I swear by them and I currently have 3 cats two are male and one female.



When I introduce another cat to the gang, I usually give them a few days apart and swap their bedding over so they get the scent of each other beforehand.



Then on the big day a piece of cooked chicken (no bones of course) broken into pieces and thrown across the room to each of them but keeping the new comer by your side in case it runs across the room to take another cats piece. ( then big trouble)



When cats think the new comer has brought kill home and has shared it with them they are more likely to accept the new comer.



Hope this helps.

Answer 4

Cats are territorial and not all of them like sharing, so it can take a while for a newcomer to be accepted. Depending on the ages and personalities of the cats, it can take anything from one week to a couple of months for them to accept each other. Introductions are best done slowly and carefully.



Cats rely very heavily on their sense of smell and they need to get used to each others scents. Ideally you should confine the new cat to one room (with a litter box, food & water) and allow your cats the run of the house. This will reassure them that they are still in control of their territory. After a day or so, try allowing the new female out of her confined area for a couple of hours, whilst your two cats are placed in that area in order for them to get to know her scent before any face to face introductions. At the same time the new female should be allowed to explore the rest of your home and become familiar with the scent of your two cats. Whenever you stroke any of the cats, let the other cat(s) smell your hands before washing them as this will help familiarise them with the smell. The cats will also be able to smell each other through the bottom of the door to the confinement room. Believe me once their scents are intermingled, they will become much more tolerant of each other. When the hissing and growling has stopped, wedge the door open 2-3 inches maxium, so that they can see each other without being able to get at each other. Make sure that the door is secure and that none of the cats could force their way in or out of the room. When they can look at each other without any hostile reactions, then you can consider allowing the new female free access to the rest of your home. They should now at least be able to tolerate each other's presence, but keep your eye on them to make sure things don't get out of hand. A plug in Feliway diffuser may also help as they emit pheromones that are soothing to cats.



The web sites below offer further advice on how to introduce the cats to each other.



http://www.tulsa-animalshelter.org/tips/...

http://messybeast.com/first-impressions....



Be patient with the first two cats, they are bound to be afraid and upset by the thought that the newcomer may be trying to steal their territory. Offer them lots of reassurane and food treats when they are well behaved in the presence of the new cat and this will help them associate her with good things. Once they understand that she is an additional member of the family, and not their replacement, things will calm down.



Hope everything will work out okay. Good luck.

Answer 5

Cats, the older they are, the longer they'll take to adjust to a kitten-- but they most certainly will! They'll learn to live together and stay out of eachother's way, if not play and learn to love eachother.

You need to keep an eye on agression when you're around! Seperate them if them fight. DO NOT force them to deal with eachother, by closing them in an area, because cats are grudge-holders! But, I really recommend not closing the kitten off. I allowed mine to roam free when I introduced it to two older cats. Generally, it should take anywhere from a week to a couple months for them to feel okay around eachother-- it really just depends on their personalities.

Also, make sure you're giving attention to the newcomer, but not so much in front of your older cats! Just enough to let them know that you enjoy the little one too.



Tips:

1.) For now you should set a bowl of food a little further away from the older cats. As you see them start dealing, and the kitten coming out, you should try feeding them together.

2.) Keep their claws trimmed!

3.) Confront aggression by removing one of the cats from the area. Unlike dogs, cats can not be "spanked" or punished. They will associate pain with you, and sooner or later begin to return the favor.

4.) Have more than one litterbox! Some cats will not go when a newcomer or one they disagree with has gone in "theirs".

Answer 6

I had a similar situation when I brought Minx to live with us, Penne was very hissy and growly for a while, but after a week or so she accepted her new friend and now they sleep together, play together, eat together and have even shared the duty of being mum to Minx's kittens, Penne is having a little trouble accepting Spaghetti, the kitten I kept but give it time and they will get along, you need to be prepared for a few exchanges of claws, but keep an eye on them to make sure no one is seriously hurt and it should all be fine.



Good Luck.

Answer 7

yes