How to get my new cat to stop fighting old/current cats

9 years ago

I posted a few weeks ago for advice on introducing a new cat into my 3 kitty household (I got some great advice here BTW). At this point, he is integrated in with the other kitties, shares the house, food and litter with them. Often, they all get along fine and are very relaxed and comfortable together. But sometimes there are small fights. It's hard to tell but it seems he is usually the instigator, or he invades their personal space and they they start the fight, and he ends up chasing one of the old kitties under the bed.

Is there any way to discourage this fighting? So far, I've put the new one in "time out" in a seperate room for a while after a fight, but I don't know if he really understands this is a punishment for fighting. I think if the old kitties could talk they would say "I don't trust this new guy because he's inconsistent and I can't tell when he'll be fine or when he'll pick a fight". I'd love any advice on how to stop the fighting!

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Comments (2)

Debbie Downer
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Wow I think you're doing great if at 3 weeks they are integrated and if the fights are small! 3 weeks is not so long in the cat universe. Somethings I learned from my own trouble maker cat - after he went missing for 6 wks after I got him back Ive been totally showering him with affection and also never ever yelling at him (even if I step in cat puke) - its turned around the situation completely. I couldn't be happier. I know it can be hard sometimes to love the instigator but be sure you're not transmitting any subtle or not so subtle hostility or anger and you might want to take him in a separate room to give him some affection if he seems like hes too nervous around the other cats to relax and enjoy being petted. Cats do a certain amount of challenging and competing with each other in the wild and even in the backyard among other domestic cats - since youre the food source its only logical theyd be competing over you and your affection.

Also the time out is not intended to be punishment but just redirecting and send a message "youre going too far." Do you noticeif his heart is pounding like crazy, does he seem agitated? Is he actually biting? If so the time out is for him to chill out and calm down, that's all. With some cats play chasing and wrestling can turn serious - if you start to notice him get a crazy look in his eyes you could separate before he progresses into biting or serious attack.

Actually - Im not really clear from your description that it is turning serious - how do the other cats react? The one is hiding under the bed, but is he/she OK under there? Do they feel safe to come out after a few minutes or are they cringing in fear hours/days at a time? If the former that's a good sign that they'll be OK once they get to know each other and how they operate. If they are eating together nicely that too is a good sign. Sleeping/sitting together? Even better!

Editted to add; recently Ive noticed Figgy (former trouble maker) more and more just totally backing down and walking away if Orange hisses at him and doesn't want to play. Not always but its been a huge improvement! Some cats esp those taken away from the litter too early just never learn to moderate their biting and rough-housing - its like they have to be taught. I think part of Figgy's problem was he wasn't really understanding that he was hurting Orange (or me for that matter - he used to claw and bite quite hard when playing.)
trancegemini_wa
9 years ago
Is he much younger and more energetic than the older cats? He may be playing and it just goes too far so you could try tiring him out each day with some play. If youve ever seen jackson galaxy he uses these great toys that are like a few feathers on the end of a string and stick https://store.jacksongalaxy.com/store/jg/item/60117/go-cat-da-bird-interactive-feather-cat-toy?source=4-3348-1 and the cats seem to go crazy for it. you could easily make something like that yourself and it's used to tire out a restless kitty so he isnt playing aggressivelly with the other cats. The reason it sounds like he may be playing is because it sounds like the cats get along quite well for the most part?
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How to get my new cat to stop fighting old/current cats

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Debbie Downer

trancegemini_wa

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