Our two British Short haired cats are very hissy. One of the cats flat out attacked her, chased her, and pinned her in behind the couch. British short hairs are supposed to be non aggresive, but ours are very territorial. How can I properly introduce the cats? Any articles online on the subject?
2006-07-21 07:04:14 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
Oh, you got a little snowtiger!! How adorable!
You have to introduce them SLOWLY. Put the new baby in a bedroom behind closed doors. Let the kitties sniff each other for a few days, swat at each other under the door, etc. It's all territorial, as you said, so it's going to take an adjustment period - and it takes a WHILE, so you're going to have to be both vigilant and patient. However, catnip is a wonderful thing!!! Get them blissed out on catnip and they're less aggressive -- too busy rolling and everybody mellows out. Basically, it's just trial and error with a LOT of supervision and intervention and TIME. Let the older kitties know that YOU have a new baby -- and she's YOURS. Also, make a point of giving the older kitties lots of special attention so they don't feel pushed aside. Lots of praise when they get anywhere near each other without being aggressive, intervention and scolding when they do.
Best of luck.
2006-07-21 07:27:02 · answer #1 · answered by Shadycat 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Give them some time. I have found that it takes up to a month for a new cat to be accepted into the family by the established cats. As long as they are not hurting each other, let them work out their own disputes. They are setting up a pecking order so to speak. Once they work it all through, things will be fine.
2006-07-21 15:29:11 · answer #2 · answered by buggsnme2 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's hard to predict how cats will react to a new one in the house. Generally, it's advised that you isolate the new cat in a room by herself and introduce them gradually. There's no guarantee that they will end up being best friends, but they should learn to at least tolerate each other. Below is a pretty good article....
Good luck!
2006-07-21 14:11:01 · answer #3 · answered by Lee 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
have you separated them? is the new cat closed in one room?
the best way to introduce them is to first separate them. put the new cat in a room with food water and a sand box. make sure to go in to her everyday.
take two towels rub one on the old cat and put it under the bowels of the new one, and visa versa.
each time you come out of the new one room let your old cat smell you and give her a cat treat so she will not only get used to the smell but will associate it with something good.
after two weeks put the new cat in the carrier and take her to your living room, let them smell each other, so that each day start with ten minutes and each day add another ten minutes.
after another week and half let the new cat go free around the house when you are watching the two cats and paying close attention that they are not hurting each other.
try playing with them and give them treats while they are close to each other.
with time they will get used to each other, they will either be good friends or they will just accept each other presence in the house.
2006-07-21 14:58:37 · answer #4 · answered by hot_for_georgeclooney 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have the same problem, except for me it's the other way around. my 4 month old tabby loves to chase my 2 year old black cat around the house. we've only had him six days and he's already so attached to her. but she does nothing but hiss at him and wants nothing to do with him. today I noticed that she's not hissing as much at him when he comes up and attacks her. it's kind of a problem for me because my kitty isn't declawed and my older cat is. put them in seperate rooms for awhile and then supervise them when you think it's time for them to see one another. rub them with the same scent of something, like a dryer sheet would be great. fortunatly I didn't have to do this with my cats because for some reason my female isn't very territorial of anything. she's a lazy house cat though so she doesn't care. but my mom read this and told me about it. give them TIME and be PATIENT!!!!!. your kitten is not used to her new surroundings and your other cats aren't used to her and think that she is invading their area. please put them in seperate rooms though, before your little kitty gets hurt or worse. and trust me, this works. I almost tried it on my cats because I was so desperate the first two days. Good Luck!! ^-^
2006-07-21 14:38:51 · answer #5 · answered by *miss lily* 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From my experience when cats first meet if the more established cats are territorial then they will fight a bit. After a few day most cats get over it and calm down. If your cats keep fighting after a week or so then you might have an issue.
2006-07-21 14:10:08 · answer #6 · answered by Frodo the space bard 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have 7 cats all are rescue kitty's everytime I bring a new one home I just let them be and tell the others to be nice when they approach each other,they all get along just fine.Don't get me wrong there is some hissing and spitting but they get use to each other.
2006-07-21 22:30:33 · answer #7 · answered by sunzx2 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Since cats are so territorial you must introduce them slowly. Keep themin different rooms til they get used to each other's scent. Let them get aquainted through a screen door. There is no guarantee they will ever get along ,though.
2006-07-21 14:09:43 · answer #8 · answered by groomingdiva_pgh 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Put them both in cat carriers and put them next to each other tha way they can get used to eachother without being able to attack each other. Also get a damp cloth and rub it on one of the cats then rub the same cloth on the other cat so thier smells blend togrther and they smell the same.
2006-07-21 14:08:56 · answer #9 · answered by Jemma 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
introduce them slowly and they are eventually going to have to work things our on their own.
2006-07-21 14:28:09 · answer #10 · answered by macleod709 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋