How do I get my two cats to like each other?

Question

I have one male cat and one female cat. Each cat hisses at each other when they are in the presence of each other. Do I let the cats get to know each other naturally?

Answer 1

I had the same situation. I took in a stray (a female) cat that I fond and my cat of 5 years (a male) did not like her, hissing at each other and just not plainly not liking each other. I was worried about having to give up the stray but I decided I should wait a while and in about a week to 2 weeks time the two kitties were sleeping together and playing. Just give your cats some time and they'll get to know each other.

Answer 2

If they are not spayed and neutered, go ahead and do that because it will help them calm down a bit.

You'll want to let them get to know each other on their own terms. Don't force them or rush them. Shower them with praise or treats when they behave around one another so that they associate the other cat with good things.

Determine what their pecking order is and respect it. For example, feed the dominant cat first so he won't feel that his place is threatened by the other.

Make sure that they have seperate eating areas as well as at least one litter box per cat in the house, as that will cut down on the competition. Make sure they each have a quiet, safe space they can go to when they're feeling grumpy or threatened.

Give equal positive attention to both cats, and lots of it.

And again: Give them lots and lots of time! They may not ever be friends, but you can help them tolerate one another a bit more.

Answer 3

Yes!! Let them have their quarrels. So longs as there isn't fur flying. Whatever you do, don't separate them. They will never learn to get along that way. My mom had two cats (male and female) that did not get along. One day the female went off on the other. They had many quarrels after that day but it was natural. There was never fur flying among the two. They were also declawed so I am sure that helped quite a bit.

I have 14 cats. All spade and neutered. Some of them are brothers and sisters and they do not always get along. Squee picks on Gizmo. Ertai picks on Gypsy and everyone picks on Princess. But on occasion I catch one bathing the other or sleeping together. It is natural that cats may not always get along. You can stop their fights if you are afraid they might hurt one another. But try to let them finish it first. See where their fight is going. That there isn't going to be any blood shed. If you feel comfortable with declawing then that is an option.

Answer 4

That's what I have done with all of my cats and I have had over 15 cats in my lifetime. There is alot of hissing and spitting and they may even get into some short spats or fights. Eventually, they will either ignore each other or become best buds.

Answer 5

Well first off, make sure they are fixed so they don't reproduce unless you want kittens. Let them in the same room only with you for short periods of time while you supervise their interaction. Feed them together in the room if possible, then let them go their own ways. Start making the 1 room a fun thing with special treats and toys and keep them in there with you after they finish eating to play.

If they only hiss and spit and leave each other alone, that's a good sign. If they get to the point of hostility with fighting physically, that's not good. What you'd have to do at that point is keep one of them enclosed in a carrier and slowly introduce the other one to it. They can't really harm each other that way.

What I did with 2 adult male strays was keep them apart until healed from fixing then introduce them, it was a fight instantly so I had to start with the carrier and one free to sniff it and walk around it without harm, I took turns with them in it, then fed them with the carrier open 1 in and 1 out, then we progressed to less hostility to the point I had them out in the same room together but had a broom with me to put between them if I needed to and I did need to at one point. It was very hard work and slow but they did get to be best friends and sleep together. You have to have patience and time to put into the first few encounters to be sure they will be ok.

Answer 6

Yes. They'll learn to like each other eventually. That's what my little cat did to my bigger cat the first month he lived in our house. Now they cuddle together all the time.

If they are actually posing a threat to one another (not just normal play fighting cats exhibit) then i would consider removing them.

PLEASE be sure they are spayed/neutered.

Answer 7

Yes, they might get along some day, but cats are very different from dogs, they might never like each other at all. This is from a Veterinarian words. Not me, my pet's Vet.a

Answer 8

The best thing you can do is to give them time to get used to eachother. Most cats hiss at unfamiliar animals, especially when they're in their own territory... I've seen it many times with my own cats. I always give them time, and eventually they at least tolerate eachother.

If they're getting in fights, though, you might need to separate them.

Answer 9

Did you just bring one of them home? How long have they been together? Are they both fixed (I hope)! If not, please make sure you do that.

You need to give them time to get used to each other.
You can keep them separate unless you are home to supervise them until they get used to each other. They almost always do. Make sure they each have their own litter box, that should help also.

Even if they are never great "buddies" they will probably tolerate each other, good luck.

Answer 10

Yes-for if you force it'll take longer. Esp being boy and girl they will go through cat ritual and best to let them be and if you interfere will interfere with their natural cat instinct behaviour