will these cats ever get along?

Question

My boyfriend and I both have cats, and since we are going to be moving in together in about 3 months we have been trying to get them used to eachother. I will bring my cat to his house some nights and they just do not get along. they sit and stare at eachother with their hair all fluffed up. My cat has slowly been trying to get closer to my boyfriends cat but his cat will just not have it. She hisses and scares my cat off. It seems that she is the meaner one and mine is trying to get along. Also, every time that they have met it has been at my boyfriends house so it would be his cat's territory. I cant bring his cat to my house because my mom is allergic and while my cat dosent shed, his cat leaves hair wherever she goes. When we move in together we are planning on bringing the cats to the new house at the same time so that it dosent seem like it is one cats territory more than the other. Also, my cat is about 2 years old and a male and my boyfriends cat is about a year and a female.

does anyone have any tips for helping them get along? I dont think leaving them alone in a room together will work because like I said, my cat tries to get close but the other cat wont let him

Answer 1

Whenever we've introduced a new cat to our family, we've just brought the cat in, put a little butter behind its ears (I know it sounds gross, but when the cats wash themselves, it tastes good and they associate the taste with the other cat, or so the theory goes.) and just let the cats roam free and "find" each other. They have space and can get to know each other on their own terms.A little fresh catnip never hurts, either. Let them get all loopy together a few times. :-) they'll bond! lol.

When my husband and I got married we had a cat each. We did the butter/catnip/free roam and they were great buddies after about 2 months. They would curl up together to sleep and played nice with each other. Two years later I got a Siamese kitten for my birthday. Again, catnip and butter and free-roaming, and the three got along great after about a month.

Sadly, the Siamese is the only one we have left now. (We lost my cat early due to a rare lung disease and my husband's cat to old age) I picked up a pregnant stray at the trash dump, so now we have her and 2 kittens (found homes for 2 of the other kittens) but I think the 3 new cats are going to be permanent. I'll have to introduce them to the home soon as well. So, we'll be back to catnip and butter. :-)

You may also want to have the cats spayed and/or neutered, if they aren't already. That will help their dispositions as well.

GOOD LUCK!

Good luck! I hope it works out for you! Give them some time and space and I think they'll adjust.

Answer 2

Even if they never get along, they will probably learn to ignore each other. If you introduce them to the house at the same time, it will be neutral territory, but chances are there will be one cat that is more dominant. I had two cats, and then picked up a stray, and after getting him vetted and healthy, I introduced him to the others, and they didn't really like each other but they learned to deal. It IS possible that if you leave them alone together, they will fight and one could try (or succeed in) killing the other. Usually it's best to introduce animals with a door separating them for a while, at least a few hours. When they seem to get over it, you can let them in the same room. It's really just playing it by ear, if they fight, keep them separated. Hissing is normal though. They are going to revert back to their animal instincts and try to look tough for each other, but chances are it WILL blow over.

Answer 3

The problem with cats is they are very territorial and quite independant; if you have more than one from when they're kittens so they grow up together they're usually fine, but adult cats together often don't get on, my cousins had to get rid of one of theirs because they were so vicious to one another. I suppose if, as you say, it will be a new house therefore nobody's territory it might make things easier and plus they'll both be adjusting together, but all you can really do is leave them be. Cats can't be forced into anything, believe me!

Answer 4

I had my (female) cat for about a yr before I got a new cat (male)...at first she would hiss and make it obvious she was upset with him being around...eventually they started chasing each other and somehow ended up buddies. Now she loves licking him and playing with him. I think it just happens with time...
Although I've learned that they dont like sharing the food from the bowl at the same time...they take turns.
And also make sure you have more than one litter box because some cats are picky about sharing that too!!

Good luck!!

Answer 5

a lot of cats don't get along with other cats. Cats just aren't really social animals. I have two cats who ONLY get along with each other, and that is because they are sisters. If any other cat tries to come their way, they will hiss and spit and get in a fight. Sometimes, after a trip to the vet, they will have other animals smells on each other and will even get in a fight with each other because they smell like different cats. I don't know how to fix your problem because, whether we like it or not, cats aren't social.

Answer 6

I had this situation with a roomate once (except the cats were both female) and they never really got along but eventually they just chose to avoid each other. Just let them work it out, they may never "like" each other but they will find a way to get along.
They probably will fight but as long as one does not have an advantage like a significant difference in size or claws vs no claws let them fight it out. (they will stop eventually)

Answer 7

They might become friends in time. But it will take a while.

Have you tried choosing a neutral territory and having someone niether kitty recognizes as 'family' bring them to meet? You've done well so far, trying to get them gradually used to eachother. But it can be a long process.