Problems with 4 cats...who can help?

Question

Hi everyone,
one of my friends has problems with her cats - can you help her? Here's her question:

My new female cat, 3 yrs old, is afraid of my male, 4 yrs. old, who seems to want to fight with her.
The other 2 female cats are fine with this new cat, but not him.
I have separated them for a few days, but now they have freedom to go about and he is still waiting to pounce.
What to do??
Sounds like a riddle, maybe I should explain I have 4 cats with this new addition....what 'da think??

Answer 1

Cat families tend to establish dominance orders, and males are usually at the bottom.

Hissing and spitting and fighting is to be expected, if they are being really vicious, see that they are only encountering each other when you can break it up.

chances are, your new cat and your boy have to duke it out for who is on the bottom of the dominance hierarchy.

In my experience, cats are generally happiest in groups of 3-6, because they really are social animals, just not the way people are social animals. People used to think house cats were more like small cats (lynxes, margays) and wanted to be left alone, but research has shown they form families and dominance orders more like the lions and tigers. Often you have gender-based dominance orders, which is one reason why more girls than boys are good (as long as everyone is fixed)

Your two older girls know they rule the roost, so they don't care who is on the bottom.

Of my 5 cats, there is an ongoing cold war that occassionally erupts into violence for the top seat, and my two boys are happily on the bottom.... For the most part, however, their dominance order is set and they get along very well because of it.

Answer 2

I've had a multiple cat house all my life.
Right now we have four...three females and a male.
The trick is to introduce them VERY SLOWLY...a few days is nowhere near long enough.
Sounds very much like the male thinks he can dominate the new female.

You need to keep the new cat in a room by herself with food, litter box, water, bed and toys.
Everyday...while you're there...let her out of the room to interact with the other cats...like an hour the first day, two hours the second day and so on.

Also, get four towels...rub each cat with a towel.
Give the new cat the three towels that have the scent of the other cats on them and give the towel with the scent of the new cat on it to the other three to smell.
They will get used to the scent of each other.

Last thing, my Vet told me this trick and it works like a charm.
Put a drop of vanilla on the base of each cats tail and between their shoulder blades...that way they all smell alike.

Answer 3

Anytime you have more than 2 cats, you are going to have a pecking order. It can take months for cats to get used to each other - and even when they do, you will still have a pecking order. It can be stressful for a cat that is constantly being attacked by a dominant one. There really isn't anything that you can do, per se, to make animals get along. If the situation doesn't improve in the next couple of weeks, you should consider finding the new kitty a different loving home in fairness to her. They all deserve to feel happy and safe.

Answer 4

It sounds like you have a territorial dispute on your hands. If the fights aren't serious, I'd simply let them go ahead and work things out on their own. A male is generally going to be more territorial than a female, so he's the one reacting to the new kid on the block. He may even need to check her out to be sure she's not another male if he hasn't been around her much. Make sure that your new cat has a safe place to retreat to, but mostly let them work it out and determine the pecking order on their own.

If your male isn't neutered, then having him neutered may help the process along immensely!

Answer 5

I'm amazed that your other cats are fine with it. Most cats take up to a few weeks to really become accustomed to a new feline housemate. Just give them time. The Tom will settle down once he's sure that the new cat isn't a threat to his territory.

Answer 6

Well male cats are very territorial, If you have had this male cat for along time he may not want anymore come into his castle sort of speak, If he is not fixed try getting him fixed,
that might calm him down somewhat. Another
option is to give up the new cat to please him. Male cats will also dirty in places you don't want them to like your bed or in a laundry basket anything that might belong to you if they get there nose out of joint. They are very picky. I had one for 6 years.

Answer 7

I think your friend needs fewer cats.
We have a 7 month old Persian and a 15 yr.old Samoyed (arctic sledding dog), both inside, and they do fine. In fact they play w/ each other.
Four cats is too many in my opinion, but I know some would say that one dog and one cat is too many pets as well.
Maybe your friend could keep the two that get along the best w/ each other and find good, separate homes for the other two.

Answer 8

Maybe its just a male thing..
sometimes just like human beings, the first impression may not be good,
I believe if you teach them to be friend and you need a lot time and patience.
Every cat can be train.. good luck

Answer 9

the best thing to do is give it time....cuz it will work out fine...and everything will go back to the way it was?!?