HELP! My cats will not get along!?

Question

I have a 7 year old female cat. She is inbred(she was a runt rescue) so she isn't the brightest crayon in the box. She is not retarded, just not as intelligent as other cats. 5 Months ago, I rescued ANOTHER female cat, who is currently about 10 months old. I had read other posts saying that they would begin to get along after 3 or 4 weeks, but FIVE MONTHS has passed and they still aren not buddy-buddy yet. Whenever the younger cat approaches the older cat, the older cat hisses, swats at the younger one, and runs off. If they are within 5 feet of each other, one will run off. They do occassionally play together, but it seems more viscious than normal. How long could this whole getting along process take?! Are there any tips to help my cats get along together? I got the younger cat to be the older's companion, but it doesn't seem to be working that way! HELP!

Answer 1

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but there is a chance they will never fully get along. It's not always that they will acclimate to each other and get along. I have had my female cat for almost 7 years and a year and a half ago I adopted one of my sister's cats kittens. To this day, they will hiss and swat at each other from time to time. It's not often, for the most part they will just ignore each other, but there are times when they will have a spat.

Answer 2

I have 4 cats aged 16, 15, 4 and 1
The oldest is grumpy and didnt take too kindly to the others at first
The 16 year old spent 4 months being a pain to the four year old when we first got him at two years old
Whenever he was around the 16 year old got a treat and some fuss 2 years later they will often be found curled up together on one chair and the older one often grooms the 4 year old. We are just going through it all again with the one year old, after three months we are at the stage where the 16 year old takes no notice of the one year old, but as yet they dont behave like best friends
( In between we did the same with another cat, worked a treat, but sadly he is with us no more. )
Decide who is the problem, make that one associate the other with something good like a cuddle or a treat, takes time and patience, works for us so far ( PS we also introduced a dog, same system, they are not pals but will sit happily a few feet from each other, and will drink from a water bowl at the same time, 2 of the cats actually try to be the dogs friend he doesn't care one way or another ) all rescue animals with no previous experience sharing a house with other animals, one was a ferral cat prior to being run over

Answer 3

I can tell you this, My aunt is a animal rescue fanatic. The one's she has now are her kids her life and she has spent so much time and effort on them. When she gets a new cats she would place the new one in the bathroom for a week or more(not allowing any cats to see the new one and othre way around),
in that time she would have a towle or toy and just let the new one get its scent all over it,
do the same for the house cat also. exchange the toys/ towels so they can explore the new smell. Over time of doing this you can bring them togeher for supervised play. But do not allow them to be together alone until you are for sure that they are safe to be together.

Consider doing that for a period of time, the older one may not want to except it as she was to top cat for so long. Some one may be able to give a answer for that, but on getting anouther new cat just do as said above. It may sound cruel to keep it in a small space but its worth it when they finaly come together, better than to have the long mean periods of anger

Some will just have an attitude towards the other for sometime, I had 9 cats before all under 1 year 7 were rescue 2 were rasied from birth(imbred also, but they were smart and very loving) . I had one that was a complete B! took months for her to settle and accept all the cats.

Answer 4

Hi,
Cats are like people they dont always get on. Ive had my male cat for 16 yrs and we took on a female cat 4 years ago as a friend couldn't look after her anymore. They dont really like each other but they tolerate each other. I think it might be a dominance thing, but whenever she gets too close to him he hisses at her and swats her with his paw! Whats strange though is that when the cat across the street comes in the back garden both of my cats team up against the other one and chase it away! I dont think they'll ever become best pals but they are fine the way they are and still share a bowl and litter box.

Answer 5

Cats are very territorial. A stranger has invaded her space and she isn't happy. How happy would you be if, one day, you woke up and found a stranger in your bathroom?

A couple of things may help.
A) Separate litter boxes.
B) Separate food bowls and separate feeding stations (expect there to be poaching going on, but it is still important to keep their food supplies (especially hard food) separate. Make sure that they are getting enough food to satisfy them: full cats are much more sleepy and tolerant.
C) Segregation: keep each cat in a separate room, and then periodically (every second day) switch them. Keep on doing this for a couple of weeks if possible. This way they can get used to each other's smell and presence, without actually having to confront each other.
D) Ear plugs. the two cats need to work out a dominance hierarchy, so some sparring is a normal part of the process. Only intervene if one or other seems in physical danger.

The whole process can take quite some time. And even then, expect occasionally outbreaks of hostility.

Answer 6

Katherine
Sometimes tolerating each other is the best you can hope for. They may not ever become best of friends. I've had cats that truly loved one another (cuddling together and grooming each other) and cats who barely acknowledged each others' existence.
My recommendation would be---if at all possible---to adopt a young kitten (preferably a male) as a companion for your younger cat. If that's not an option, just wait it out. Your youngest cat is still very much a kitten and has a lot of settling down to do yet. When she passes the kittenish stage, your older cat will probably grow much more accepting of her.

Answer 7

Hi, I'm going through the same sort of thing. However my 4 year old cat is very tolerent of the 1 year old. Sometimes their nice to each other and sometimes its full on restling and I ring the bell by shouting a loud oi!! and a spray of water when needed. The thing is your older cat was used to it just being her and you and now theres this bouncy little imposter in her territory. Using her litter, sniffing her bowl and getting your attention. I usually make a big fuss of my four year old especially when the one year old is the room. Then a make a fuss of the younger one. Its hard but it all has to very equal. Its like your other half moving in a lively new model with out your consent.. would you be happy? :)good luck.

Answer 8

My Cats don't really get along. I have a big orange male and a little black cat. We use something I think is called Feel Away you spray it around your house NOT your cats and it is suppose to help. You can ask about it at the vet or on-line like Pet Co.

Answer 9

Hi, please don't declaw any of your cats...it's cruel and vets disapprove...i think your 7yr old doesn't want to share you with a kitten that might be getting a lot of attention also cat's are territorial as someone has said, and they like their own space. Would you consider re homing your kitten? i know it's difficult but maybe it would be best all round. I know it sounds harsh but after 5 months speaking from 25 yrs experience it doesn't sound hopeful to me....sorry, wish i could give you more help...

Answer 10

cats r a lot like humans
sometimes older ones pick on younger ones