My new adopted cats are not getting along, what do I do?

Question

Three days ago I adopted a 5 month old female and a 7 month old male. They were at a local petshop to be viewed by a non-kill organazation in the area that brings in strays and prep them for their new homes(spay/nutered,shots, and desies testing). The girl has been hiding until last night when she finaly made an apperance. Then my other new cat jumped on her biting the back of her neck over and over anytime she came out. I also found her hair in his claws later on ( I'm going to trim their nails) Now she doesn't want to come out at all. What can I do to help them adjust to their new life? He was bathing her and being nice to her when they were together at the store that is why I rescued both of them. I think it may be jeliousy he is very friendly until she is around. I would hate to have to pick one over the other, anyone have any advice?

Sorry for the long question just lots of details involved.
Thanks

Answer 1

I hope you have a room with a door or else my suggestion will not work. The most likely reason the boy and girl were so nice to each other in the pet shop is because there were lots of cats there, lots of smells and no room to “claim” anything. Pride or Pack mentality. When you brought the two cats home and the girl hide for a little bit, that gave the boy time enough to “claim” the house/apartment as his and now the girl is an intruder in his home.

Here is what you do; section off a room for one cat. I would suggest to start with the girl because she has got to be under a lot of stress and some down time would be good for her. Include all items for kitty enjoyment; bowls, litter, toys, snuggly bed. All that. Keep her secluded but make sure you give her equal attention. After a few days, switch them. Put the boy in the room and let the girl out. Leave the girls stuff in the room with the boy. Change the litter pan so it’s fresh but leave all the toys and bowls that have her scent all over it. He’s not going to like it but that’s the idea. He needs to understand he’s not the only kitty in the house and putting him middle of the girl’s domain is going to reinforce that. Try a passive greeting after a few days. Perhaps two people holding the kitties and walking toward each other. Let the kitties sniff each other and if the boy seems calm, put them on the floor but watch them. If boy is still pissed off then you may have to switch them in and out of the room a few times until they are so confused with the smells that there is no place to “claim” in the house

I know everyone is saying to “just give it time” but if the male is hurting the female than I wouldn’t just let this go. I hope this works!

Answer 2

Hon, I think your cats will both be fine, given a little time.
I'm positive that your male cat is "projecting"; that is, he's very nervous about his new home (this is normal!) and he's taking it out on the female.
Cats take some time to adjust to new surroundings. It's just how they are. If these kitties were friends before you adopted them, they will be again. In the meantime, you might want to keep them separated for a week or so when you're away, and closely monitor the male when both cats are together.
In time though, they'll realize that your house is their new home, and they'll be back to being buddies :)

Answer 3

Sounds like your male cat is not a cat friendly Guy. Some cats prefer to be alone, and do not getalong with other Cats. I always recommend asking the shelter if the cats is:
Cat friendly
Kid friendly
Dog friendly.
Due to the males behavior, He may have tramatized the female and she, herself, may not enjoy other cats in the home, and hide from now on untill the other cats are out of site. I think It is only fair to the cats to bring one one back and explain the situation to the shelter. They will prefer it if you brought him/her back rather than let the caos continue. When you have come to a choice, I would NOT recommend any other cats. Sounds like you just got two cats who would rather live alone.If you really had your heart set on more than one cat, than I would take both cats back and get two more.
Hope this helped.
PS-- Are they spayed/nuetured? This may be what is causing the males aggresive behavior. He may be trying to mate with the female, and she may not be willing just yet.

Answer 4

My advice is take the one cat thats attacking and take him to a vet and give him a distemper shot. I have 6 and they don't always get along. 3 like to fight, but its not to hurt. Also you don't give a cat a bath. Also when your away put the cat thats been under attack in a room alone or in part of the house away from the other. The next day switch cats, do this for a week and on weekends go back to normal,if it percists exchange the attacking cat for another male.

Answer 5

I also just got a new cat, I already have 1 cat. The breeder told me to keep them separate for at least 2 Weeks, which I did & it really worked! Set up a room for each of them with food, water, litter box, scratching post & a few toys. Don't let them have any interaction at all. You should spend time equally in each room playing with each of them. It's also good to wipe a towel or piece of clothing on each of them so they get used to each other's scentl. After a couple of weeks, reintroduce them to each other, but you should be there to supervise them. I got my new guy 3 weeks ago & I still keep them separate when I'm not here & still have them sleep in separate areas. (even if you have to put one in the bathroom at night with a box & blanket or towel to sleep in,along with their litter box, food & water, that's fine) Beleive me , I thought it would be a real pain & admittedly it's a little extra work, but well worth it!!! I introduced another cat without doing it this way & it was hell!! I'm amazed at how well this method works. You can Google "introducing a new cat to the home" & there's a lot of info. good luck...things WILL get better!!!

Answer 6

Cats sometimes don't feel comfortable around other cats. I have 4 cats. At first 1 of those cats did not like the other cat and bit him and clawed at him. It was bad. I had to finally move the cats into 2 separate rooms. They see each other not that much and at those times they don't growl or anything, so I guess that's the answer.

Answer 7

Cats don't get along easily together. Try keeping them apart. The biting and jumping might just be him playing, but maybe not. Keep them apart gradually put them in the same room, wile being supervized, for longer and longer each day.

Answer 8

well try not to treat both of thedm diffrently maybe if you buy them the same things they won't get jealous . try to leave them in a room together and with some toys they will probably need someone to play with them but keep a close eye on them to make sure they dont kill eachother lol

Answer 9

They will probably get used to each other over time and you shouldn't be forced to choose one over the other. They will have to learn they are going to be like this now for a long time, they should settle down eventually. Good luck!

Answer 10

The advices of the different published solutions replaced into ok, I had to ascertain a e book to introduce my new cat to my previous one and with another advices of the breeder ultimately they became pals and now they love one yet another. i'm gonna attempt to renew the approach a million. you're able to desire to positioned the recent cat in a separate room, 2 circumstances an afternoon you're able to desire to take the cat right into a service and take it the place the different cats are. (save the cat interior the service) 2. to avert rigidity between cat you're able to desire to do something "helpful" on an analogous time as the different cat is interior the service and different are around. helpful issues are playing or giving yummy nutrition or treats, the belief is that the different cats have faith that "cool" issues happend whilst that new cat is around. 3. substitute rooms. avert the different cats get into the recent cat's room and close the door, they'll scent each and all of the room even the muddle container and enable your new automobile loose around the abode. 4. on the grounds which you have already introduce the recent cat with the different you're able to desire to emphatize the #2 with helpful action basically whilst new cat is around. i be attentive to twiddling with 3 cat on an analogous time is complicated so moist nutrition as a take care of is a sturdy thought. ** Please attempt to get moist nutrition that doesn't incorporate wheat glutten just to make certain your cats at the instant are not likely to get unwell. 5. you're able to desire to be waiting with something on your hand you are able to throw in case the different cats attack newby yet dont enable them to verify you have been the only that throw it. in case you are able to't toss something at that 2d make a great noise with an merchandise, so the take that like "something grotesque happens as quickly as we attack that cat" 6. you're able to desire to attend and see and practice all we had informed you, or your cats are gonna harm newby or interior the terrific of the circumstances they're gonna settle for it yet they're gonna stay sharing the gap with a cat they did not like and no person is gonna be chuffed