3 adult cats Help?

Question

We had 2 adult cats of our own, 1 male 2 yrs and 1 female calico 4 years. We took in my mother in laws cat, we she passed away a few weeks ago, she is a female calico 10 yrs old. we kept the oldest cat seperated from the other 2 for awhile, and then gradually got them together, supervised, with spray bottles. But, now whenever the older one is in the facinity the other 2 cats run and hide elsewhere. In the beginning there were a lot of hissing etc. Now there hiding. We still put the older one down stairs when there's no supervision or at night. Will the 3 cats ever get to the point of being in the same room without hissing or hating each other. I just want them to get a long?? What should I do if anything? It's been about 3 weeks now total.

Answer 1

You have to allow them to work it out themselves.

Just leave them all three together. This will eventually work. They'll hiss and they might scratch a bit, but none of them are going to get seriously hurt.

Answer 2

I would say your initial idea of slowly introducing the cats to each other was correct but if it was me I would now let the cats sort it out unless they are destroying things or into a real cat fight (where they are stratching/biting and the wounds are bigger than a pinhead.

This is the way the animals establish their pecking order. There can only be one "boss". The oldest cat is used to being the boss and the centre of attention in her old home while your two cats had already decided this.

If I've had to take a cat for an overnight stay at the vets, when the cat was brought home the other cats will avoid it until it's well enough then they will start hissing at it like it's a new cat (this is because the cat you brought home from the other vet doesn't smell the same).

Punishing the cats for hissing at each other is not the way to go because cats aren't stupid they realize when they are getting their way and when they aren't. I know some people will say "they're just animals", but I know from having owed many, many cats from childhood on they are smarter than people give them credit for. RE-ENFORCE GOOD behavior - this is the key. I had my son bring his cat home to live and he was a real biter (the cat not my son). Only by always being nice to him (the cat) did he lose this habit. Now he only acts up when he wants attention or food and then he only acts up enough to make sure I'm paying attention.

Answer 3

Give them all time, the one is still grieving just like humans do and then the other ones sense the sadness. They don't understand they just know something isn't right and they are not use to change. Since the hissing has stopped it is a good thing . I would leave them all alone, and in time they should come together. Let them hide from one another. Cats are smart, if they didn't want to be around each other they wouldn't. There is a thing called "cat fights" When they are ready they will come together. You area very caring person so to be so concerned. Good Luck

Answer 4

Besides time there is only one trick I know of.

Use a slightly moist washcloth {NOT wet!} and rub your mil's cat all over with it, then rub the other 2, do this several times and you can do it for several days in a row.

It helps "mix" up the different cats odors and makes it harder for the cats to differentiate each other; once they all smell alike you might see a quicker change in behavior.

If your mil's cat was an only child she might be putting out an "I am the queen" signal even if she isn't being forceful. She might be really afraid and feels that she needs to protect herself from these 2 strangers. Remember that her whole world just changed and it's hard for her to understand.

If you have any clothing of your mil's {that she has worn would help} or even a towel that she used, try laying it where your cats will have access to it; the new cat smells like that and might help them get over their fear of the "newbie." And it might help the new kid if she had something to sleep on that felt & smelled familiar to her as well.

Please remember that as an older cat her eyesight might not be so great anymore as well and could make things more frightening to her.

Above all, be patient!! It will take time for them to become a family but I feel that it will be worthwhile once they do. Give your babies some extra attention and that will comfort them.

Answer 5

Housecats are not social creatures by nature. While some may learn to live and play together, especially if raised together or introduced young, most adult cats will never quite form a bond. When I lived with my parents, we had 5 cats of varying ages, and several had to be secluded in different parts of the house because they couldn't get along. Now, I have 2 adult cats and my roommate has 1 younger cat. They still fight sometimes, but mostly they ignore each other entirely, and they never lay down together and rarely play. It's been almost one year since they first met.

It might be better for the sanity of all three if you pick part of the house you can keep closed off and keep the new cat there permanently. I had a cat that had to be confined to one bedroom and bathroom, but I gave her plenty of toys and love and she did just fine. They all might be happier if they don't have to be forced to interact.

Good luck!

PS There is a product called Feliway, it is a plug-in like an air freshener or you can buy a spray version. It contains calming pheremones and is supposed to reduce cat's stress when there are changes going on. Look it up online and see if it's something that might help you. It's cheaper to order online, but you can also buy it at Petsmart.

Answer 6

Torties especially and calicos sometimes are known for having cattitude.
Our cats took several months to sort themselves out.

I am sorry to hear about your mother-in-law's passing. Kudos for taking in her cat.

Your new kitty may also be grieving the loss of her "person." It may take a bit longer for the three cats to make peace for that reason. What you have going for you is the fact that the new kitty is older. After a bit, she may delight in having the two younger cats around.

Don't give up though.

Answer 7

if take in a cat that has been the lone cat in its surroundings and older to boot, sometimes the transition can be long in coming and sometimes never accomplished

you have to try and let them work it out themselves without putting any one at health risk - sometimes they will fight for dominance

if not possible, seek a home for the new cat that perhaps it can be the lone cat again

must realize it has been thru alot of adjustments not only in the leaving of its person but now its original home

regardless of your efforts, it is all still foreign to the other cat

Answer 8

Just keep trying .I've got three cats and two large dogs and they have all learned to get along fine .It just takes time and patience. Our youngest cat Lenny was the new guy about a year and a half ago but after awile he fit right in.My 139lb Rottweiler Mr.Buddha even shares his dog food with him.Just have patience and don't give up

Answer 9

If the cats aren't frisky any more chances are they won't kill the guinea pigs if you let them run around, but my family had something terrible happen once about a hamster so be extra careful. The cats can hide somewhere and then pounce out when they have opportunity.

Answer 10

Give it more time. It may take months. Cats really dont like change. You are doing the right thing, it just need to be alot longer.