O.K. so I got a 3 year old cat, and he is very laid back, when my other two (both are 5 years old) cats hiss at him, he doesn't really care. My other two cats however REFUSE to get along with him, and I'm at a loss, I want to be able to have both of their food dishes in the same room, but my first two cats won't even tolerate him, I NEED HELP!! How do I get them to like the new cat??
2007-06-21 19:02:22 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
It could take a few months, especially sincethey're all adult cats, but they'll probably be fine. The new cat isn't concerned, which is a good start. When we adopted a 4 year old cat a few years back, he wanted to be friends with our other cats *right away* but it took several weeks before one of them began playing with him, and our other cat never really warmed up to him but the hissing subsided quite a bit & the cats were fine piling on the bed with us @ night. Sometimes it helps if you don't make a big fuss over the new guy in front of your other cats, but give them extra attention.
2007-06-21 19:28:00 · answer #1 · answered by Catkin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Give them time. He's invading their territory and, to their minds, eating up their food. Think of it this way -- what if your husband brought home a new wife one day, and you were supposed to be happy about it.
Don't even try to feed them in ther same room for a while. Be sure there are litter boxes in at least two locations, so they can't try to prevent the new cat from using one.
If all they do is hiss at him, you're fortunate. Sometimes a new cat is met with actual fighting. As long as no blood is shed, they are getting along all right. They may never become pals or really like each other, or they may.
2007-06-21 19:15:03 · answer #2 · answered by Kayty 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is very normal. Cats don't like changes and new members of the family. It takes them a while to welcome a new cat into their home. Sometimes it takes months. I brought a new cat home who was 3 years old at the time, it took what felt like forever but all is well now. Still today after almost 4 years there is a bit of hiss but never fights. That's all it was hissing nothing else. so just give it time and don't force them to be friends. It will happen on their terms. All the best;^)
2007-06-21 19:12:17 · answer #3 · answered by SureKat 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't worry, this is normal. It can take a few weeks to a few months for cats to get to the point of tolerating eachother.
It's best to keep the new cat in a room without the other cats for a few weeks so they can get used to eachother's scent through the door. You may allow him out when the other cats aren't around. Also, be sure to spend a lot of time with all of them. This will help them get used to eachothers scent because they'll smell the scent on you and it will also make the new cat feel more welcome and will reassure your other cats that you still love them.
Some cats adapt faster to new cats than others. Some become best friends while others merly tolerate eachother. They will eventually adapt though so don't worry about it,just give it time.
2007-06-21 19:13:57 · answer #4 · answered by minuteblue 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is what I did whenever I got to cats together. I kid you not, this worked for me. Put a bit of scented talc or vanilla extract on all 3 cats. That way, they all smell the same and there is no need for the established cats to fuss. However, in time, they should all get along soon. Give it time. The older 2 are just trying to let the new kid know who's boss.
If you want to have all the feeding dishes in the same area, try feeding the new one at a different time. Make sure to have multiple litter trays with clean litter at all times around the house. That way, no one is competing for potty rights or feeding times. Hope this helps:)
2007-06-21 19:13:03 · answer #5 · answered by empresstigerlily 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't try to feed them together for a while. They will adjust, but don't expect them to accept a new cat immediately. It takes time, especially when they are all adult cats. After they stop hissing you can slowly move their food dishes towards each other. But cats really don't want to eat with another cat that they haven't yet accepted. Litter boxes can be a problem too since they are territorial. Sometimes you have to keep separate litter boxes until they are all adjusted and have accepted the new cat.
2007-06-21 19:07:09 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
well my step dad is a vet and what he usually tells people is to get a young cat like 6 weeks to 1 year old but usually when u get a cat u should lock them up in a small room and rub a dry wash cloth on the new cat (remember to rub under their chin they have scent glands there.) and rub it on the old cats so they smell like each other and then after a day or so do it again and let the new cat out and they shouldent care but Ur new cat might be to old for them to really get attached to each other but they should at least tolerate each other cuz they all smell alike.
2007-06-21 19:48:27 · answer #7 · answered by Zane B 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This situation usually occurs when you introduce new cats to the ones you already have. Give them time. What you could do would be to maybe put him in the same living area as your other cats but make sure they are separated. That way they are "living together" but if anything is going to go wrong, it won't. Hope that helps.
2007-06-21 22:12:50 · answer #8 · answered by A J 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Just let the cats be, it may take time 1month or 1 year but they will become friends. I have been in the same situation many of times and they always become friends
2007-06-21 19:57:48 · answer #9 · answered by Julie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately the only thing to do really is to just give it time. Older pets, cats especially, take a longer period of time to adjust. It's possible for this to continue for months... but that is unlikely.
2007-06-21 19:52:12 · answer #10 · answered by irishjen1984 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋