My cat has gone bonkers (revisited)?

Question

While I appreciate the answers, allow me to clarify:
1. When I brought Hallie in to the house, I kept her in a cage initially, for about a month, until they got used to each other. I'm assuming that his aggression towards her is because she came in sick, and he has had to undergo some treatment because of it.
2. My friends are not bringing their cats into my home. I NEVER allow my friends to bring their cats over. I have only notice him attack those friends who OWN cats.
3. I can't do much by way of rearranging and allowing special rooms for him. I live in a one bedroom apartment. I have a small kitchen, living/dining room, bathroom, bedroom. That's it!
I will dry the herbal stuff, please elaborate on the sights for re-introducing Hallie into the home. I allow for plenty of cuddle time with Tyson, but Hallie is a sweet little mush ball who just wants to be loved -- even by Tyson, who repeatedly attacks her.
Any other suggestions?

Answer 1

Feliway is here: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=feliway
Check around, the price can be up to double, the price varies all over the board but the stuff works.

Rescue Remedy is here:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=bach%27s+rescue+remedy+cats

The introduction and stress levels can be found in several places.

http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/our_pets_for_life_program/cat_behavior_tip_sheets/aggression_between_family_cats.html

http://www.hilltopanimalhospital.com/feline%20aggression.htm

http://www.la-spca.org/education/cats/aggression.htm

http://www.petpromise.org/caggression.shtml

http://www.helium.com/tm/136235/house-doesnt-there-arent

http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/our_pets_for_life_program/cat_behavior_tip_sheets/introducing_pets_to_a_new_cat.html

They should be fed with their backs facing each other, to help with keeping food bowl arguments to a minimum. Two litter boxes help a lot, at opposite ends of the room.

it's commendable that you're trying to get them to get along. A one room place, leaves very little in the way of hiding areas for a cat--it might help to have several empty boxes laying on their sides, mostly facing the wall with just enough room between the opening and the wall for a cat to walk through. Sort of like mini-caves. A folded towel in each will be appreciated by the secluded cat.

Answer 2

Some cats will never get along with each other and other cats who formerly got along well no longer get along well. Sometimes it happens.

Here are some other things to try:

- clips their nails or give them soft paws so at least the damage they do is limited.
- provide some vertical space for them. Cats arrange themselves in a 'territory' 3-dimensionally as they can climb.

You can use shelving, cat trees bought commercially or ones that you can make yourselves, floating shelving, armoires, refrigerators, whatever. Just give them more space by going up.

- make sure that both are getting enough to eat and see if they can eat the same food. Is one still getting treatment? Sometimes medication, even a trip to the vets, can make a cat smell strange and threatening to the other one.

- get some interactive cat toys and play with them to remove the stress. Do not get the laser pointer as that can cause more stress and strange behavior but a low tech toy instead.

Play with them but make sure they don't accidentally rake or bump into each other.

- Get them to sleep in the same room even if they have to be in carriers next to each other.

You can get psychoactive drugs that will calm him (not tranquilizers) from your vet if your vet is up to date. They may be a last resort for your cats and are something you can use in addition to trying other things. You can then taper off the drugs.

Feliway may work, or it may not, it is kind of a toss up depending on the cats. I would also think about meeting cat-owning friends outside of your house until your cat situation is solved.

Good luck.

Answer 3

I guess by now they have already done the sniffing each other thing. Make sure the first cat still gets plenty of one on one time. The little one won't know the difference. Show him he is still loved. Then play some games where they chase a toy and get them to bump into each other and get closer. They will then rub a bit of scent on each other this way and grow used to eahc other. Interaction is key so they are focusing on what they are doing instead of hmmm little one is still here.

Answer 4

Invite your boss, enemies, old flames who've wrong you over for a nice dinner, then leave, lock the door and let Tyson go to town.