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Thread: New and Old Cat

  1. #1
    God/dess LuckiCharm's Avatar
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    Default New and Old Cat

    I've had my cat Jade for almost 3 years. I got her when she was a baby. She has been around 2 other cats in the past. But, for the past 1 1/2 years or so, it has been just her in the house. Well, my bf brought home another kitten (pic in the picture forum). I love her! She is adorable! But, they keep hissing at eachother. Anyone know any ways to help them warm up to eachother?

  2. #2
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: New and Old Cat

    Nope, just let them work it out. Keep an eye on them so they don't fight too rough, but in time they'll have to establish their own little hierarchy. They probably won't ever be friends but they'll learn to tolerate each other. It's pretty unusual for two females to get along, especially when one has been established in the home before the other one.

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    God/dess LuckiCharm's Avatar
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    Default Re: New and Old Cat

    It's so funny because the new little kitten tries to hiss back at the older one and barely any sounds comes out lol it's so cute! At first Jade (the older cat) wouldn't even come out of my bedroom because she was so pissed, but now both of them are starting to wonder around. They still hiss, but I guess I'll just wait it out like you said Yek...hopefully they'll eventually be able to play and stuff.

  4. #4
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: New and Old Cat

    Like I said, they probably won't ever play. The age difference is too great, and your older cat is too firmly ensconced in HER own territory; the kitten will always be the interloper. But most likely they'll learn to tolerate each other.

    Just remember that YOU have to remain the leader of the pride. Let them work out their relationship on their own, but if they start giving you any shit, hiss at them and give them a stern stare deep into the eyes until they look away. Don't blink, don't look away first. If they swipe at you or try to bite you, bap them on the nose and do the staring thing. Ultimately it's your house and you have to make sure they understand that. Their relationship with each other shouldn't have anything to do with you.

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    God/dess GoldCoastGirl's Avatar
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    Default Re: New and Old Cat

    What's the age difference?

    Plus the fact that your cat has been a solitary cat for awhile now makes it hard for the 'old' cat to accept the new one.

    Bibs never accepted Puddy when she was alive. After a year, she tolerated him (realised he was part of the household now) however still they would fight........ or well Puddy would want to be friends with her and she wouldn't have a bar of it (and make all the noise as well to make sure we all knew it).

    The best way is actually to keep the cats separated and gradually introduce each of the cats to the other. You do this by limiting the time that they both spend in the same room together... an hour at first... and then two hours... and so on and so forth.

    Another little tid-bit is to pat one cat, then pat the other. This way you are transferring the scent of one cat onto the other and thus they can get used to the other's scent this way.

    You may also want to purchase a Feliway PlugIn Diffuser
    http://www.amazon.com/Comfort-Zone-B...679455-2947627

    How to Introduce Your New Cat to the Rest of the Tribe
    http://cats.about.com/cs/catmanageme...roducecats.htm


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    God/dess Lysondra's Avatar
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    Default Re: New and Old Cat

    Time and a shared bowl of wet food or raw beef.


    Look like a woman
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    - My Great Grandmother Bessie's Recipe for Success

  7. #7
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: New and Old Cat

    ^^^ When I've had multiple cats (especially females) and put out something like that, the dominant cat simply eats it and guards it to keep the lesser cat away. Jade might like it if she tried this trick, but poor Gypsy won't get any of the treat and it won't do anything for their relationship.

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    God/dess LuckiCharm's Avatar
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    Default Re: New and Old Cat

    Well I have their food and liter boxes in separate rooms right now but keep the doors open so they can both rome around. Jade still hisses but I hope that will stop soon, poor Gypsy

  9. #9
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: New and Old Cat

    What does Gypsy do when Jade hisses? Is she trying to play with her, or is she keeping her distance?

    They will probably always need separate food and litterboxes, but eventually Jade should get the idea that Gypsy isn't going away and she'll settle into a quiet tolerance. And that's fine. They don't have to be friends.

  10. #10
    God/dess LuckiCharm's Avatar
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    Default Re: New and Old Cat

    Quote Originally Posted by Yekhefah View Post
    What does Gypsy do when Jade hisses? Is she trying to play with her, or is she keeping her distance?

    They will probably always need separate food and litterboxes, but eventually Jade should get the idea that Gypsy isn't going away and she'll settle into a quiet tolerance. And that's fine. They don't have to be friends.
    Sometimes she tries to hiss back but it's the tiniest most unintimidating sound

  11. #11
    High_Heel_Lover
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    Default Re: New and Old Cat

    Yeah time is what they need off ot check the cutie...

  12. #12
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: New and Old Cat

    Oh, good. I'm glad to hear she's not taking it completely lying down. Kitten hisses are just cute, but the fact that she's trying to hiss back is good because it's telling Jade that she's not going away and she'll fight back if Jade tries to fight her. It's telling Jade that fighting isn't going to be worth the effort. Jade will back down sooner because of this, so let Gypsy keep sticking up for herself.

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    God/dess LuckiCharm's Avatar
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    Default Re: New and Old Cat

    Quote Originally Posted by Yekhefah View Post
    Oh, good. I'm glad to hear she's not taking it completely lying down. Kitten hisses are just cute, but the fact that she's trying to hiss back is good because it's telling Jade that she's not going away and she'll fight back if Jade tries to fight her. It's telling Jade that fighting isn't going to be worth the effort. Jade will back down sooner because of this, so let Gypsy keep sticking up for herself.
    Oh good good! I'm glad to hear that's a good sign.

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    Default Re: New and Old Cat

    This situation won't resolve itself for many many months to come unfortunately.

    The power struggle will continue til one of them is not of this life anymore or so was my experience.

    Just the way cat life works. There is a hierachy and it is constantly changing. One cat will be top cat for an hour and then not for a week or whatever.


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  15. #15
    Yekhefah
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    Default Re: New and Old Cat

    ^^^ That's not been my experience at all. I've always found that cats will establish a hierarchy in a few weeks, and then stick within it for the rest of their lives together.

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    God/dess velvet's Avatar
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    Default Re: New and Old Cat

    yea mine either. i have 4 male cats and there is never a hierachy change. a small shift when the last new one came but my one guy is still the alpha and my other guy is still at the bottom.

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    God/dess Lysondra's Avatar
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    Default Re: New and Old Cat

    My cats always took a week tops. And I had 17 cats once.


    Look like a woman
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    - My Great Grandmother Bessie's Recipe for Success

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