What to do after failed cat re-introduction

BoaztheAdventureCat

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I went through a couple weeks of slowly reintroducing my cat Boaz to my Dad's cat Posie and my brother's cat Asher (all live in the same house). I was able to get Posie and Boaz to tolerate each other, but now Boaz and Asher absolutely hate each other and will take any opportunity they can to fight with each other, so I have to keep the boy cats separated 24/7. Asher sprays and we have a huge problem with outdoor cats that keep coming onto our property, so that doesn't help matters. Any advice you can offer is much appreciated! The stress is weighing heavy on everybody!

Just a thought: I wonder how the boy cats would react to each other if Posie was in the room with them? Would having another cat in the room to focus on besides each other make them any less likely to go after each other? I'd only test it with both boy cats on leashes, though, because they are so quick to go after each other.
 

Alldara

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Both are fixed and have been vetted?

I would not attempt this. It may ruin Posey's relationship with one or both boys.

I understand it's been a lengthy process, but it likely went too fast still for one or both, and needed further rolled back or some extra steps added. (Like more visual time when not eating, through a gate but able to see one another play, leading up to distracted out time together where they both play separately with different humans). It can take years to intro two adult cats where one is established in the home.

You may have a rare case like Kitten Lady, Hannah has where they will never be amiable to one another and need permanent separation. She has two cats that were young and no tolerance for one another even after many behaviorists. She simply site-swaps them so they each have time with her other cats every other day.
 
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BoaztheAdventureCat

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Both are fixed and have been vetted?

I would not attempt this. It may ruin Posey's relationship with one or both boys.

I understand it's been a lengthy process, but it likely went too fast still for one or both, and needed further rolled back or some extra steps added. (Like more visual time when not eating, through a gate but able to see one another play, leading up to distracted out time together where they both play separately with different humans). It can take years to intro two adult cats where one is established in the home.

You may have a rare case like Kitten Lady, Hannah has where they will never be amiable to one another and need permanent separation. She has two cats that were young and no tolerance for one another even after many behaviorists. She simply site-swaps them so they each have time with her other cats every other day.
Thanks for your honest, polite feedback! That's a good idea about the gate and visual time apart from food. It's worth a try!

All three of our cats are fixed and have been together since they were kittens. However, Boaz was the only kitten for the first two months of his stay with us, and I think those two months were enough to do lasting psychological damage. To this day, he struggles with respecting other cats and seems to prefer being the only cat in sight.
 

Alldara

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Oh. You know what could be good though? If they could view one another's interactions with Posey through a gate, they might learn to read one another as not agressive.
 
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BoaztheAdventureCat

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Oh. You know what could be good though? If they could view one another's interactions with Posey through a gate, they might learn to read one another as not agressive.
Thanks! That might work.
 

Alldara

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Thanks for your honest, polite feedback! That's a good idea about the gate and visual time apart from food. It's worth a try!

All three of our cats are fixed and have been together since they were kittens. However, Boaz was the only kitten for the first two months of his stay with us, and I think those two months were enough to do lasting psychological damage. To this day, he struggles with respecting other cats and seems to prefer being the only cat in sight.
Oops! Sorry for the fast post. What ages was he when he was along for 2 months?

Nobel is "slow to warm" and it took me a year to settle him and Mags. Magnus is a timid cat though.
 

Alldara

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Another thing. If you can take a cloth and rub it on each of them. One day rub it on Boaz and then rub it on Asher and another day do the opposite.

Also I would take treats and rub one on Magnus's cheek and then feed it to Nobel. Sound so weird, but basically they are tasting one another's pheremones at that point. Usually they had visual when I did this.

Really give them positive feedback if you have any sniffing or similar through the gate. Have some cat calming music playing during visuals so they aren't on edge at every single sound.
 

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Since you weren't aware of the baby gate idea, maybe you could benefit from these TCS articles about introductions (see links below)?

Also, since Posie is OK with both cats, perhaps she can swap sharing space with each one of them when they are on opposite sides of the gates - once you see how things go with Boaz and Asher being separated with a gate for a while. It is possible that her getting along OK with both of them might help when each of them sees the other with her.

Also, regarding Asher's spraying, you probably should take action to get these other cats that are outside to stop coming on your property or keep Asher away from the area where the cats come nearby. Perhaps some of the ideas in the article link below would be things for you to consider.

How To Fix An Unsuccessful Cat Introduction – TheCatSite Articles
How To Successfully Introduce Cats: The Ultimate Guide – TheCatSite Articles
How to Keep Cats Away from your Property - Strays and Neighbour Cats (animalwised.com)
 

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Jackson Galaxy also has a step by step guide:
He has a few videos on them. 😺
 
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BoaztheAdventureCat

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Since you weren't aware of the baby gate idea, maybe you could benefit from these TCS articles about introductions (see links below)?

Also, since Posie is OK with both cats, perhaps she can swap sharing space with each one of them when they are on opposite sides of the gates - once you see how things go with Boaz and Asher being separated with a gate for a while. It is possible that her getting along OK with both of them might help when each of them sees the other with her.

Also, regarding Asher's spraying, you probably should take action to get these other cats that are outside to stop coming on your property or keep Asher away from the area where the cats come nearby. Perhaps some of the ideas in the article link below would be things for you to consider.

How To Fix An Unsuccessful Cat Introduction – TheCatSite Articles
How To Successfully Introduce Cats: The Ultimate Guide – TheCatSite Articles
How to Keep Cats Away from your Property - Strays and Neighbour Cats (animalwised.com)
Thanks! As for the outdoor cat problem...The article on that subject appears to be geared towards people who live at locations with small yards in the city. I live in a small town on almost 2 acres of land, far too much land for me to be able to remove all cat attractions.
 

FeebysOwner

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I live in a small town on almost 2 acres of land, far too much land for me to be able to remove all cat attractions.
Then you might have to consider how to keep doors/windows obscured that Asher can see out of or keep Asher away from those type areas. There are things in that article that you could do for the area immediately around your house and not necessarily the entire 2 acres.
 

Alldara

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You can also consider checking in with a local rescue to see if they'd help you trap and relocate the cats to a barn or homes! 😺
 
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BoaztheAdventureCat

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You can also consider checking in with a local rescue to see if they'd help you trap and relocate the cats to a barn or homes! 😺
Oh believe me, I have. I've been a volunteer for my local animal rescue since May 2019 and my house is on their list of places to do TNR at. They have a waiting list a mile long thanks to our local cat hoarder letting her cats multiply like rabbits while my fellow animal rescue volunteers are swamped with issues with family and work, so they can't get to us for a while.
 

Alldara

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Oh believe me, I have. I've been a volunteer for my local animal rescue since May 2019 and my house is on their list of places to do TNR at. They have a waiting list a mile long thanks to our local cat hoarder letting her cats multiply like rabbits while my fellow animal rescue volunteers are swamped with issues with family and work, so they can't get to us for a while.
That's too bad. How are yours doing now that you added the extra steps in to the intros?
 
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