Acclimating female cats

[jesslynn8]

Hello all!

I have three cats. One 10-year-old male, a 2-year-old female, and a 1 year old female. My 10-year-old male gets with almost any animal, or is able to habitate without aggression. I found my 1-year-old female about a year ago, and after a period of quarantine, my 1-year-old female was introduced to my 10 year old male. I had no problems at all when it came to acclimating them.

About 4 months ago I rescued a two-year-old cat. My 10-year-old cat does not seem to mind the two year old cat. The 2-year-old cat seems okay for the most part with my 10-year-old. The one-year-old female and the 2-year-old female hate each other!

I have tried the usual introduction five times now. They have not attacked each other, but I also have not given them that opportunity. I have now switched to alternating the females between a large crate and free roam of the house. The crate is big enough to fit a litter box, food, water. I do not keep them in there for too long, and switch them out so that they get used to each other. It really doesn't seem as if there has been much progress with any process I have tried. I'm not going to give up any of my cats, there must be a way to make this work. I don't care how long it takes, but I would like to see a little bit of progress. Starting at Square One again, would be really hard because the two-year-old has to stay in one room. I don't have the kind of house where I can separate the cats into different areas. If anybody has any tips or tricks that they've used, I am more than happy for any help I can get.

 

[di and bob]

Hissing, swatting, and growling are all perfectly normal for new cats to display. Especially females, which are very territorial and are not as easy going as males. They can, however, learn to live together and eventually from a friendship.
I would say if they are not attacking each other, that is VERY good! They are both young enough to learn to accept each other. 4 months is not long in a cat's world at all. It is just not long enough. 6 months is usually a turning point. I have had cats take up to a year to accept each other, but they did. It sounds like you are doing everything right, they need to see each other to get used to one another. Get a couple of kickeroos to keep around and throw one of them towards a cat if they seem too intent on each other. Cats love them. you can find them anywhere online. Try to find one that does not 'crinkle', I have found that is annoying to them at times. Get some 'calming' aides on Amazon or a pet med site. Treats work well, or get a liquid that you can mix in a small amount of lickable treat, like Delectable Lickables in the stew flavors. Composure is good, or ask your vet for something a little stronger. Have a heavy, stiff piece of crdboard around to stick between them if they do fight so you won't get hurt. Have a cat tree or somewhere high up that one of them can escape to also. Make sure they are around each other more and more, so they get used to each other's movement's and smells. sometimes when there is more than one cat to get used to it makes them super nervous. This WILL happen,

 

[jesslynn8]

Thank you! I have acclimated cats before, but I don't feel as if it is ever been this hard. This one is proving to be more of a challenge. I have ordered calming collars, and drops as well. I see a lot of mixed reviews, but I figured I couldn't hurt to try. I also have the filaway plugins, and spray. Again, mixed reviews on those, but figured it can't hurt.

I have not given them the opportunity to be around each other without a barrier. There have been instances where I've opened the bedroom door, and the two-year-old female will Dart towards the one year old female. It doesn't seem like it's an aggressive behavior, but my 1-year-old is a bit more sensitive when it comes to those things. My one year old has actually gone after a dog before, which I was not happy about. I Foster animals from time to time, and I'm a petsitter. I'm afraid if the one year old is willing to go after a small dog, what is she going to do in the 2-year-old invades her space as well.

I started using the cage so that I could give them more time around each other. More eye to eye contact, exchanging scents. I figured the longer I keep them separated by a door, the harder this is going to be. It makes me feel a little bit better that I am moving in the right direction, and hearing that I can take a decent amount of time to make this work.
I love the cardboard idea, I'm not sure what a kickaroo is but I'll check it out. We do have a lot of toys, a few Interactive, cat tower, and other high places for them to run to.
I have noticed that when my 10-year-old and 2 year old are walking around the house together, the 2-year-old will dart at the 10 year old. My 10 year old will run away and they both hiss at each other. I don't see that as bad or aggression, but I do feel like there is a sense of dominance that's being asserted in that moment. If the 2-year-old does that to the one year old without a barrier, I really fear the outcome.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

If you have tried 5 introductions in 4 months, you may simply be moving from step to step too fast. There is no timetable, other than, "You cannot move faster than the most reluctant cat is comfortable with," and that could take SEVERAL weeks, if not months. AND, it is my experience that two females will take longer to introduce than two males, or a male and a female. I, personally, think that happens because spaying does not remove instincts (other than mating), and a female's instinct is to establish a safe territory to rear kittens. Another female in that territory is seen as more of a threat to resources than a male is. They certainly CAN learn to share, but it takes longer.

You very well may see some squabbles later on, but not necessarily a cat fight. Remember, if there is no blood/pee on the floor, or hunks of fur in the air, it is a heated discussion, NOT a cat fight. Very disturbing to us, but not out of the ordinary to the cats involved.

These article may help you, even if you have done this before:

How To Successfully Introduce Cats [The Ultimate Guide] - TheCatSite
How To Fix An Unsuccessful Cat Introduction - TheCatSite

 

[Alldara]

Ill also just add to start brushing them all with the same brush daily to make them all smell like one another.

Too, if you cant can à dry cloth once à day and pet each cat with it and then rub it arouns the house at baseboard level a bit, that will help.