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- Nov 30, 2022
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I just want to start by saying that I've read a lot on how to properly introduce cats and am working on that to get the two to stop hissing at each other on sight. I'm posting this because a lot of the things about it don't say anything on what to do with a third cat.
So I have three cats that I've had for 5.5 years and they've gotten along fairly well during that time. The why isn't really important for this but my cats smelled something weird outside and then just started attacking each other to the point one ended up scratched right under the eye despite the fact I clip my cats' claws. One of the cats got over everything really fast and is totally fine being in the room with either of the other two alone. The other two now hiss at each other repeatedly on sight. When they start doing this, the third cat - the one who's chill with everyone 5 minutes after a fight - starts yowling which seems to be the trigger for violence. This is at least what was happening the first 24 hours when I was still hopeful this would be quick to resolve. When they start fighting like this they all three will take turns attacking each other until I physically break it up.
Does anyone know if I should be doing anything different from standard introduction steps because of the third cat? I've been swapping him around to hang out with a different cat in a different room from time to time. He's essentially my stand in since the two cats that are fighting both are in the habit of crying for me if I'm in a room they can't get to (I'm their emotional support human). I can't help but wonder if his presence is making the aggression between the other two worse.
Some additional background: Two I got as kittens within a week of each other and one I got as an adult about two months later. I didn't properly introduce them but it's been 5.5 years of calm so I think it mostly worked out. Everyone is spayed/neutered. The two that are fighting regularly have little dominance spats but that mostly amounts to the oldest one who weighs 8-9 lbs swatting at the one I've had the longest who weighs 14-15 lbs (he isn't overweight - he stands more than a head taller than the other two) and the bigger cat just taking it for a minute before getting up to loom over the oldest until she backs down. Props to her for still having the confidence that she can take him. Dream big. They also regularly sleep together in my lap so they know how to get along, too. Or they did. I apparently have a picture of it on this computer even:
So I have three cats that I've had for 5.5 years and they've gotten along fairly well during that time. The why isn't really important for this but my cats smelled something weird outside and then just started attacking each other to the point one ended up scratched right under the eye despite the fact I clip my cats' claws. One of the cats got over everything really fast and is totally fine being in the room with either of the other two alone. The other two now hiss at each other repeatedly on sight. When they start doing this, the third cat - the one who's chill with everyone 5 minutes after a fight - starts yowling which seems to be the trigger for violence. This is at least what was happening the first 24 hours when I was still hopeful this would be quick to resolve. When they start fighting like this they all three will take turns attacking each other until I physically break it up.
Does anyone know if I should be doing anything different from standard introduction steps because of the third cat? I've been swapping him around to hang out with a different cat in a different room from time to time. He's essentially my stand in since the two cats that are fighting both are in the habit of crying for me if I'm in a room they can't get to (I'm their emotional support human). I can't help but wonder if his presence is making the aggression between the other two worse.
Some additional background: Two I got as kittens within a week of each other and one I got as an adult about two months later. I didn't properly introduce them but it's been 5.5 years of calm so I think it mostly worked out. Everyone is spayed/neutered. The two that are fighting regularly have little dominance spats but that mostly amounts to the oldest one who weighs 8-9 lbs swatting at the one I've had the longest who weighs 14-15 lbs (he isn't overweight - he stands more than a head taller than the other two) and the bigger cat just taking it for a minute before getting up to loom over the oldest until she backs down. Props to her for still having the confidence that she can take him. Dream big. They also regularly sleep together in my lap so they know how to get along, too. Or they did. I apparently have a picture of it on this computer even: