Unhappy cat!

slimjim1120

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I have three cats. Up to about two months ago, they were happy sisters. I touch base with an old friend. I haven't seen in almost 40 years. He was down on his luck and out of state and needed a place to stay for a while. I invited him to stay at my place. Anyways, on his way to my place, he called me and let me know that him and Mindy were on their way. I asked who Mindy was, he replied. It was his dog. At that time, I said I have three cats, he replied my dog is harmless. I wasn't worried about his dog, I was worried about my cats. Anyways, he was here for a month and a half, during that time, my first and main Cat, which is an indoor outer cat, was really pissed and took off numerous times for days at a time. She always came in house every night. Finally, my friend left for another state, and I thought things would go back to normal, but that didn't happen. Now the cat will not get along with her two sisters. Whenever she comes in from outside, and she crosses paths with them, she growls and hisses. She's fine if her and I are the only ones in the room, she'll jump up on my lap, purr, and seem real happy. When one of the other cats jumps up on the recliner, she'll hiss and wanna go outside. She more or less only comes home to eat. The other day she took off for two nights when the temperature was around 20° outside. She is a short hair cat,which made me worry about her tremendously. She does not get along with her sisters any more. Is there any advice anybody can give to help my situation?
 

FeebysOwner

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Hi and welcome to TCS. I would strongly suggest you transition this cat to an indoor only one. Her being able to escape outside to get away from the dog (and the dog's owner) created a new bad habit of her wanting to stay outdoors most of the time. The reaction to the other cats is likely the result of changes she has gone through from the dog and going/staying outside more than before.

Trying to reintroduce cats, to see if that would help, is a lot less successful when one is an indoor/outdoor cat and can escape/avoid the situation by going outside.

Bring her inside; maybe even give her a room of her own to start with if she continues to hiss and growl at them, and endure her being unhappy for a while by being denied access to outdoors. She will eventually get over it, and if you do have to give her a separate room, once she has adapted to it, then you can try an abbreviated introduction to what was once her buddies, so that they can become friends again.
 
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slimjim1120

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Hi and welcome to TCS. I would strongly suggest you transition this cat to an indoor only one. Her being able to escape outside to get away from the dog (and the dog's owner) created a new bad habit of her wanting to stay outdoors most of the time. The reaction to the other cats is likely the result of changes she has gone through from the dog and going/staying outside more than before.

Trying to reintroduce cats, to see if that would help, is a lot less successful when one is an indoor/outdoor cat and can escape/avoid the situation by going outside.

Bring her inside; maybe even give her a room of her own to start with if she continues to hiss and growl at them, and endure her being unhappy for a while by being denied access to outdoors. She will eventually get over it, and if you do have to give her a separate room, once she has adapted to it, then you can try an abbreviated introduction to what was once her buddies, so that they can become friends again.
thank thank you for your advice. One more thing to add, when I do get her in a separate room show rub against my legs for a bit, then start growling at me while her tail is gone at it. What is she trying to tell me?
 
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slimjim1120

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thank thank you for your advice. One more thing to add, when I do get her in a separate room show rub against my legs for a bit, then start growling at me while her tail is gone at it. What is she trying to tell me?
I guess I need to preview what I wrote to make sure I said it right. She will rub against my legs for a bit, then start growling at me while her tail is going at it.
 

FeebysOwner

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when I do get her in a separate room show rub against my legs for a bit, then start growling at me while her tail is gone at it. What is she trying to tell me?
So, you have previously had her confined to a room before? If that is the case, I would imagine she is expecting to be let out again, rubs up you as 'thanks in advance', and then if you don't let her out immediately, she is demonstrating her displeasure. No doubt that may go on for a while before she realizes she isn't going to be let out again. Unfortunately, part of the process in acclimating her to her new life indoors.
 
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slimjim1120

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So, you have previously had her confined to a room before? If that is the case, I would imagine she is expecting to be let out again, rubs up you as 'thanks in advance', and then if you don't let her out immediately, she is demonstrating her displeasure. No doubt that may go on for a while before she realizes she isn't going to be let out again. Unfortunately, part of the process in acclimating her to her new life indoors.
Actually, I get her in that separate room immediately after she's been gone a day or two, that's when she rubs up on me and in about 30 seconds starts growling at me
 

Kris107

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Have you done a good deep clean after your guest left? His smell and the dog's smell are probably still around.
 
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slimjim1120

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Hi and welcome to TCS. I would strongly suggest you transition this cat to an indoor only one. Her being able to escape outside to get away from the dog (and the dog's owner) created a new bad habit of her wanting to stay outdoors most of the time. The reaction to the other cats is likely the result of changes she has gone through from the dog and going/staying outside more than before.

Trying to reintroduce cats, to see if that would help, is a lot less successful when one is an indoor/outdoor cat and can escape/avoid the situation by going outside.

Bring her inside; maybe even give her a room of her own to start with if she continues to hiss and growl at them, and endure her being unhappy for a while by being denied access to outdoors. She will eventually get over it, and if you do have to give her a separate room, once she has adapted to it, then you can try an abbreviated introduction to what was once her buddies, so that they can become friends again.
I wanna thank you very much for your advice. It's been about five days now that Jasmine has been confined to the house and she is coming around. Last time at the patio door, asking to be out, less growling and hissing. She even got groomed by one of the other cats couple nights ago. Appreciate your help, Jim Olson
 

FeebysOwner

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Thanks for the update! This is good news, and in a relatively short period of time. She will continue to adapt with more time. Glad to hear there is the beginning of companionship with at least one of your other cats!!
 
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