Cats loathe each other. Any hope?

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4 years ago, after our elderly cat died, we brought home a rescue cat to keep our remaining cat company.

Big mistake!<\b>

It was growling, snarling, hissing and fur-flying from the start.

To keep peace in the house, we spent a great deal of energy keeping them separate Ñ to the point of picking one cat up and shutting it in a room, just to let the other cat walk by.

This got old pretty quick, as you can well imagine.

Now, after 4 years, it's got to the point where they can at least be in the same room with each other Ñ but I can't trust them for a second.

Last night, as one cat sat in a doorway, the other cat attempted to slink past. All looked OK for a few seconds, but then Ñ WHAM! Screeching, clawing, growling and yowling.

I used to think it was the rescue cat starting these fights (call her Fatty, 'cause she's ballooned up to 15 pounds) Ñ but it really is the older cat (call her Skinny at 7 pounds) who is the most territorial and agressive.

I'm going on a week's vacation in a few days, and although I've got someone coming in twice a day to care for them, I'm really worried.

[Lorien]

1. The trick is to make one another's company

a positive experience. Since they got off to a bad start, this might be tricky (usually it's best to keep the new cat in a separate room for several days, switching the cats bedding every night so that both cats can become accustomed to one another's scent before an introduction can be made). Try clicker training. find a treat both cats adore (liv-a-littles freeze dried treats are expensive-but real kitty cocaine)! Start out by teaching each cat a trick using the clicker training method-go to www.clickertraining.com for more info. Then bring them into the same room. Click and treat every time they get close but don't fight. NEVER yell or scold when they do fight, though-they'll associate the yelling with one another. Simply separate them and close them off in separate rooms for a short time. Also, consider getting some Feliway to spray around the room to calm your kitties. Good luck!

[hangemhigh]

3. Dear Lorien-

You suggested clicker training to me on another post and after just a couple of days, I have to say the results are amazing-Thank you!

Mother of Hilton and Romeo, the food fighters.

[Lorien]

4. Excellent!

I'm so glad it's working for you! I still have to clicker train my kitty Puck-I just haven't found a way to do it without my already trained Oberon getting wildly jealous and tryiing to claw through the door!

[Eurobabe]

2. don't forget about Bach's Rescue Remedy!

that works magic for hissing crazed cats. When we moved, my cats were seperated for a day and the little one spazzed out when the fat one arrived from the airport with my hubby. We had to give them both Rescue Remedy for a day or so.

Some cats just never totally adjust to one another. My mom's little cat, Wellington (aka Biddy Boy or Bidrins) is still very skittish with her older cat who has dominated the show since Biddy came 5 yrs. ago. He has had all kind of peeing problems (spraying, peeing outside his box) and the vet says this is because of the dynamics between them.

Gosh, I don't know I would say if they don't get along within the first month, they will never be kissin' cousins. My cats adjusted within 2 wks of a very slow introduction (we kept them separated with little one in the bathroom for 3 days). Can you get someone to housesit for you?

[hangemhigh]

6. Thanks, I ordered some online.

Hope I don't end up using it all on myself!

[demnan]

5. You know going on vacation might just be good for them

Mine have the problem of being jealous of each other around me, when I'm out of the picture they can sleep near each other peacefully on the bed. I have been working with mine and they have improved somewhat, although they still have problems. (They've been together for 7 years!) Pad Thai wants to mostly play with Lily (who is 14), but Lily won't have it. Then Paddy grabs Lily and tosses her down on her side and that really makes her mad! I've gotten Pad Thai to the point where he isn't as jealous of Lily being on the bed and being petted. When he chases her off the bed what I do is immediately remove him from the bed. I don't let him get any reward for his bad behavior.

Often I still feed them separately because if I don't Pad Thai will eat all Lily's food and she won't get the benefit of the glucosimine I'm giving her. I like that we can all sleep together on the bed in peace at night.