My cats still hate each other

[TrogL]

Poor Smokey. She had the place to herself, then we got a kitten which she eventually got used to, but then it ran away, so I adopted a tortie which she hated but eventually got used to and then my daughter wanted a kitten so Smokey had to start all over again.

I adopted back a cat that I had let go over to my ex-wife's and Smokey still hates it. They have nightly cat fights (lost fur and the whole bit) under the bed and under the couch. It's gotten to the point she won't let the new cat go to the bathroom so he's been leaving presents under the bed and couch.

I locked her downstairs last night and left the new cat up so I could have some peace and quiet. She was not amused.

Any way I can convince Smokey to "get over it"?

[meow2u3]

1. Try using a towel with the kitten's scent on it

Rub the little kitty with the towel and then put it where Smokey sleeps or rests. This should get the cat used to the kitten's scent and warm him/her up to the little guy.

[TrogL]

7. The kitten is not the problem

She hissed at it for a couple of days, then got over it. Now they ignore each other.

It's the 15-year-old original cat that she's pissed off at. Last night I broke up a cat fight in the dark and accidentally threw it downstairs instead.

[Lorien]

2. This may help:

http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/our_pets_for_life_program/cat_behavior_tip_sheets/introducing_pets_to_a_new_cat.html

Give Smokey extra attention if you can (locking her away from you will make things much worse). Praise her whenever the kitten is near; the goal is to have them both associate only good feelings with one another's presence.

[IndyOp]

4. Good HSUS page!

:kick:

[IndyOp]

3. I think the kitten-smell on the towel idea is a good one --

I would also suggest that you not let them free near each other for the foreseeable future. Maybe set up a big crate (or small room) with litter box, food, water - and keep one or the other cat in it. Everytime they have a fight it makes their aggressive behavior pattern more likely to continue in future.

If you are open to alternative treatments, I have had great success with Bach's Flower Remedies with my pets. Choose 2 (or at most 3) of the following and put a few drops of each in your cat's water bowl.

Chamomile: This is a calming remedy that helps fractious and irritable animals. It is especially useful if they are teething and also helps the animal that tends to have terrible temper tantrums. (FES)

Cherry Plum: For animals that cannot control their behavior, such as aggression and biting, and tend to have violent impulses towards other animals and people, and even be dangerous. (Bach)

Vine: This remedy helps with the dominant animal who wants to be the boss of all the other animals and people. They are bullies to the other animals around them and hate to be disciplined. (Bach)

Walnut: This is an extremely useful remedy for any time of transition, such as moving house, becoming pregnant, adjusting to new animals or family members, or going to a new situation. (Bach)

Willow: This remedy helps with resentment and bitterness and often helps cats that urinate everywhere, due to a change in the household, such as the arrival of another animal or a baby. (Bach)

Descriptions from here:
<http://www.petsynergy.com/flower.html#C6>

[superconnected]

5. I use two litter boxes at my place

1 upstairs and 1 down stairs. The upstairs one is in mybedroom by the closet.

My 18yo cat currently sleeps outside my bedroom door as to try to not let anyone pass. She growls and claws who ever doesn't run and jump over her. Her and my momma kitty Aurora still don't get along after 8 months so I know what you are going through. A little - my cats aren't pulling fur out. They just confront each other clawing several times a day when one adult wants through a door and the other won't let it pass.

Your cat should come further as time passes. My situtation is growing better. My adult cat eats with the 8 month old kittens now and lets them eat out of her dish while she eats. That's progress. But the kittens do show the proper respect, I mean "fear".

I had 1 cat(Mismatch) for 17 years and introduced a momma cat last Christmas, then her 3 kittens, then 1 extra 6mo kitten that found me a few weeks ago. My Mismatch is not too thrilled with the new housemates.

Good luck. 2 litter boxes seem like a necessity though.

[demnan]

6. Yeah tell me about it

My cats want to do this:



Pad Thai is the aggressor, mostly because he's jealous when Lily gets attention. He doesn't like that fact that she likes to sleep next to my head on the pillow. Even though his perferred place is between my knees.

But I have caught them both like this as well.



Do they hate each other? Most of the time no they don't. But cats are extremely jealous creatures. I think that's why cats don't get along in the same household usually.

[TrogL]

8. I may have a home for Chester

aka as "Chesterfield" as in nobody gets to sit on it because there's a cat in the way.

A friend of mine was going to adopt a cat from the pound but it took sick and died. It sounds like it might be the perfect home for an elderly cat so I've offered Chester instead.