How can I introduce 2 cats without them killing each other

Question

Situation: I just took in a stray 2 year old siamese male cat(he's so sweet and pretty^^) about 3 months ago, but I also have a 7 year old cat that has been in-doors her whole life.

The siamese is really aggressive when I try to introduce them and the female cat is just really scared of him. Both of the cats are fixed and have had all their shots. Right now I have my house blocked off from the siamese, he stays in 2 rooms blocked off from the other cat. How can I introduce them without them tearing each other up so I don't have to have my house blocked off anymore?

Answer 1

Very slowly. Just a few minutes each day and build that up by about an extra 5 minutes a day. They'll soon love each other and will be best of freinds.

Answer 2

Well, you can restrain the mean cat, either by cat leash or pet cage and hold the other cat out side the cage or out of reach of the mean one. Then let them get the scent of eachother and let the mean one know that your old cat was there first.Just do it a few minutes everyday, and try to make sure they can see and smell eachother, and when they can both be calm to the point where you can release your old cat and it wont run off or hiss, then you can try to let the mean one loss and monitor them, but let them mengle. Don't let them fight, just see if they'll fight, if not good! If they ignore eachother, that's fine too, just as long as they aren't fighting. But if they do, you can spoil your older cat openly in front of the new one and normally they'l get jelous and want love too, without fighting. If he begs love him too, but let him know that he has to share your love.

Good luck!

P.S. Watch out for marking. Even though they have both been fixed, your male may start to mark your house as his and that can bring out some anger in your female and then you'll have a domonance control issue. That is a whole new story. But in short, while your spoiling and making friends make sure that they know that you're the boss. I don't  know about the new cat but if your old one had some kind of training, or atleast no the word "No" then you shouldn't have a problem.

Sorry for the rant. I hope that you can find some helpful infromation in there somewhere.

Angain, Good Luck!

Answer 3

maybe put them in a room

wherein they will have a time enjoying each other..

but if you hear something which is terrible

separate them quickly

Answer 4

Try getting the book Cat confidential by Vicky Halls, Bantam press. You will find very usefull and educating advise by an expert. (Plus the book reads like a story and is entertaining.)

Under no circumstances introduce them by just opening up and leaving them to sort things out. In her book she has a whole chapter on how to do it properly. What you are doing now is correct, keep them separate. Worst case senario if you follow her advice: they might not become friends but they will tolerate each other and live in harmony.

Good luck!

Answer 5

I have 2 baby gates which I stack on top of each other. This helps the cats to see each other without hurting each other. Cats can climb them even when stacked 2 high so I wouldn't trust them unattended, but under supervision it has helped me in the past.  

Answer 6

let em go, have squirt bottles and pots ready to bang.

Answer 7

If you haven't brought the kitten into your home yet, when you see him next wipe him or her down with a towel and bring it home with you.  Set it very casually on the floor, and let your cat approach it, (don't bring your cat to the towel like you're showing her, let her find it on her own).  If you have plenty of time in advance, then leave the towel around for several days, and even bring more towels with the kittens’ scent.  Place them several places in the house, in the same way you “planted” the first one.  It may also be helpful to rub your cat down with a towel also and bring it to the kitten.

When it’s time for the kitten to come home for the first time, as you are distracting your resident cat, have a friend, (someone who doesn’t live with you) bring the kitten in and place him or her in a room with the door closed.  Also ask your friend to get the food and water dishes and the litter box set up in the closed room.  Include toys and a bed, (or just a box with towels).  The litter box should be in the opposite side of the room from the food, water and bed.  DO NOT set up the kittens room before you bring him or her home.  This will only confuse your cat.  The point is to make your older cat think that the kitten suddenly, (and magically!) appeared, without your knowledge.

Your cat will approach the door and pick up on the scent of the kitten.  Don’t get discouraged or worried if you hear some hissing and growling, as this is very common.  For the first couple days, spend a limited time in the room with the kitten and make sure to give your resident cat plenty of affection, even more than usual.

Cats are very territorial animals, and this is why you don’t want her to see the kitten as an intruder that YOU brought home and shoved in her face.  Cats are very much creatures of habit and routine, so when her routine is disrupted, don’t be surprised if she becomes very angry.  You must be the judge of when they should meet face-to-face, but don’t push things too quickly, it may take a few days of sniffing each other under the door before they have settled down.  When you believe they have calmed down and are ready, casually open the door a few inches.  Remember, you are being nonchalant about this; do not force them on each other.  You should pick a time after both cats have just eaten; feed them a treat that you know they will love, (like some of their favorite cooked meat).  They will be content and their bellies will be full, so they’re less likely to want to exert a lot of energy in a cat fight.  Supervise them and don’t be surprised if the older cat swats at or fights with the kitten.  Don’t step in and separate them unless someone’s getting hurt worse than just a scratch on the nose. The kitten will probably retreat into his or her room at which time you should close the door.  Increase the time you allow them to interact each day.  Don’t leave them together unattended until you are confident that they comfortable with each other.  Be patient.  It may take a few weeks or even a few months, but if all goes well they will soon become the best of friends.

Extra tip: to ease the initial tension of introduction, rub each cat down with brewer's yeast powder. Brewer's yeast is available in natural food stores. It's all natural, full of vitamin B, and will actually go good for the cats to l**k it off. The smell of the brewers yeast helps disguise the foreign odors and each cat will basically smell the same. Don't use anything like baby powder because the talc isn't good for the cat to breathe or ingest. You should use the same grooming tools (combs, brushes, towels, mitts) on both cats to transfer their scents to one another.

Good luck!

Answer 8

I recently took in a stray male tabby and introduced him to my 10-year-old female Siamese.  It does take some time and patience.  I used Catnip to lure both of them out into the living room and closed both bedroom doors so that they can't "hide."  The Catnip gave both of them a positive association with the room and with each other.  It worked for a couple of hours while I played with and pet both of them at the same time.  Since then, I've been increasing their play time together more and more.  3 weeks past the introduction, they still hiss at each other every so often, but not every time they see each other anymore.  I rewarded both of them with snacks and cat treats for every successful session, and use a snapping tone, "Stop it!" whenever they start hissing again.  Right now, although they have not gotten to the point of being best friends yet, but at least they are able to tolerate each other sharing the same space, cat treats, and toys.  And they have finally stopped fighting, too.  The stray cat would still give an unpleasant protest if the girl strolls too close to him, but they have completely stopped clawing each other.

So perhaps you can use that method or a similar one with a cat toy.  But don't force them or yell at them if they don't play together right away.  If you yell at them too soon or too much, you would just be emphasizing the negativity of being in that room, making them not want to be there together, and they would only have a negative association with the shared playroom as well as with each other.

Answer 9

I've been 'introducing' my cats now for over a year and they still don't get on..that's just cats for you! and to make it a complete 'ba**s up' I've just adopted a kitten who's more antisocial than the two cats! hopefully they will realise that being friends is a lot easier than avoiding each other .... watch this space lol

all i can say is good luck!