I have recently brought a male cat home from a rescue. Please help me introduce them.?

Question

My cats are indoor/outdoor but this cat must be indoor only due to health reasons. He was not neutered but we got him neutered within a week. I introduced him to him to my biggest worry, my other fixed male before the fixing. my male hissed and spat but there seemed to be no other issues. the day after i got the new cat fixed we were introducing them again and my new one attacked my cat! figuring it was still testosterone, i let it go until we introduced them again and i watched our new one stalk and attack my cat viscously. I've been keeping the new one in a cage in the living room now in hopes of them getting used to each other but my male avoids that room. I'm afraid that it won't work(it's been almost 3 weeks now) and my options are very limited with him due to his health problem. Please. I really need something that will work.

Answer 1

Well it is clear that you went down the wrong path while introducing them to each other and it will take more time and effort to get them to at least get used to each other and get onto the right path again.

Introducing 2 males is much more difficult to do than with females because they are much more territorial. The biggest mistake you made was introducing them a second time only a day after the new one got neutered. That would have to be the worst time to introduce for not only is this new cat in a new enviornment, but he has also just got through being neutered and is very stressed out. This is why he attacked your cat. When introducing cats to eachother you cannot rush it or it will turn out in disaster which you had to learn the hard way.

Okay, so now how to fix this. You have the right idea with the cage, but it is not fair in the new cats eyes that he is the only one caged up while the other gets free reign of the house and it also doesn't help that your cat never goes into that room. What you need to do is cage up both cats in a neutral room or area so neither of them feel threated by the other. Place the cages a foot apart and let them hiss at each other all they want, they will eventually quit and start to get comfortable with each others presence. You need to do this at least a week for a few hours a day. Don't keep either of the cats caged up all day, allow them to be in rooms across from each other if possible where they can sniff each other through a door. You also need to make sure that you are focusing on giving them equal attention and you especially need to make sure that the new one is comfortable in your home.

Once that first week is over you can slowly let them out of their cages. If you would like, as a safety precaution, clip their nails so if they do get in a scrufle, no one gets hurt. The day you decided to let them both out, put them in the room with their cages together and let them sit in there for an hour or two like you have been doing all week. Then you are going to open the doors to both cages and let them out. Make sure you use positive reinforcement and pet them both in this process. You  can also bring in some toys and try to get them to play. Now don't expect them to get along for the first few days, it will take sometime. Now if one attacks the other, you need to grab them by the scruff and put whoever started it back into the cage or if you cant tell put them both back as a time out. Make sure you watch them closely and look for signs of them pushing each others buttons and try to block that behavior with toys or affection. I also forgot to mention that the perfect time to let them out is after they have both ate for they will be tired and more relaxed.

Eventually you should be able to have them out with each other all the time. They may bond and become buddies or they may just ignore each other for the rest of their lives, but either way they will learn to live with one another. Just be patient and whatever you do don't rush it!

I wish you the best of luck and please feel free to email me if you have any questions or to let me know how it goes. :)

[e-mail]

Answer 2

I have two female cats and they are not friends. They are not vicious, but they hiss at each other. They can be in the same room, but they always face the other way.

Apparently male cats are more territorial and you have a problem. Read site below:

Answer 3

I could explain it to you in a really long post, but I think this covers the basics ;-)

http://www.fourpaws.org/pages/adopting_p...

Good Luck!

Answer 4

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 him, let him find it on his 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 him to see the kitten as an intruder that YOU brought home and shoved in his face.  Cats are very much creatures of habit and routine, so when his routine is disrupted, don’t be surprised if he 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.

Because of foreign smells, the cat’s don't recognize her scent. This often happens when one (or more) cats have gone for a visit to the vet, the groomer or accidentally escaped from the house.

First place each cat in separate rooms alone, and rub them 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 be 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.

Good luck!