Is it normal for cats to turn on each other? help!?

Question

i brought a new kitty to my house yesterday.

i already have two cats, and they were not very happy.

i know the hissing and growling is normal,

it's still very hard to watch though.

anyways, i knew my two cats were going to hiss at the kitty,

but now they're turning on each other.

my two cats love each other, they're always by each other,

so why would they suddenly growl at each other.

i figured they would team up on the new one,

but now everyone is hissing and growling at each other.

is this normal?

Answer 1

yes it very normal excpecially when u bring a new cat into the family and ur two cats that have been with eachother as they get older the more they grow apart atleast i think.

Answer 2

theyre probably just telling your new cat that theyre more dominant. but if it gets worse...well that would suck :P

Answer 3

They are upset right now and will be cranky with each other as well as with the new cat. Rub a rag over your body and hair and then rub it all over the cats so everyone has the same scent. Then pet and talk to them all so none feels left out. If they are not terrorizing on each other, this is good. In a week or so, all should do just fine.

Answer 4

Put the new kitty in its own room and put the food bowls by the door on both sides this way they can get used to each other with out face to face contact.  let your two cats that were there first stay together. then introduce the new kitty scent by switching the food bowls. then with supervision give them face to face time. but then when you are not there be sure to separate them until the hissing and growling goes away

Answer 5

I think it is. We have three cats, and let's just say bringing a new one home was not a walk in the park. I think they're just angry because it's "their territory" and they don't want another animal to fight for your affections. Be patient, it's only been a day. After a while if it keeps happening, try separating them for a bit. And reward them when they're nice to each other.

Answer 6

Did you bring the new kitten in and isolate it to a room of its own by using a see through gate of some type so that the resident cats could see and smell the newbie at first, but no one could actually touch each other?  Or have you just brought the new kitten home and set it in the house?

Your resident cats behavior isn't abnormal, but from experience I can tell you it isn't the best thing in the world for them to have to go through.

Your resident cats will probably be fine after they adjust to the scent of the new cat in the house, that's what they are fighting with each other about, it's the new scent they smell and if they can't find the kitten then they take their frustration out on each other.

If I were you, and you could, I'd find a see through baby gate (that's what we use here. You can buy them at Petco or Walmart) and it adjusts to fit any door frame.  Put your kitten in that room with food, water and litter pan and let the three of them look at and smell wach other with the gate between them.

If one or both of the resident cats gets used to your kitten it may decide to jump over the gate and into the room with the kitten which is fine.  Let them get used to each other on their own terms.  And you should make sure that you give lots of love and positive attention to your resident cats at this time as well.  After all, they were in your home first and if you pay too much attention to the kitten your resident cats will become jealous.

Good Luck!