Any cat whisperers out there?

Question

My resident cat hates my new one. It's war in the house. Any ideas on how to get them to accept each other? One is 11 and the other is 5. Both females.

Answer 1

Keep them apart. Gradually let them see each other, then bring them together at feeding time, then at relaxation time, when they take their nap. In a month or so they will learn to accept each other. There will be some dominance fighting, just make sure you don't leave them alone together until they stop serious fighting.  

Answer 2

There will always be some quarrel when you initially introduce two new animals to each other.  

Keep the one separated for the first bit.  It is important to keep him in a quiet place so he can get used to his surroundings.  Think if you will of being taken away from your home and everyone you know and being put in a box... that would be pretty scarry right?  Then being put in a new place with strange people, strange smells, sounds, etc. and having someone advancing at you aggressively on top of it.  It is very stressfull to be in a new place so you want it to get over that stress first before adding more.  

After they are use to that room, allow them to get a bit more and a bit more area to explore.  Allow the cats to meet a little bit at a time over a while.  Allowing them to meet gradually will limit issues.

If you just throw them at each other while the other is already stressed from moving homes, it will become defensive and possibly aggressive which will just make matters worse.

Answer 3

you have to do slow introductions, slowly they will get used to each others scents and tolerate each other,  the best thing to do is read up on introducing cats, and cats body language so you can understand how your cats are feeling through this process and when to take it a step further. i did this recently and now my cats get on really well!

here are some websites:

http://www.homevet.com/petcare/petmeet.h...

http://www.azhumane.org/artman2/publish/...

http://www.messybeast.com/cat_talk2.htm

good luck

Answer 4

I am currently having some behavioral problems with my cat and was researching on line just last night and came across a highly recommended book called Cat vs Cat.  It is only 15 dollars and Barnes and Noble, 10 on amazon.  I am going to buy it today, but you should check out the books reviews on Amazon. this book may be very helpful for you rather than little tidbits from YA posters