Socializing adult indoor cats, is it possible??

Question

So I have had 2 cats for the past 18 months. One is 2 and 1/2 years old now, the other is 2, both are female. Recently, due to a situation in my girlfriend's family, we have had to take in 2 older cats that were her mother's. The two older cats are both 11 years old, are both male, and lived with two other female cats before moving.

My question: Can we successfully integrate these two sets of adult cats? All four are indoor only and have always been indoor only. Does gender play a role in the difficulty we have experienced? Currently the two older males live in our master bedroom upstairs, while the 2 younger original cats at the house live downstairs, we have limited their interaction as all they do is violently hiss, and sometimes swipe and then hide. I was expecting trouble, and I am trying to be patient, but if this is a hopeless situation I would like to know and make alternate arrangements.

Thank you for you answers!! I appreciate it greatly!!

Answer 1

I've seen it done w. females, I've seen it patently not done w. males, in fact the stray my daughter picked up and named Smudgeward v. nearly got killed by our big black possesive Tom and ended up back on the road..

Answer 2

That was nice of you to take in the other two cats!  From experience, even adult cats can learn to live under one roof without problems... it just may take a little longer.  Unless they're really hurting each other, you should let them be around each other as much as possible.  

Sure, they're probably going to hiss and scratch at each other for a few weeks but that can be alleviated by snipping the ends of their nails (front paws only).  I do this for my unruly little beast of a cat.  She scratches furniture so we clip her nails.  It helps when my husband holds her and I do the clipping.  Either that or you can order nail caps from Softpaws.com or Softclaws.com.  We use those too and they're wonderful.  

Hopefully in no time, you'll walk in the room and all four will be laying on your bed giving each other kitty baths!  Best of luck to you!

Answer 3

You should be able to integrate the 2 males, especially since they came from a multiple cat household.  I have introduced many new cats into my household with an already existing cat.  It is typical for there to be hissing and swiping at first but if you just let them be, the interactions will become smoother in time.  The males need to get used to the new surroundings as well as your cats.  Just keep an eye on them all to make sure they are only hissing and swiping.  Have a place where the new cats can go for a break away from your others cats while they adjust.

Answer 4

Yes you can integrate them. Cat rescuers and sanctuaries do it all the time. Let them get to know each other by smell first. I'd put one pair in a room and the other pair loose in the house and then switch them every two days until they all get to know each other by smell.  You can even let just one of each pair get acquainted first so you don't have a 4 cat free for all that gets way out of hand.  

Answer 5

It's mostly fear, once they realize theirs no danger etc.

They get use together, at first they might fight or be scared of each other but it goes away. They actually seem more comfortable together inside.  

We had 4 male cats at first they fought but now they're okay together.  

Answer 6

Hi

Gender should not matter if they are all fixed. The problem is cats when they live together, live in a hierarchy.Iwouldthink the adults would have to be on tophere.

Hope this helps.

http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.php?ac...

http://www.celiahaddon.co.uk/pet%20probl...

Answer 7

I haven't ever experienced a problem caused by the gender of the cats for me, it has only been that the cats that i've had weren't used to the new cat around. I don't know exactly why they do it, but each time a new cat or animal comes around they are either angry or scared around the animal.

I say just give the cats time to adjust, and soon enough they will learn to get along.