We brought in a new cat from outside (fiona) about 5-6 weeks ago. We kept her seperated and after getting her fixed slowly began the introduction process. We have 3 cats already (annabelle, dobby and clementine) Annabelle and Dobby have accepted Fiona aside from a few hisses (from Annabelle) and maybe a swat there is no issue. Then we have Clementine. Clemen is the sweetest cat in the world to humans, we rescued her about a year ago and aside from the usual hissing and growling she got along fine with the other cats and became like the mother cat of the house always trying to clean Dobby and Annabelle (who are horrible to her half the time, they are very close) She is the last cat I thought I would have problems with, but whenever she sees Fiona her eyes go black and she just charges her and attacks with everything she has. I have tried clapping or smacking my hand on the table to startle her with a loud noise, I have tried spray bottles and time outs and nothing works, the second she sees her it starts all over again.
She will only attack Fiona when she isnt paying attention, cleaning, eating, sleeping, even when she is in the litter box. Fiona mostly hides in our office which is her safe place but I hate shutting the door all the time and Fiona is still young (about a year) and she wants to run and play. These fights have ended up with scratches and hair pulled out so I dont know what to do. I have tried Feliway and nothing happened.
Any help? sorry so long
New Cat Aggression
Re: New Cat Aggression
What do you mean by this? Was or is she being intimidated by the other two? If so, then this is more than likely the reason she is agressive with your new cat. Delayed agression, if you will.Katykat17 wrote:Clemen is the sweetest cat in the world to humans, we rescued her about a year ago and aside from the usual hissing and growling she got along fine with the other cats and became like the mother cat of the house always trying to clean Dobby and Annabelle (who are horrible to her half the time, they are very close)
What methods did you employ to stop the intimidation by the other two?
Did you mean to omit the term "only"? Because it sounds like she's doing this all of the time.She will only attack Fiona when she isnt paying attention, cleaning, eating, sleeping, even when she is in the litter box.
The squirt bottle, the time-outs, etc, did you do these things consistently? And, did you do them at the exact moment you saw her attacking/intimidating Fiona? Or, did you do so after the fact? If the latter, then of course she wouldn't associate the reprimand with the unwanted behavior. How many minutes at a time were her time-outs?
How old is Clementine and the other two? When was her last vet visit?
How long did you confine/seperate Fiona from the other three cats? In what time frame did you do the "introductions", and HOW did you introduce them?
..........Traci
Re: New Cat Aggression
Clementine is about a year older than Annabelle and Dobby.(annabelle dobby 1 1/2 clementine is about 2 1/2) When Clementine came in it took about a month for them to accept she was going to stay but then things got progressively better and she now can clean them and sleep with them, you can just tell that Annabelle and Dobby are closer because they have lived together all their lives. When they did act up in the beginning I used the water bottle or time outs, letting clementine have the living room and put the other two in a bedroom.
As for clementine attacking Fiona. if they see each other head on clementine will turn tail between her legs and run away, but if clementine sees fiona sleeping, cleaning herself, or walking with her back turned toward her (in other words when she doesnt already see clementine coming) then Clemen will attack. I followed the basic plan for introductions about a week and a half inside just in her room, then swtiching their beddings so they can smell each other, then switching their rooms for an hour or so. They eventually I let them see each other face to face and clementine saw her and ran off, but then the second I turned my head for something she ran at the couch and attacked her. When she gets punished it is immediate (or as soon as I can chase her down which is like 30 seconds) if she runs under a bed I just shut the door to that room as timeout for between 30 minutes to an hour with water and litter. Clementine has always responded to the water bottle before this for behavoir modification like scratching the sofa. It is like jekyll and hyde with her now though.
Clementine saw the vet about two weeks before Fiona came into the house for her yearly shots.
As for clementine attacking Fiona. if they see each other head on clementine will turn tail between her legs and run away, but if clementine sees fiona sleeping, cleaning herself, or walking with her back turned toward her (in other words when she doesnt already see clementine coming) then Clemen will attack. I followed the basic plan for introductions about a week and a half inside just in her room, then swtiching their beddings so they can smell each other, then switching their rooms for an hour or so. They eventually I let them see each other face to face and clementine saw her and ran off, but then the second I turned my head for something she ran at the couch and attacked her. When she gets punished it is immediate (or as soon as I can chase her down which is like 30 seconds) if she runs under a bed I just shut the door to that room as timeout for between 30 minutes to an hour with water and litter. Clementine has always responded to the water bottle before this for behavoir modification like scratching the sofa. It is like jekyll and hyde with her now though.
Clementine saw the vet about two weeks before Fiona came into the house for her yearly shots.
Re: New Cat Aggression
The time-outs could be too long, they should only be for no longer than 10 minutes at a time, then let her out and observe her immediately. Do not favor one or the other, just supervise.
What have you done toward acclimating them to the same space? The best thing to do in this situation is create a diversion, like playtime or a playtime session/activity. Involve them in the same space with the same activity, like dragging a string across the room, providing toys and tossing them for them to chase, etc....activity that allows them to focus on the play as opposed to directly on each other. You have to actively engage yourself/supervision in the play activities. Set aside time, make it routine, and be consistent....the more they get used to the play activity, the more they will begin to look forward to it, feel less intimidated by each other, and be able to share the same space without fear or apprehension or intimidation. You have to be directly involved so that they associate the play as a good experience. DO reward them with good behavior, like a treat or extended playtime or new toys.
Spend time with all the cats as a group, and also give them individual attention. Choose times when one or more are sleeping to play with/bond with another, and so on. During times they are all active, make those times the play session where they are all involved with the activity. Again, be consistent.
You have to teach Clementine a certain vocal command at the same time you use the squirt bottle, or the time out so she can associate the unwanted behavior with the squirt bottle or time-out. When she is let out, calmer, and on good behavior, reward her for that, let her know good behavior earns her special things, and try to keep the cats' attentions to enjoyable and favorable things, things they can share like the playtime activities. It won't happen over night, but with consistency and patience and comittment on your part, it can be done and the cats can soon have a safe and harmonious environment.
What have you done toward acclimating them to the same space? The best thing to do in this situation is create a diversion, like playtime or a playtime session/activity. Involve them in the same space with the same activity, like dragging a string across the room, providing toys and tossing them for them to chase, etc....activity that allows them to focus on the play as opposed to directly on each other. You have to actively engage yourself/supervision in the play activities. Set aside time, make it routine, and be consistent....the more they get used to the play activity, the more they will begin to look forward to it, feel less intimidated by each other, and be able to share the same space without fear or apprehension or intimidation. You have to be directly involved so that they associate the play as a good experience. DO reward them with good behavior, like a treat or extended playtime or new toys.
Spend time with all the cats as a group, and also give them individual attention. Choose times when one or more are sleeping to play with/bond with another, and so on. During times they are all active, make those times the play session where they are all involved with the activity. Again, be consistent.
You have to teach Clementine a certain vocal command at the same time you use the squirt bottle, or the time out so she can associate the unwanted behavior with the squirt bottle or time-out. When she is let out, calmer, and on good behavior, reward her for that, let her know good behavior earns her special things, and try to keep the cats' attentions to enjoyable and favorable things, things they can share like the playtime activities. It won't happen over night, but with consistency and patience and comittment on your part, it can be done and the cats can soon have a safe and harmonious environment.
..........Traci