New cat George aggressive to existing cat Emily

[catsgalore]

I really need some advice.

Emily and her brother Henry joined our family about five years ago. Henry was diagnosed with heart problems and died suddenly and horrifically last October. After Henry died, it became apparent that Emily had been quite intimidated by Henry and wasn't as independent and happy to do her own thing as I had thought. She's really come round and enjoys being with me and Robin rabbit.

About a month ago I brought home George from our local rescue. George had lived with his two cat friends and they'd been taken to the rescue after the lady became pregnant. One of then had already been rehomed and we were told he was very bossy and the others (George and Neville) seemed relieved he had gone. They were housed with two other ginger boys. Neville bit me repeatedly. He wasn't aggressive with it, but he even jumped up and went for my hand when I was standing up. George was quiet and lovely and the rescue agreed that George's only chance was to be separated from Neville.

George is lovely - cuddly, affectionate, strong and bossy. He was in my bedroom to begin with and when I introduced him to Emily, Emily hissed and George did absolutely nothing. This quickly changed and he chases her now. Emily is afraid, there's yowling etc. I moved George to the bathroom and kept him isolated from everyone but me. I've done the swapping bedding etc. George has become stronger by this isolation. He yowls when he's shut in and is very bossy to me. He chased Emily again and has become more worrying when it comes to his behaviour with Robin rabbit. George was a gentler cat prior to his second isolation which I did on the advice of multiple places on google. George is a lovely chap to me.

But I don't want Emily to suffer because of George. I'm also ill (chronically) and don't have the energy to do this for months and months. I'm afraid George will struggle to find another home as he's had two nose surgeries to help him breathe better and several teeth out. I can't bear to fail him, but feel I'm failing everyone at the moment. I think George may not be a good match with a placid female. Please help me. Can I solve this?

[Lilith]

Hi there and welcome

Aww I have an Emily too (avatar cat.) It's awful when you get this situation.

Have you contacted the rescue? I realise you'd rather persevere with George but since he's been with you for such a short time the rescue might be prepared to take him back if things got too much. I feel for you - you don't want to have to admit defeat and I'm sorry about George as well, sounds like the poor guy's had to compete, but now he's taking it out on Emily.

There is a behavourist who you can contact free on this forum - [email protected]

Hopefully other people will be along with more advice but hope this helps for now, all the best, and love and good luck to Emily, George and Robin Rabbit too

[Kay]

all I can add is that in my experience a lot of female cats are more than happy to enjoy their human companions without other cats around, and it seems as if your Emily is one of these

if your home is not big enough to establish separate living quarters for them, then maybe you will have to rehome George and just let Emily live out her life as an only cat - having said that, my Tiffany has lived with Tosker in disharmony (on her side) for 8 years now, and still hisses and yowls at him regularly - but he has learned to ignore her, and neither has ever inflicted damage on the other, so it may be Emily and George will come to co-exist without either suffering