7 cats... 3 neutered adult males that need to get along...
Posted: Sat May 24, 2014 2:31 pm
I have 7 cats. I know it may seem like a lot, but my boyfriend and I love them all. He had 2 existing neutered males, both around 2 1/2. I rescued a pregnant female around 5, and her son of 2 1/2 from being thrown off a bridge.. It seemed like they were very abused and I have given them lots of love in the 6 months I have had them. They are almost completely fine and well mannered, even loving me up and playing with toys!
So I met my boyfriend and lo and behold, mama has 3 kittens.. All healthy and happy now at 4 months. They get along with everyone, as well as mama, but the male's are where I am needing some help. All cats are fine with everyone else, as long as my boyfriends males, and my male are seperate. (all neutered)
I have had them at his house for approx. 4 months. They were the tasmanian devil scene, so I just seperated them. The kittens were also too small, so I had them and mama in a bathtub in a closed off bathroom for the first bit. We have a full basement with the backdoor area looking into the backyard, and ledges for cats to look out. There is a door seperating that from the kitchen, with glass panes all the way up to see through at each other.
So what I have been doing is switching all the males from side to side. My male cant go out, so he is usually in this side with us during the day, and the other 2 are outside gallavanting. Then at night my bf likes his in bed, so we switch. Sometimes we leave them for a couple days on either side, and all the other cats are fine with anyone on this side.
Feeding: I feed them in the mornings at 7 when I get up, all wet as we had one get crystals, and everyone has their bit.. (3 cans in the morning amongst them.) The kittens are still getting their kitten dry by themselves during the day! Then at night they get some more wet after we are done eating dinner. (That way they leave us alone or no food for them!)
So now my questions. How can I get these males to get along? If god forbid I left the door open and left, I couldn't live with myself if I allowed one to get seriously hurt. I have tried feeding through the glass door, and they don't want to eat once they see each other too much. This is improving and I am working at it every feeding. I saw you could try harnesses and hold them so they cant get at each other and that would help introduce smell and that, but it seemed cruel and they just want to get at each other. Sometimes they will charge at the glass panes in the door, and one of them has actually come a bit loose and we had to fix it..
My boyfriend and I are under stress because of these cats fighting, and I feel if I can just get them to get along.. We will get along again....
Please help anyone! I will appreciate any insights or criticisms.. I just need help! Thank you!
So I met my boyfriend and lo and behold, mama has 3 kittens.. All healthy and happy now at 4 months. They get along with everyone, as well as mama, but the male's are where I am needing some help. All cats are fine with everyone else, as long as my boyfriends males, and my male are seperate. (all neutered)
I have had them at his house for approx. 4 months. They were the tasmanian devil scene, so I just seperated them. The kittens were also too small, so I had them and mama in a bathtub in a closed off bathroom for the first bit. We have a full basement with the backdoor area looking into the backyard, and ledges for cats to look out. There is a door seperating that from the kitchen, with glass panes all the way up to see through at each other.
So what I have been doing is switching all the males from side to side. My male cant go out, so he is usually in this side with us during the day, and the other 2 are outside gallavanting. Then at night my bf likes his in bed, so we switch. Sometimes we leave them for a couple days on either side, and all the other cats are fine with anyone on this side.
Feeding: I feed them in the mornings at 7 when I get up, all wet as we had one get crystals, and everyone has their bit.. (3 cans in the morning amongst them.) The kittens are still getting their kitten dry by themselves during the day! Then at night they get some more wet after we are done eating dinner. (That way they leave us alone or no food for them!)
So now my questions. How can I get these males to get along? If god forbid I left the door open and left, I couldn't live with myself if I allowed one to get seriously hurt. I have tried feeding through the glass door, and they don't want to eat once they see each other too much. This is improving and I am working at it every feeding. I saw you could try harnesses and hold them so they cant get at each other and that would help introduce smell and that, but it seemed cruel and they just want to get at each other. Sometimes they will charge at the glass panes in the door, and one of them has actually come a bit loose and we had to fix it..
My boyfriend and I are under stress because of these cats fighting, and I feel if I can just get them to get along.. We will get along again....
Please help anyone! I will appreciate any insights or criticisms.. I just need help! Thank you!