Need help *Reintroducing cats to each other* and other new cats, Please Help!

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zacharyhagood
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Need help *Reintroducing cats to each other* and other new cats, Please Help!

Post by zacharyhagood »

I am in desperate need of help. I want to write details in order to provide helpful information so intern hopefully you can help out with how I should go about my problem. I have two cats (brother and sister) named Storm and Misty. They are both three years old. My girlfriend and I used to live in an apartment, where the both the cats have been raised for most of their lives. Just recently we moved into a house with my aunt and uncle. My aunt and Uncle have two cats of their own and a dog.

The new house we moved into is one that we moved into together, so no cat territories have been established. Once we moved in, my girlfriend and I placed our two cats in our room to establish that as their own territories. The first mistake was made when my aunt Brough up one of her cats to come into our room. My girlfriend and I's two cats jumped my aunts cats and I tried to break up the fight (second mistake) and my own cat (Storm, the male cat) ending up attacking me and scratching my face. My cat has never displayed sings of aggression or violence, he has always been the most loving and sweet, outgoing cat of the two that we have. I know he was just scared and acting on his instincts in the moment. After that cat fight, our own two cats (the brother and sister) started fighting each other, and we had to separate them.

It has been 3 months later now, and we have Storm (Male cat) in our bedroom, and Misty (female Cat) in our bathroom. We have done door feeding to re-introduce them to each other, and have progressed to doing feedings with the door open so then can see each other and eat face to face between a gate. Typically there isn't any hissing when they doing this. If they stay in the hallway where the gate is for too long, they will have a short stare down and our female cat will (misty) will hiss, but she won't grow or do anything else. She has been having some problems and even hisses at herself in the mirror, but she has become accustomed to the face to face door feeding, and doesn't hiss when she eating face to face with her brother. We don't know what to do next and could use some help. We are extremely desperate. We have tried multiple vets that aren't willing to help us, watched YouTube videos, and have consulted a behavioral specialist, but with Covid, they can't come to our house. This is my last place that I can turn too. Thank you for taking the time to read all of this. Please help!! Also, if it seems like I am missing information, please ask. I wrote this beforehand and it was longer, but when I submitted it, somehow all the text got deleted and I had to rewrite it. If it is also helpful, I can provide videos of the cats interacting with he gate/door feeding. Thanks again.
cattitudes2
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Re: Need help *Reintroducing cats to each other* and other new cats, Please Help!

Post by cattitudes2 »

Yours seems to be a very difficult situation that requires patience and perseverance, but it should improve with time. There is a pheromone (happy cat synthetic facial pheromone) product called "Feliway", sold as a plug-in diffuser or a spray. If you spray it on the gate, or leave it plugged in around the hallway, your cats may feel more relaxed.

As well, try giving them treats each when they are face to face. And maybe you could play with them there. We use a feather toy attached to a string and a rod, a bit like a fishing rod that mimics a bird, that the cats chase. And sit with them there, talking to them and giving them each pats.

Mieshelle Nagelschneider, a cat behaviorist, has written a book called "The Cat Whisperer" that includes an extensive chapter on re-introducing cats to each other. It would be worth getting a copy from your local library to see if it might help.

It has taken our female 2 years to accept our male rescue, and she still acts out at him occasionally. But it has improved! Wishing you both a good outcome for Storm and Misty.
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Mollycat
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Re: Need help *Reintroducing cats to each other* and other new cats, Please Help!

Post by Mollycat »

Unfortunately this sounds like the most difficult situation faced by cat parents, redirected aggression. When the fight got broken up Storm would have been so wound up, afraid and frustrated, he turned on the only thing that was there - Misty. And the complete shock for her of having him turn on her when the real enemy was your aunt's cat, now she doesn't trust him, he doesn't trust her, and having been so close and fallen out this way, it's much more complicated and difficult than introducing two cats who are strangers and have never fought.

I'm wondering if it might be possible to go ahead with introducing Misty to your aunt's cats first and let them become friends before addressing Storm's problems? Then if you can get to a point where Storm has your bedroom and bathroom (I presume there is a connecting door or am I wrong?) it's a more comfortable and less tens small space for him, and he can be brought into the household gradually.
Mark2345
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Re: Need help *Reintroducing cats to each other* and other new cats, Please Help!

Post by Mark2345 »

Yo I'm facing the same problem. This is the 2nd time this happened. My female cat will stare at my male cat and out of nowhere she will fight him like seriously. Any update to yours?
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