Q: J.W. of Akron writes that she needs help with her three house cats. The most recent one she adopted was a street rescue that is 6 months old and is now healthy. One of the other cats is afraid of the newcomer that chases and terrifies the more timid cat sending her hissing, crying and running into the basement.
The two cats don’t fight and will even eat side by side unless the younger cat looks at her.
The third cat does not respond one way or the other.
What can J.W. do to stop the behavior and help the cats get along?
A: It is great to hear that the kitten is healthy. It is crucial to make sure a new cat is healthy before placing it with other cats.
Screening for feline leukemia, which is a deadly virus cats can pass to each other in their urine and saliva, is of utmost importance. A veterinarian can do this with a simple 10-minute blood test. Also, have the cat checked for fleas and parasites before allowing it to roam the house or share a litter box. Making sure the cat is spayed or neutered will help with social behaviors.
If the new cat’s health checks out, gradually introduce it to the other cats. I recommend putting the new cat in a bathroom or spare bedroom with the door shut. Since cats are very curious creatures, even with the door shut, the other house cats will be well aware there’s someone new in the house. This gives them an opportunity to investigate each other without major confrontation (which to a cat can be simple eye contact).
They can get used to each others’ smells, sounds and even play a little under the door without an intimidating face off.
Associating the new cat with positive things is key. Feed treats near the door, engage in play near the door and sit beside the door to give affection to both parties. Get all the cats used to eating meals by the door as well. This provides you with a lot of tools to help diffuse the situation when the cats meet.
When you are ready for the full-on introduction (and this depends on the cats — for some, it could be a day or two, more timid cats may take weeks), make sure both cats are hungry. Feed them with the door open, and have their favorite interactive toy (such as a feather on a string) at the ready to distract them if things start to get combative.
Watch body language closely when they meet. Prolonged eye contact or stiff body postures can turn quickly into a chase-and-run situation. Try to distract the cats with treats and toys to get them playing side by side. If things don’t seem to be going well, go back a step and continue training peace around the closed door.
The next time you open it, the cats will be more aware of what to expect and may handle it better.
It is important to mention that cats do not respond well to punishment. In my experience, it is impossible to force a cat to do anything it doesn’t want to do. Making the cats face off, holding them in a small area together, or punishing the cat that is the aggressor will generally only make things worse. The trick with cats is to get them to think what you want is what they want — so use positive reinforcement and be patient.
There are some situations where, just like people, certain cat personalities just don’t mesh. This can actually be dangerous if the cats resort to physical fighting, or if a fearful cat goes into hiding and refuses to eat. In these situations, there are medications that can sometimes be extremely useful in both helping gregarious cats become less aggressive, and helping shy cats become less fearful.
Consulting your veterinarian about the details of your particular situation is key to solving these problems.
Dr. Meg Geldhof,
PetFix Northeast Ohio
Mobile spay and neuter clinic
Please send questions about your pet to Kathy Antoniotti at the Beacon Journal, P.O. Box 640, Akron, OH 44309-0640; or send me an email to kantoniotti@thebeaconjournal.com. Please include your full name and address and a daytime phone number where you can be reached. I will forward your questions to the expert I think is best suited to answer your particular problem. Phoned-in messages will not be taken.