Help settling a new cat into my home

by Susan
(UK)

Hi,


I took in a rescue cat last weekend (6 days ago). I've been told he has no pedigree papers but his looks and personality seem to be very much a Siamese cat. I've been told he is about 7 years old. Orginally form a home with no other cats.

He's lovely with me, runs to greet me, just wants to sit on my knee etc, but is very agressive towards my two non Siamese cats (an older male cat 14 yrs and a male kitten 10 mths).

The Siamese originally growled and hissed at these two, but is now chasing them away, so it seems his agression is escalating, and I'm worried, and we're all miserable.

Apart from keeping them separate (I feed and pet him in a spare bedroom), is there anything else I can be doing? Is it likely that this situation will be reolved with time and patience, or do you think I'd be better re-homing him before I become too attached/he becomes too attached to me.

I hate him being in solitary confinement, but it's so unfair on my other cats that he's reacting like this. Neither of my existing cats has any territorial problems at all, and were happy to welcome him into the household...now they are wary and do anything to avoid him.

At the moment, I wish I hadn't taken him but he was miserable in his home because a child was over enthusiastically pulling and kicking him.

Any help/advice will be greatly appreciated.

Comments for Help settling a new cat into my home

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Apr 09, 2012
 Oh good!!! NEW
by: angelina diantonio

First you all need time to adjust.This does not happen overnight.It could take weeks.I really think everything will be great and all the cats will bond and love each other.You have a back up plan and now you can relax and let nature take its course.I am a stay in the house cat mama.I would be fearful of outdoors.Can you get a cat home or cage for outside?I would try the harness it sounds like a good idea.I saw them before.That way you can take him out safely.I would keep him in myself.Keep us posted.Keep up the pictures.He is so handsome !!!!!
Apr 09, 2012
 Next Question...Walking Harness NEW
by: Susan

OK, I feel progress is finally being made...a little bit of agression towards my old boy this morning BUT both cats fed within inches of each other, and happily ate their breakfast. Then when old boy was still eating, Gussie took the opportunity to sniff him. He seems a little more relaxed since.

I also let Gussie out for a few minutes today, and he met up with kitten outside - nose to nose, and no agression.

I still wouldn't trust that this won't all kick off again, but I feel happier today as this feels like real progress, and it does seem down to him havung a few minutes outside.

So...next problem...although I live in the countryside, there is a busy road near me, and Gussie shows no signs of understanding the dangers of this at all. My heart stopped when he got so close to it this morning and showed no signs of fear of the cars going past. Other village cats keep well away from it, including my two incumbent cats. So, I'm reluctant to let him out, though he seems calmer for being outside.

Given that he is around 7, what do you think are the chances of success of training him to a harness? I've never tried one with a cat, but I can't see any alternative if he is to spend some time outside, and be happier.

Any advice on this? Do any of you have any experience of using one? What should I look out for in one - i.e. are any better than others?

many thanks

Susan

P.S. My neighbours said last night that they will take him and give him a home if the situation between the cats becomes intolerable, so I feel happy that I have a backup plan of a good home for him. Hopefully, on today's progress, that won't be needed, but I do feel happier.

P.P.S. yes, he is a gorgeous boy isn't he? Quite stunning (when he's not hissing & spitting!)
Apr 08, 2012
 Give them all time. NEW
by: angelina diantonio

You all need time to get used to each other and everything will be fine.I must say he is just stunning.So handsome!!!!!Keep us posted!!!
Apr 08, 2012
 Pusscat back with me... NEW
by: Susan

Hi,

just a wee update - after spending a little time with my neighbours, Pusscat decided to leave and had a wander round the neighbourhood. I finally managed to nab him, and bring him back home. He hasn't been here long enough to establish that this is his home, so I was concerned when he went walkabout.

He had a wander round the house, walked past Old Boy asleep on my bed, and has settle don top of the wardrobe. He eyeballed kitten when he came home, but is too tired to come down off the wardrobe to chase him.

My neighbours are considering whether to take him, but I suspect that they will not. Thinking of owning a pet, and the reality can be so different.I think they were shocked that he slipped away from them so easily earlier..me, I've had cats for years, so know how easily outwitted we humans can be by them :¬)

I'll see how the next few days go. Maybe let him out for a few minutes tomorrow under stricter supervision, and see if this lessens his agression indoors. I will, of course, continue to keep all the pusses separate at night so we can all get proper rest.

It will be much harder when I'm back at work on Tuesday...so few hours in the day at home, but I'll see how I can make it work.

Any further comments/advice will be greatly appreciated.

many thanks

Susan

Apr 08, 2012
 Pusscat happier outside NEW
by: Susan

Hi, Beatrice

Interestingly, I came to the same conclusion a couple of hours ago - if he wants to be outside, let him and see what happens.My heart was in my mouth though in case he ran away. But he showed no signs of doing that at all.

He has mooched around, wandered into my neighbour's house next door, then wandered into another neighbour's house 2 doors away. He has settled in this second neighbours house like he belongs there and he looks much more confident and happy - no cats, no children, luckily these neighbours think he is gorgeous, and are happy for him to be there. I've asked them to see how they get on this afternoon, and any problems for them to shout to me. We'll decide between us later today if they want to try to keep him overnight, and see how that goes, and juts keep working it between us until he is properly settled either with them or me (if this makes him happier to be in my house).

But I strongly suspect he has re-homed himself with my neighbours, though whether they fully realise this or not, I'm not sure!! Only time will tell, of course.

And my two cats have relaxed and are happily asleep upstairs as normal instead of hiding in corners and waiting to be ambushed.

I really hope this story has a happy ending for him...I'll let you know. From my point of view, this would be great to be able to still see him around the nighbourhood but not be worrying about my two cats being bullied so badly, and new cat being so unhappy.

Thank you for your kind advice. I appreciate it.

Apr 08, 2012
 Help settling NEW
by: Beatrice

Why don't you let him outside? that would solve all of the problems, is there a reason? I know people say that pedigree cats should be kept inside, but it is not natural. He is trying to establish his territoty and poor thing is confused right now. Don't please send him away again without trying all avenues, he has been through enough already, having come from a home where he was kicked and pulled by a child!

He will need time and patience but you must tap him gently on the nose each time he is aggressive to the other cats. Cats are not like dogs, they are not as domesticated as dogs, and are much much more territorial.

He is a beautiful cat and I am sure that you will not have any difficulty re-homing him if the situation gets intolerable. He might ultimately be better in a house with no cats and no kids, with an elderly couple, such cats do very help.

Hoep this helps,

Beatrice from Ireland.
Apr 08, 2012
 Re Patience NEW
by: Susan

Hi, Anonymous,

thanks for your comments. I hope you're right. It's just it seems that as he becomes more confident around me, and confident of his surroundings, the more aggressive he is becoming to the other two.

I have been introducing him to them when all is quiet, and he even went for my old boy when he was fast asleep (so fast asleep, old boy didn't even notice, thank goodness).

He's really desperate to be out and about (he escaped out the bathroom windown this morning, but luckily got stuck on my porch roof!), so he's difficult to confine to one room.

Perhaps I shouldnot let him in contact with the other two for a while as even througha crack in the door, he tries to go for them. I've introduced many pets to each other over the years, and I dn't have a good feeling about this one. I'm just not convinced he's going to become tolerant.

Still, it is early days as you say. many thanks for your comment.
Apr 08, 2012
 Re Patience NEW
by: Susan

Hi, Anonymous,

thanks for your comments. I hope you're right. It's just it seems that as he becomes more confident around me, and confident of his surroundings, the more aggressive he is becoming to the other two.

I have been introducing him to them when all is quiet, and he even went for my old boy when he was fast asleep (so fast asleep, old boy didn't even notice, thank goodness).

He's really desperate to be out and about (he escaped out the bathroom windown this morning, but luckily got stuck on my porch roof!), so he's difficult to confine to one room.

Perhaps I shouldnot let him in contact with the other two for a while as even througha crack in the door, he tries to go for them. I've introduced many pets to each other over the years, and I dn't have a good feeling about this one. I'm just not convinced he's going to become tolerant.

Still, it is early days as you say. many thanks for your comment.
Apr 08, 2012
 Patience NEW
by: Anonymous

I think time and patience is all you need! He has never had to share his territory with another cat, and it will take some getting used to. Eventually they will work out the dominance hierarchy among themselves, which may involve a scuffle or two, so don't be alarmed. Keep introducing them slowly, cracking the door of the room he's in only enough for them to see and sniff each other, but not so much that one of them can fit through. It may take a while...patience is the key!

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