You might have been wondering how we have been faring now we are a two cat household.
It’s been 6 weeks now since we adopted Seth, and to be honest, it’s been tough.
It’s even harder for me to admit, my cats don’t get along 🙁 .
Things started off quite positively. We kept the kitties separated at first and gradually introduced them to each other, and seemed to be making good progress.
But after the first two or three weeks, it’s gone downhill (don’t be fooled by the photos – these were all taken in the early days).
We noticed Miss Fleur was very territorial and possessive of the cat patio – an undercover patio which we have enclosed with shade cloth. It’s where we keep litter trays, cat climbing frames and comfy seats to snooze on. It got to the point where Fleur was giving Seth such a hard time, he was refusing to go out there to use the litter tray. We brought one into the house which fortunately solved that little problem …
Since then however, Seth seems very restless and often gets into a “mood” where he chases and harasses Fleur. We’re not sure if it’s playful or not, but it’s go to the point where she is worried to go near him and gives him a wide berth should she have to walk past! They’ve had a few nasty spats.
Seth has also started spraying – which is understandable, I get that it’s all new and with another kitty in the house he’s stressed – but it is not exactly endearing behaviour.
And where is the lazy, chilled, cuddly kitty we met at the animal shelter, or that we enjoyed even the first couple of weeks he was here? He is continually jumping up on kitchen counters and the table – and I can’t open any windows or doors because he insists on climbing all the security screens – and then on top of the front door, like in this pic below!
He doesn’t seem settled at all, and often roams the house, miaowing loudly, and scratching at doors that are closed. The pound advised that he loved going for walks, so I have been keepnig that up – and I agree he loves his walks, as he always comes running when I get the harness out!
We have tried a range of measures to try and curb some of Seth’s bad habits – feeding him treats when he is doing the “right” thing and not harassing Fleur, or behaving himself. When he is climbing where he shouldn’t, I mostly just remove him (if I’m close enough), or clap my hands loudly to let him know we don’t appreciate it! We have also been using a water squirt bottle.
When he is really hounding Fleur, or has just sprayed on something right in front of me, I calmly pick him up and put him in “time out” in the garage. We have also had to put him there at night because we don’t trust him either with Fleur unsupervised, or in the house.
My Cats Don’t Get Along and I’m Sad 🙁
I keep waiting for things to get better but am starting to despair. It just makes me so sad, I really want him to be happy.
I’m wondering if it’s because he’s not used to being an inside cat, even after nearly 6 months at the animal shelter. He always makes a bolt to escape from any door that gets opened.
Miss Fleur on the other hand is an indoor kitty and always has been; she has never shown any interest in going outside. In fact she usually resists when I put the cat harness on her to bring her out on the pergola – she doesn’t want to wander or explore – she is happy to just sit on a chair beside me 🙂 .
I really don’t think being outside is the best thing for a cat, but if being indoors is not what Seth is used to, maybe I will have to change my mind.
So now you know the truth – my cats don’t get along . Sympathy, advice, cups of tea, suggestions, and a shoulder to cry on all most welcome!
Julia says
Aw you made Seth out to be such a baddie Mum 😉 He’s a good boy really, and Fleur hisses at him too. Such good kitties they are xxxx
Janet Camilleri says
Oh no! I didn’t mean to. Seth is a beautiful boy really – the period of adjustment is difficult for all of us. And you’re right, Miss Fleur gives as good as she gets. She was going BSC this morning and chasing him around the house.
June Lennie says
So sorry to hear about Seth and Fleur not getting along, after what seemed like a promising start. I just found this article that may provide some extra ideas such as using pheromones and (strangely) rubbing tuna juice on their bodies and heads. Good luck! http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/common-cat-behavior-issues/aggression-between-cats-your-household
Janet Camilleri says
Thanks for that June – I love the tuna juice idea! I have been scouring the internet for tips this past couple of weeks and hadn’t come across this one before. Admittedly they have been a bit better (I wrote this post earlier this week) but as you can probably tell was at a particularly low point and needed to vent …
Seana Smith says
Oh dear… and I do sympathise. Our two cats don’t get along well either… they were adopted a couple of years apart and I was told that it may not work out. The little lad wants to play but the older lady doesn’t… luckily they go outside too and they don’t hurt each other, just a bit of hissing … so they will survive… But I wish they were pals. I would only get two if they were siblings next time.
Janet Camilleri says
We have had two cats before that weren’t siblings, but they were just kittens and we got them only a couple of weeks apart. They ended up best of friends. I wrote this post earlier this week when I was feeling particularly low, but things do seem to be getting better since then. Fingers crossed!
Leanne says
Our two cats aren’t best buddies either. One wants to be friends and the other treats her with disdain. No hissing or fighting, but a bit of chasing and a few stand-offs over the cat castle ownership (ours is the same as yours 🙂 ) We let ours outside during the day – one only in the backyard because she can’t jump & one who roams a bit more – it gives them room to get away from each other and at night they just chill (separately). Sorry you didn’t get the cat fairytale either 🙁
Janet Camilleri says
Isn’t it a great cat castle Leanne!!!! I knew it would be hard in the early days, but didn’t realise it would get worse after a couple of weeks, I thought it would be plain sailing after a fairly positive start. I wrote this earlier this week and things have been slightly better since then so fingers crossed!
Sanch @ Living my Imperfect Life says
Sorry to hear that…Pebbles and Buttons don’t get along all the time either. At the start, Pebbles used to attack him but once Buttons got used to the place, he attacks her. They get along occasionally, tolerate each other most of the time but fight a lot of the other time. Neither of them sprays though but Pebbles will poo in the wrong areas. Our vet suggested getting some place high for her and I bought a new cat tree last year for that so she has her space away from him. But now he occasionally runs up there too. Lately I have noticed her fighting back. It’s weird. Cats are strange!
I hope Seth and Fleur start to tolerate each other soon. Until then, much love and patience to you!
Janet Camilleri says
Thanks Sanch! It’s been the same here – Fleur was the boss at first, now Seth isn’t putting up with it and bossing back. I think the main problem is they each get in their crazy cat moods, and want to play and rough house with the other one, but the other one ISN’T in the crazy mood at the same time. So they fight instead. Just need to synchronise when they go bat-sh!t-crazy!!!
Jan Holmes says
I have had two lots of two cats, the first ones were brothers and were brought up together from the start, they cuddled together and were best friends, and when one got run over the other one moped for such a long time. The second two were not and never would be friends, one was inherited from my son and the other was a stray I took pity on, they never ever got on, lots of hissing, fighting and spraying, drove me bonkers, so had to reluctantly say goodbye to the older stray, and then life was so much easier for all of us. It is very hard, nay almost impossible, to get two cats that are not siblings or brought up together to ever get along. Cats are solitary animals and not pack animals like dogs, and every other cat to them is a threat I think. So you are in for the long haul, peace keeping and hoping they eventually tolerate each other.
Janet Camilleri says
Fingers crossed Jan x
Alan says
Introducing Miss Fleur to a younger cat of the same sex would have met less issues.
Seth is demonstrating dominant behaviour whilst attempting to find the highest position in your home e.g. the top of the front door.
How long ago was he spayed? if he is spraying it is suggesting to me that he was an entire cat up until recently and is attempting to mark his territory. Seth wanting to get outside may be a legacy of past wanderings looking for a mate.
Unless Miss Fleur submits and allows seth to be top cat you will probably always have these issues. I know it’s been 6+ weeks but i would predict this to take more than 6 months for them to work out their pecking order.
I’d suggest offering a new piece of cat furniture (climbing/hiding) for Seth to claim as his own territory and 2 litter trays in separate locations. I would feed them at the same time in close proximity and maybe invest in a full outdoor cat run.
Alternatively, you could get rid of both the knuckleheads and get a dog! 😉
Janet Camilleri says
We did have a younger female cat in mind – Calypso – but worried that TWO princesses in the family might not be a good idea. In hindsight, maybe it would have been a better choice. We bought the new cat castle after Seth arrived, but have since moved it out to the cat patio which I think may be a mistake, as Fleur thinks it is “her” area. Not sure when Seth was spayed but I’m told he was already neutered when he came into the pound. Hopefully we will get there – and if not, how would you like to adopt a lovely boy cat?!!! LOL just jokes Alan, I wouldn’t part with him.
Ashleigh Mills says
Have you heard of Feliway? It is like a diffuser you put in your house. We found that once we used it that Sasha really calmed down. It is meant to spray a neutral spray so they get used to each other’s scents. It really has helped us heaps, and we can tell when she gets agitated when it runs low. Totally worth the money. Also they both need places to go and hide from the other – six weeks is also a short time. Our kitties took 3 months before they are almost snuggling. Also Sasha just ignored Piper on return from her recent trip to the vet, as she thought she smelled like a strange cat!
Janet Camilleri says
I *have* heard of Feliway, and wondered if it was any good – will definitely try it – thanks for the tip! How is Piper recovering after her elastic band incident? I found Seth today chewing on an old shoelace – but when I checked, it was halfway down his gullet and a big piece almost broken off – thank God I checked him in time and rescued it!
Libby Boyle says
I spoke to my avert about Feliway as Ralphter hates being in the car, cries all the time. She sprayed his cage before we left after our last visit and he came home in the car very happily. I’m going to get some for when he has to fly home. It’s definitely worth a try.
Libby Boyle says
Vet, not avert. ?
Janet Camilleri says
LOL stoopid auto correct. I bought some Feliway last week Libby and it does seem to be helping 🙂
Beth | AlmostPosh.com says
We adopted a cat on the weekend after a couple of years of being pet-free after our very old cat was put down. We’d been talking about it now that our daughter is three, saw one we liked at an adoption day and took him home. It’s been two nights and we’re trying to get used to it, the smell of the litter tray is perhaps the worst thing, crying at night and he’s still quite introverted and hides behind the couch a lot. We’ve always had cats that were more outside during the day so once he’s settled in after a few days, we’ll let him out for a wander and hopefully that will be better for him.
Janet Camilleri says
The early days with any new cat are always wearing Beth. But good on you for adopting, I’m sure your kitty will settle in real soon and count it’s lucky stars that it has found such a great furever family!