Please Help! Sudden Agression

[raven1984]

Please help. My boyfriend and I both had our own cats that lived seperately my cat was always very affectionate and sweet with people and continues to be so. But when we moved in together to his apartment my cat started attacking, frequently and violently, his cat. We had to get my cat declawed (even though I prefer not to do that) because he cut her so badly. We've given them seperate litter boxes, food dishes, and water in seperate spaces. And when ever the fighting gets too bad we try to put my cat in the "time out room" which is the extra bedroom he has his food dish, water, and litter box in. However, if he keeps injuring her with no improvement I feel like either I will have to move out with my cat (which I don't want to do and can't afford to do financially) or I'll have to find him another home (which I REALLY REALLY don't want to do). We are desperate and will try anything to keep them from fighting so violently, thank you in advance for your help.

[jazzcat]

Did you introduce the two cats slowly or did you just put them together from the start? The way they are introduced can really make a difference. Maybe you could confine them from each other for a few days or more and slowly introduce them again.

There are a few products that help cats to relax and get along better like Rescue Remedy (I think you put that in their water) and Feliway (you spray it in the air or use a diffuser that plugs in an outlet). I've tried Feliway and it helps a little and I know several people here have had success with Rescue Remedy. They are both available at pet stores.

Have you talked to vet about this? Sometimes they can give kitty Prozac to cats to calm them down.

[raven1984]

Thanks a lot for the response! I'll definately talk to the vet about those products and other options!

Excuse my ignorance, but once we've seperated them for a few days how does one appropriately do a "slow introduction." The apartment is big enough to put them in seperate rooms confined with the doors closed but not giant.

[jazzcat]

When I introduced my third cat to my first two I put her in the guest room and didn't let her out for a couple of days. I took a blanket she had been sleeping on and let the other two smell it and did the same with one of their blankets. Then after a few days I let her out in the meet them for a few minutes. There was a lot of hissing and growling and few swats but nothing major. I did this several times over several days until I began to let her out for the whole day while I was home and put her up at night. This went on for a while until everyone was civil enough to leave out 24/7.

Since your cats are already off to a bad start it may not go as well. I think that is where the Rescue Remedy and Feliway will help.

I hope you can get them to coexist at least but sometimes there are just cats who don't get along or maybe one is just meant to be an only cat. I hope that isn't the case for you. Best of luck and let us know how things go.

[Lina]

When I brought cat #2 home he was in a room where ther was enough space under the door for him to stick a paw through, and let our elder female roam the rest of the house, as it was hers to begin with. I think him being a kitten helped. They got to the point where they played with each other under the door before we let them spend any length of time together and once we did, they were pretty much fast friends.

[momtomany]

The suggestions that Jazzcat and Lina have are very good. Another suggestion is this. I have ten cats and one of the things that helped during introductions was sprinkling some baby powder the cats involved. It gave them all the same scent and mad intro's easier. Gotta try everything to help your baby.