Will they ever get along?

[Uabassoon]

It been nearly a year and Tuna and Corkscrew still don't get along. I feel like we've tried everything, we've tried feliway plugins, rescue remedy and the gift of time. Nothing works! Everytime they see each other a huge fight breaks out. A couple of weeks ago I came home and they must have had a fight from underneath the door. I found blood all over the door in my room as well as the floor surrounding the door. I never figured out where the blood came from. However it was a few weeks ago and Corkscrew seems fine, it had to have been his blood since he was the one in my bedroom.

Today Corkscrew escaped my bedroom and ran into Tuna. As you can see that didn't go over well.



Are there some cats that just never get along? It such a pain having to make sure that they are always seperated, then everytime they do run into each other both Alexa and I start to panic. Neither one of us wants to break up the fight for fear of being bitten. Usually I end up covering my arms really well then throwing a towel over Corkscrew to carry him away.

[catlady1945]

Our oldest (18 yrs) and youngest (12 yrs) still hate each other. We kept the younger one in closed off rooms when we weren't around. They actually sleep together now, which has just started in the last year. It's not because they like each other, it's because the younger one senses weakness in the older one. If they look each other in the eye, there is still hissing and attacking.

[Uabassoon]

Our oldest (18 yrs) and youngest (12 yrs) still hate each other. We kept the younger one in closed off rooms when we weren't around. They actually sleep together now, which has just started in the last year. It's not because they like each other, it's because the younger one senses weakness in the older one. If they look each other in the eye, there is still hissing and attacking.

It looks like I have a long time to wait! Corkscrew is 6 and Tuna is 3.

[critter crazy]

Geesh!!! I have never seen so much fur from a cat fight before!! I guess I have been lucky, as all the cats I have owned have always gotten along!

[Laura's Babies]

Have you tired shutting them in different room immediately after these fights and giving them both time outs? I did that with Samantha and it only took her about 3 days to learn to STOP attacking. Each time, I left her in there longer and longer and she could not stand being shut in a room. They still are not great friends now but they do tolerate each other being in the same room or walking by. I am going to have to try that with Kitty Boo now.

[jenluckenbach]

You could try Catty1's "feliway collar". Spraying liquid feliway directly on a nylon collar and make Corkscrew AnD Tuna wear one.

Of course you may just have to send Corkscrew to me.

[kimlovescats]

OH MY GOSH, Laura!!! That was some fight to leave that much fur behind! I don't blame you and Alexis for being tired of this! What about Tibby? Does Tuna get along with Tibby? I'm sorry you are having to deal with this.

Kim

[Uabassoon]

OH MY GOSH, Laura!!! That was some fight to leave that much fur behind! I don't blame you and Alexis for being tired of this! What about Tibby? Does Tuna get along with Tibby? I'm sorry you are having to deal with this.

Kim

Everyone else gets along just fine. If we lock up Tuna then the other three have no problems. Or if Corkscrew is locked up then once again the other three are fine. These two just really have a problem with each other.

[Uabassoon]

Have you tired shutting them in different room immediately after these fights and giving them both time outs? I did that with Samantha and it only took her about 3 days to learn to STOP attacking. Each time, I left her in there longer and longer and she could not stand being shut in a room. They still are not great friends now but they do tolerate each other being in the same room or walking by. I am going to have to try that with Kitty Boo now.

Right now they are always in seperate rooms. We kind of gave up trying to get them to be friends. Everytime they see each other it's like this. Many times at least one of them will end up bleeding. I've really never seen anything like it. So we finally decided it was best to just always keep them seperated. However sometimes one will escape and it leads to a big nasty fight.

[Uabassoon]

The big problem is that niether one will give up. When we were really making an effort and getting them used to each other they would spend up to an hour just staring and hissing and growling at each other until one would move, then the fight would start and we'd have to seperate them.

[auggie]

Wow! What a stressful situation. I feel sorry for you guys.
My cats don’t get along, but I never had anything like that happening.
Maybe your vet can recommend some kind of medication to calm them down.

[Sara luvs her Tinky]

Oh my goodness! I know you guys are probably so stressed out. I dont have any advice.... but i hope things get better...

[rosethecopycat]

How were these two integrated in the first place?
How long was it and what do you remember about it?

Can you tell who is the aggressor?

Really, the only thing that might work would be a complete, and slow reintegration.
Then later,(using a large playpen-cage) Use vanilla on the tails, to make them smell like each other and feed them close to each other (one in cage) etc. This will take a couple months.

It is very difficult to break the mental 'photograph' that these two have taken of each other when they met, but sometimes it can be done.

[Medusa]

That's a stressful situation, to be sure. My Peeka did not like my sweet Pigeon AT ALL. Pigeon adored (and still does adore) Boo, Peeka's brother. I don't know if it was jealousy or just two cats who didn't get along but Pigeon spent the first several years w/me under my bed, no kidding. Peeka would wait around corners for Pidge to come out, then POW! Once I got so fed up w/it that I picked up Pidge, took her over to Peeka and held her paw and swatted at Peeka and said "Fight back!" Pidge cringed as if to ask "Are you crazy? She's gonna kill me now" and Peeka never budged. I know, it was a stupid thing to do but Pidge never fought back. BUT...after I brought Creamsicle into the house (she's my vestibular hypoplasia kitty), it all came abruptly to an end. Peeka was nice to her, as though she sensed she was special. And she never bothered Pidge again. Pidge eventually came out from under the bed. Peeka still didn't like her, I could tell, but at least there was peaceful coexistence. (Ok, Mary, what's your point?) Like you, I tried Feliway plugins, etc. w/no success. I tried everything. I think sometimes we just have to realize that some cats just are not going to get along, just like humans, and we have to figure out how to deal w/it or regrettably rehouse a cat, if there are injuries to another cat. I know that some PTers will disagree w/me on this. But we owe it to our furkids to give them not only food, shelter and love but a life w/out being attacked day after day.

Blessings,
Mary

[ramanth]

I have no advice, but I'm really sorry they are doing that to each other. My parents have seen small tufts of fur from when Reebok and Converse (litter mates) get into a scrap, but nothing like that.