Cats constantly fighting *UPDATE with pics!*

chocdonuty

If you read my thread before I have a 5 month old kitten ollie (neutered two weeks ago) and two weeks ago rescued a cat is female (neutered) who is 1 1/2 I kept them seperate and swapped beds/food bowls ect and kept swapping rooms so they got used to each other scents. Both cats seem to be quite happy wherever they are as long as they are seperate
However when I let them out together ollie goes straight for a sniff which pees off molly or they sit close by and pat each other paws for a bit then theres just constant chasing and it it ends with a bit of a tumble and shouting, no injurys yet and I can seperate them easily with a loud noise then one gets put back into a bedroom. How long does it take for them to calm down?
I'd love for them to get on and as I live in a 2 bed flat don't have a spare room to put them as all rooms are used so I am often in and out of the cats room -plus litter tray in the bedroom isn't great!
Are there any tips for creating calmer kittys?
I have read a couple of times, using a dog crate to restrict one and then they can both see and smell each other but no fighting, obviously not for long and supervised too. Hopefully that means they will be together for longer with no arguing which has to be good, any thoughts?
(not that I'd advocate using one long term but just for a few weeks and only for short time)

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

1. Have you considered trying Feliway?

2. As they don't seem to be trying to actually kill one another, try not to get involved in Cat Politics.

picklepick

Sounds to me like politics and they're trying to establish the pecking order. Just carry on under your supervision.
We had exactly the same when we introduced Mylo to Honey, she would chase him til he squeeled, we'd pick him up and seperate them, then it would start again. He kept going back for more! haha If he was scared he would have hidden, I'm sure.

They still play fight now, and it can end it hissing and shouting until one backs down, but they really are best friends.

I second trying a Feliway, too. We saw a change almost instantly with it.

chocdonuty

Would feliway work though as they're not stressed just chasing each other around the place and winding each other up?
They are perfectly calm when not together

bethie

are you sure they aren't just playing by winding each other up?

both are quite young and still kitten-ish?

i would think that as long as no skin is broken and one isn't afraid and hiding from the other all the time, then they are fine.

when one does hiss, does the other back down?

chocdonuty

The only thing they do when together seems to be chasing each other so it's not just now and again. They run fast and pin each other down. I suppose I do worry a little more as ollies brother has a condition where his skin tears very easily and the poor thing has had a lot of ops and stitches in his young age so I don't want any damage caused to him just in case.

Fire_Fox

A second litter tray in the bedroom isn't the end of the world - just use a hooded one, a good litter and food that doesn't make your cats poop stink. Most of the time you spend in the bedroom you are asleep anyway.

Two weeks is quite a short time, if you kept swapping rooms it would be difficult for the newcomer to settle and scent mark her space. Feliway is definitely worth a try. Maybe go back to separating them and try slower introductions? Do you play with them individually when they are in each other's presence so they have positive associations?

chocdonuty

I know, I have two hooded trays and am just waiting a little while longer before I put the door on, last time I tried with ollie he got very confused and couldn't work out how to get in or out despite seeing through the door!
I do play with them together and stroke each other but the peace never lasts long unfortunatly.
I'm going to try a feliway so are there any reccomendations for the cheapest place to buy?
I have asked on freecycle as you never know, even for an old diffuser so I can just get the refill but no replys yet.

bitemebankers

chocdonuty wrote: »

Are there any tips for creating calmer kittys?

Yes, rehome one of them. I'm a bit surprised nobody has suggested this already. Most cats are much happier as solitary felines (although they can get on well with dogs and other pets) and living in a multi-cat household will lead to stress, spraying, injury or worse.

I'm not saying multi-cat households never work - occasionally they do. But when it obviously isn't working, as on the above, better to call it a day before it gets worse.

chocdonuty

Tbh I haven't given them enough time yet, had it been months and they are still not getting on then yes I would rehome one but not just yet, got to try a few things first before I give up on them.

picklepick

bitemebankers wrote: »

Yes, rehome one of them. I'm a bit surprised nobody has suggested this already. Most cats are much happier as solitary felines (although they can get on well with dogs and other pets) and living in a multi-cat household will lead to stress, spraying, injury or worse.

I'm not saying multi-cat households never work - occasionally they do. But when it obviously isn't working, as on the above, better to call it a day before it gets worse.

It's only been two weeks and one of them is still a kitten who hasn't had chance to learn some kitty manners. It can take a few months to successfully integrate cats and after that time, most will at worst tolerate each other and at best be unseperable.