Cat scaring the new arrival

GreenSaints

Hi all,

I have no idea what to do with one of my cats, so any help will be greatly appreciated.

We have had a cat (Kitty - female) since 2005 (she was 18 months) and generally she's great. She meows all the time though

About 4 months ago, we ended up with a stray cat (Noodles - female) who I would guess was about 4 months old. She is also great, very quiet, but very loving. Eats all the time!

We separated them for about a month. Kitty was in the house, Noodles in the conservatory. We let them see each other a few times a week through the conservatory doors, and they would hiss and claw the door (Kitty would start it) After a month, we let them spend some time together, with us there and the hissing started, but we would just shout at them and it would be fine.

The reason for my post is, however good they get on with each other while we're there, as soon as we leave them at night, you can here the hissing etc. and the problem we have (or what we think we have) with Noodles is that she pees when she is scared.

The obvious answer is to keep them separated, but we don't have heating in the conservatory and I don't like leaving her in the cold. The weird thing is, two night ago they were fine. No fights, no pee - but tonight it happened (always on the sofa too which is worse!)

Sorry for rambling, but I'm at a loss.

Thanks

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Cat politics is a highly sophisticated and confusing subject.


However, Noodles needs to be able to have a pee in peace. So I would suggest that, if you don't already, that there are two litter trays downstairs at opposite ends of the house if possible. That way, it's less likely that Kitty is standing guard over the right one when noodles comes out and if she stops her from using it in the first place, she can just wander off and use the other one.

She might also benefit from her own space. Not in the conservatory, but perhaps in kitchen/bathroom and the other one, living room?



It's normal to some extent for occasional late night fisticuffs, like children when you aren't watching over them will squabble eventually. They normally sound like they're murdering one another when it happens, but as long as Noodles has somewhere to escape, it should decrease over time.

KxMx

It's usually recommended with multiple cats to have one more tray than felines, do you have room for 3?

GreenSaints

Hi,

Thanks for your replies.

It is odd, but we have closed the living room door at night, and brought one litter tray upstairs and they seem to be fine!

Noodles has been sleeping on the bed all night, and Kitty under the radiator in the spare room (just thought I'd set the scene for you!)

Maybe it's the living room that is the area in contention? They still have a couple of swipes at each other, but nowhere near as bad as how it was. For example, Noodles was on the bed, Kitty came up - they sat with each other for a bit, until Kitty scared Noodles away just by looking at her! Noodles came back and that was it.

Very odd, but I'm happy they aren't fighting (well, for now!)

podperson

It sounds like they are establishing their hierarchy. Kitty has to be the 'boss' so is making sure Noodles is aware of this - as mentioned above cat politics can be very complicated But once they get their pecking order sorted out then things should settle down x

Shoshannah

Cats do not really have a hierarchy in the same way as dogs. There is no such thing as a 'dominant' cat. This is because cats are not pack animals, and have no need for a hierarchy.

Lions being the exception, cats live solitary lives and generally only associate with one another to mate or fight. You can get small family groups of domestic cats living together happily, but generally they tolerate one another rather than share their homes contentedly.

Hopefully things will settle down with Kitty and Noodles soon. The above advice has been spot-on - place more litter trays and do everything you can to help them live 'separate' lives as far as possible. Feed them separately (ideally out of view of one another), and make sure there are plenty of places to hide.

GreenSaints

Hi again,

Thank you all so much for your advice and tips.

Since the living room door is closed at nights, they get on so much better.

I think why Kitty has a pop at Noodles is because she runs around (as she's a crazy, young cat) and Kitty is older. Maybe she doesn't like all the running around, like the cranky old lady she is!

Seriously though, they are so much better together and Noodles isn't peeing anywhere, other than the litter tray. One big happy family