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Help! Old cat not getting along with new cats
kristinmarie722 posted:
I have a 11 yr old cat Lilly who I adopted when she was 2. She is very close to me and my fiance. She sleeps in bed with us. When I first adopted her and for maybe 2 years after I had some behavioral issues such as peeing on furniture, etc.
I recently adopted 2 cats, brothers who are 6 years old. They are from a very loving home but the owners had to move out of state at the last minute and needed the cats placed ASAP.
Well I adopted them, even though we were in the process of moving into a home (from an apartment). So basically we got the 2 new cats, then moved into the new house within a week. So there has been a lot of changes for all of the cats. We have been at the new house for about 3 weeks now.
We have 3 litter boxes that we keep in the laundry room. I clean them out every day. We also keep the food and water in there. Initially we had the food and water in the kitchen, but wanted to encourage Lilly to go downstairs (we have a bi-level house) where the litter boxes are, to encourage her to use the box.
She has 2xs peed on my son's bed and 2xs on the bathroom rug. She growls anytime the other cats are around. Ernie is more social then Bert, so she tends to tolerate Ernie more, but stil growls.
Ernie for the most part is a good cat. He has become buddies with my 7 yr old son and spends a lot of time in his room. However I caught him peeing in his room last night. I know he has history of UTI, so I dont know if it's a UTI or behavioral issue.
Bert is a grumpy cat. He is always growling at Lilly. He used to stay in my step son's room on the bottom floor and was content there. However he was caught peeing in his room, so he has been keeping the door shut to his room. I was hoping this would force Bert upstairs more and force him to interact with Lilly. He has been upstairs more, but in my son's room. But he is getting along better with his brother Ernie, because initially he was growling at him as well.
I know it takes time for the cats to get along and Lilly was the only cat for a long time and then we have a new house, etc. so there has been a lot of changes.
My finace wants to get rid of the new cats. Understandably he doesn't want to deal with cats peeing, especially since we have a new house and furniture.
I probably didnt do the best job introducing the new cats to Lilly and moving into the house.
Any suggestions on what I can do now though is greatly apperciated.
Thanks!
I recently adopted 2 cats, brothers who are 6 years old. They are from a very loving home but the owners had to move out of state at the last minute and needed the cats placed ASAP.
Well I adopted them, even though we were in the process of moving into a home (from an apartment). So basically we got the 2 new cats, then moved into the new house within a week. So there has been a lot of changes for all of the cats. We have been at the new house for about 3 weeks now.
We have 3 litter boxes that we keep in the laundry room. I clean them out every day. We also keep the food and water in there. Initially we had the food and water in the kitchen, but wanted to encourage Lilly to go downstairs (we have a bi-level house) where the litter boxes are, to encourage her to use the box.
She has 2xs peed on my son's bed and 2xs on the bathroom rug. She growls anytime the other cats are around. Ernie is more social then Bert, so she tends to tolerate Ernie more, but stil growls.
Ernie for the most part is a good cat. He has become buddies with my 7 yr old son and spends a lot of time in his room. However I caught him peeing in his room last night. I know he has history of UTI, so I dont know if it's a UTI or behavioral issue.
Bert is a grumpy cat. He is always growling at Lilly. He used to stay in my step son's room on the bottom floor and was content there. However he was caught peeing in his room, so he has been keeping the door shut to his room. I was hoping this would force Bert upstairs more and force him to interact with Lilly. He has been upstairs more, but in my son's room. But he is getting along better with his brother Ernie, because initially he was growling at him as well.
I know it takes time for the cats to get along and Lilly was the only cat for a long time and then we have a new house, etc. so there has been a lot of changes.
My finace wants to get rid of the new cats. Understandably he doesn't want to deal with cats peeing, especially since we have a new house and furniture.
I probably didnt do the best job introducing the new cats to Lilly and moving into the house.
Any suggestions on what I can do now though is greatly apperciated.
Thanks!
3 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Help! Old cat not getting along with new catsI have a 11 yr old cat Lilly who I adopted when she was 2. She is very close to me and my fiance. She sleeps in bed with us. When I first adopted her and for maybe 2 years after I had some behavioral issues such as peeing on furniture, etc. <br /> <br />I recently adopted 2 cats, brothers who are 6 years old. They are from a very loving home but the owners had to move out of state at the last minute and needed the cats placed ASAP.<br /> <br />Well I adopted them, even though we were in the process of moving into a home (from an apartment). So basically we got the 2 new cats, then moved into the new house within a week. So there has been a lot of changes for all of the cats. We have been at the new house for about 3 weeks now.<br /> <br />We have 3 litter boxes that we keep in the laundry room. I clean them out every day. We also keep the food and water in there. Initially we had the food and water in the kitchen, but wanted to encourage Lilly to go downstairs (we have a bi-level house) where the litter boxes are, to encourage her to use the box.<br /> <br />She has 2xs peed on my son's bed and 2xs on the bathroom rug. She growls anytime the other cats are around. Ernie is more social then Bert, so she tends to tolerate Ernie more, but stil growls. <br /> <br />Ernie for the most part is a good cat. He has become buddies with my 7 yr old son and spends a lot of time in his room. However I caught him peeing in his room last night. I know he has history of UTI, so I dont know if it's a UTI or behavioral issue. <br /> <br />Bert is a grumpy cat. He is always growling at Lilly. He used to stay in my step son's room on the bottom floor and was content there. However he was caught peeing in his room, so he has been keeping the door shut to his room. I was hoping this would force Bert upstairs more and force him to interact with Lilly. He has been upstairs more, but in my son's room. But he is getting along better with his brother Ernie, because initially he was growling at him as well.<br /> <br />I know it takes time for the cats to get along and Lilly was the only cat for a long time and then we have a new house, etc. so there has been a lot of changes.<br /> <br />My finace wants to get rid of the new cats. Understandably he doesn't want to deal with cats peeing, especially since we have a new house and furniture.<br /> <br />I probably didnt do the best job introducing the new cats to Lilly and moving into the house.<br /> <br />Any suggestions on what I can do now though is greatly apperciated. <br /> <br />Thanks!
Violets_are_Blue responded:
It may be best to do a reintroduction and to rearrange the cat's items. While three litterboxes is a great start, having them all in one room can be daunting to a cat not willing to share. Putting one or two upstairs in different rooms may cut down on some of the urinating.
The urinating, however, may be a territorial problem. The cats are all attempting to put their scent on something to claim it as theirs. They will continue, especially if the scent is not fully removed (seriously, cat urine is hard to remove). A reintroduction, starting with just scents, no visible cats. It may take a few months before you can actually see a change in them.
It may be in your best interest to hire a behavior expert to evaluate the situation and give suggestions and reccomendations based on what they find. They would be able to work with you on site.
The urinating, however, may be a territorial problem. The cats are all attempting to put their scent on something to claim it as theirs. They will continue, especially if the scent is not fully removed (seriously, cat urine is hard to remove). A reintroduction, starting with just scents, no visible cats. It may take a few months before you can actually see a change in them.
It may be in your best interest to hire a behavior expert to evaluate the situation and give suggestions and reccomendations based on what they find. They would be able to work with you on site.
Report This| Share this:Help! Old cat not getting along with new catsIt may be best to do a reintroduction and to rearrange the cat's items. While three litterboxes is a great start, having them all in one room can be daunting to a cat not willing to share. Putting one or two upstairs in different rooms may cut down on some of the urinating.<br /><br />The urinating, however, may be a territorial problem. The cats are all attempting to put their scent on something to claim it as theirs. They will continue, especially if the scent is not fully removed (seriously, cat urine is hard to remove). A reintroduction, starting with just scents, no visible cats. It may take a few months before you can actually see a change in them. <br /><br />It may be in your best interest to hire a behavior expert to evaluate the situation and give suggestions and reccomendations based on what they find. They would be able to work with you on site.
kristinmarie722 replied to Violets_are_Blue's response:
Thank you very much.
I am going to start my getting the urine cleaner that helps remove the smell. Thankfully I have caught them each time right away, so it didnt sit for a long time.
I am going to seperate Lilly from the other 2 cats and try it that way.
I am going to start my getting the urine cleaner that helps remove the smell. Thankfully I have caught them each time right away, so it didnt sit for a long time.
I am going to seperate Lilly from the other 2 cats and try it that way.
Report This| Share this:Help! Old cat not getting along with new catsThank you very much. <br /> <br />I am going to start my getting the urine cleaner that helps remove the smell. Thankfully I have caught them each time right away, so it didnt sit for a long time. <br /> <br />I am going to seperate Lilly from the other 2 cats and try it that way.
It's very important to make sure Ernie doesn't have another urinary tract issue, so take him to your veterinarian for a urinalysis. This way you'll know if he has a medical or behavioral problem, which will save you a lot of grief! If his urinalysis is normal, try using a feline pheromone diffuser on the different levels of your house to see if that helps. You should know within a day or two.[br> [br>
Drew Weigner, DVM, ABVP
The Cat Doctor
Board Certified in Feline Practice
Drew Weigner, DVM, ABVP
The Cat Doctor
Board Certified in Feline Practice
Report This| Share this:Help! Old cat not getting along with new catsIt's very important to make sure Ernie doesn't have another urinary tract issue, so take him to your veterinarian for a urinalysis. This way you'll know if he has a medical or behavioral problem, which will save you a lot of grief! If his urinalysis is normal, try using a feline pheromone diffuser on the different levels of your house to see if that helps. You should know within a day or two.[br> [br> <br /> Drew Weigner, DVM, ABVP<br /> The Cat Doctor<br /> Board Certified in Feline Practice<br />
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