Cat people! Help!

[Mz Pip]

I recently adopted a kitten who’s about 5 months old. She’s sweet and cuddly and just adorable. I have 2 other cats, an 11 year old and a 7 year old. They get along fine and there were no problems when I bought the younger one home as a kitten.

At first they pretty much ignored and avoided the kitten. Now my house has turned into a war zone. The kitten goes after the older ones and it’s not in a playful manner. She attacks, chases, hisses and howling at the other two.

I am at a loss as to what to do. I’ve had cats for decades and never experienced this probem when I brought a new cat into the house.

Any suggestions? I really don’t want to have to rehome the kitten but this can’t continue. Right now the 11 year old is hiding behind the curtains, the 7 year old is wedged under a recliner and the kitten is curled up next to me happily purring.

Mz Pip

[bamagal62]

1. Couple of questions:

Was the kitten feral?
How long was the kitten in your home before the turn in behavior?

[Mz Pip]

5. Not feral

At least I don’t think so.

She was found in the bushes in someone’s yard. They kept her for several weeks inside with their dog. No issues there. Probably lost or dumped. She’s much too friendly and easy to handle to be feral. I’ve had her 10 days. The first couple of days I kept her in a large cage so she could get used to the smells in our house. I still put her in the cage at night so we can all get some rest and the other cats can sleep on the bed unmolested.

In all the decades I’ve had cats I’ve never had this happen.

[3catwoman3]

2. Maybe some of the Feliway pheromone diffusers?

You plug them into electrical outlets and the dispense calming pheromones into the air. My vet's office has one in every exam room.

https://us.feliway.com/products/feliway-optimum-diffuser-refill-kit-48ml-30-day?utm_term=feliway%20diffuser&utm_campaign=Feliway+-+Search+-+Branded+Terms&utm_source=adwords&u

I think they also make collars that so the same thing. Maybe the kitten needs one.

[LastDemocratInSC]

4. We used Feliway dispensers after a orange tabby kitten adopted us.

Our veterinarian recommended them to reduce some obvious anxiety she was having. She was happy to be with us in general but had some difficulties adapting to an indoor life. Feliway made a positive difference.

We now use only a spray bottle in her pet carrier when she has to visit the vet.

[Mz Pip]

6. Thanks!

I’ll give that a try.

[DooverBeliever]

3. My Cat from Hell

Google "My Cat from Hell" videos. Jackson Galaxy is a Cat Behaviorist and does a lot of work with multiple cat families. His series is also on Animal Planet. Your story sounds like nothing I haven't seen him work through on his series. His theories and process works to make peace in the family. I am listening to Cat Mojo book right now.

Good luck! This can be solved with the behavior discovery and right techniques.

Hang in there.
Do-Over Believer

[Mz Pip]

7. Excellent!

Perfect to watch during the next rain storm.

I don’t want to give up hope!

[Mz Pip]

15. Thank you for this!

I’ve watched a couple of episodes and already learned a few things. Also, it seems like no cat is beyond help.

[bamagal62]

8. Sounds like she's afraid.

Maybe the introduction was too fast. Can she live in a bathroom for a few days and let them sniff each other through the door.
Tne reason I asked about her being feral is we had one that we rescued from under the house. She was cuddly and sweet for about a week. Then she turned on us. Turns out she was feral after all. She started hunting my daughter and eventually bit her. We had to put the cat down. The vet and/or shelter said once she’s bitten someone they can’t re-home. That’s why I was curious about her being feral.

[Mz Pip]

9. Keeping them apart

I did do that for several days. I kept her in the bedroom with the door closed and then in the cage at night.

Sorry about your daughter and your cat. We do our best but sometimes it just doesn’t work. 😥

[Phoenix61]

10. Sounds like she need some serious play time to get all

that energy out. Mine like the wand with a string with a furry-feathery think at the end.

[Karadeniz]

11. Yes !!!!!

[Timeflyer]

13. Agree, much more play time with human parent, and rotating variety of kitty toys.

Cardboard boxes with holes cut out, empty paper towel roles with holes poked in and cat treats inside, lots more ideas on interweb. Tired kitty is a good kitty (for a while, anyway). All fur babies spayed or neutered, of course--no need for more kitties or raging hormones

[Karadeniz]

12. This is going to sound insane, but it's worked for me. Put two or three in a smaller, confined area

like a bathroom or bedroom, although a bedroom has too many hiding places. When my cats lived in our huge home, two males spent their time trying to kill each other. Cats can fight harmlessly or they can grab each other, sink their teeth in and roll around, losing buckets of fur. We wanted to move, so bought a teeny tiny home where I brought my 12-15 cats. No more fights! It was weird! In our current home, 9 cats eat dinner, sleep and eat breakfast in one bedroom. No fighting!!! I have two cats who share a larger room and they fight every time they get hungry!!! I decided to call this the Face Your Fear strategy to improve cat behavior!!!!! And get the Cat Dancer toy and play, play, play!

[peacebuzzard]

14. Do you have a room you can set up for crazy little one?

That's what I have to do with my 5 cats. It took some time but now 4 of them tolerate each other (especially 2 of them played the dominance tease for a long time). But I have a Maine Coon male who hates 3 of them and tolerates only the youngest female.
For quite some time I had to separate 2 of them in separate rooms. Now it is just the Maine Coon male.

Maybe she will outgrow this phase in time. (she will)

[Sky Jewels]

16. I second the Jackson Galaxy recommendation.

I know that one key to attaining kitty peace is getting the felines to associate each other with good stuff ... like food. But definitely research his advice; he has a huge knowledge base and experience with these types of situations. It often requires taking it slowly, like isolating a kitty for a few days, letting the others get used to the scent, then slowly moving into visual contact with physical separation, feeding them in closer and closer proximity, then full contact. It's possible to "reintroduce" cats who have lived with each other a long time, too.