Hello! I have two resident cats at home (Mei and Junior), and they’re great buddies. However, we just brought another cat home (Rosie) and made the mistake of letting them all see eachother—we had her separated but she was seen between this. Our resident cats now get mad at EACH OTHER when we sent swap with our new kitty, Rosie. Rosie is locked away completely in her safe space, and Junior and Mei go back to normal after a while. We also tried feeding on opposite sides of the door with Mei and Rosie, but Mei is very aggressive with it.
I should mention that it’s mainly Junior getting upset and Mei when we introduce the scent swap, but Mei will hiss back.
Should we be separating Junior and Mei when we do the scent swap with Rosie’s items? I feel very helpless here, any help is appreciated.
@feresy Congratulations on your recent adoption of Rosie.
There's no need to feel helpless; I’m here to help. Mei and Junior are displaying a behavior known as 'redirected aggression '. This is a common reaction when introducing a new cat unfamiliar with the existing group (clowder). Understanding this behavior is essential to manage the situation effectively.
Here are a few tips:
Cat-cat Introductions should be made with one cat at a time. Here’s a reminder of all the steps: https://perfectpets.com.au/best-pet-blog/post/how-to-introduce-a-new-kitten-to-a-resident-cat.
Feeding on opposite sides of the door/gate is an old technique and isn’t recommended since cats are solitary species. Hunting and eating are solo behaviors. I toss food/treats for each cat away from the door and praise when both cats are calm.
Junior and Mei can have a little time out from one another if they start displaying negative behaviors. They don’t need to be confined; you can play with them or perform an activity they enjoy in separate rooms.
Ensure Mei and Junior have plenty of resources to minimize arguments over their beds, blankets, etc. Introductions can take weeks to months, typically three to six months.
Take it slowly, and don’t rush to the next step until all the cats are calm.
Patience, equal dedicated time with all three cats and sufficient resources are the keys to harmonious living in multi-cat households.
All the best Melina